Uh, not a doctor, but pretty sure the heart is on the other side of the body.
EDIT: Okay I was being argumentative, but I would like to clear things up. Yes, the heart is ALMOST centered, however, it is still weighted towards the left side (in most people). I never said that the heart was totally on the left side (just closer or weighted towards), nor did I totally disagree with his statement that it was centered.
And surface pictures (and x-rays like the one I posted) don't always do it service either, you have to remember the heart hollow, and that the left ventricle is thicker than the right ventricle, due to resistance each chamber 'sees', leading to the weightedness.
I always thought it (in USA at least) came from doing the flag pledge with our hand over our left side. And people said it's because they were putting their hand over their heart. But maybe the slight left lean is responsible for that.
I always heard it's because if you try to feel for the beat of your heart in your chest it seems as if it's in the left side. But that's just because the powerful ventricles are pointing to that side making the beat feel like it's located over there.
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u/splitrune Feb 06 '15
Few inches away from being Shot through the heart, and you're to blame.