The human heart is located in the middle of the chest, slightly behind and to the left of the sternum (breastbone). It sits between the right and left lungs, with the left lung being slightly smaller to accommodate the heart's position in the left chest. The heart is protected by the rib cage and lies within the thoracic cavity, specifically in the mediastinum, the central compartment of the chest
. Although commonly thought to be on the left side of the chest, the heart is actually more centrally positioned, with the largest part (the left ventricle) extending slightly to the left side. This gives the impression that the heart is predominantly on the left, but it is mostly behind the sternum
. The heart is roughly the size of a clenched fist, weighs about 7 to 15 ounces (200 to 425 grams), and is cone-shaped with its base at the top and apex pointing downwards and to the left
. It is enclosed in a double-layered sac called the pericardium, which protects and allows the heart to move as it beats
. In summary, your heart is located centrally in your chest, behind the breastbone, and slightly offset to the left side between your lungs.
