The upper end of the heart, which is pointed upward and to the right, is called the

• A. base
• B. apex
• C. atrium
• D. ventricle

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is how the heart is oriented and what each end is called. The upper, broad part of the heart is known as the base. It sits at the top and is where the atria are located and where the major vessels connect to the heart. The pointed tip at the opposite end is the apex, which is the bottom portion formed mainly by the left ventricle and typically points downward and toward the left. The terms atrium and ventricle refer to the heart’s chambers, not to the end of the heart itself. So the upper end being the base is the correct designation.