Burden materials are charged into the blast furnace from the top and air is blown in at the bottom which is used to burn the fuel. Smelting products, iron and slag, run of at the bottom.

THROAT: It is a cylinder serving to load charge and pass flue gas out.

STACK: It lies below throat. Its truncated cone flares out to the bottom allowing for the burden materials to creep to the periphery and descend easily without compaction.

BELLY: It comes after stack. It is a short cylinder necessary for a smooth fillet between the wide base of the stack and the inverse cone of the bosh.

BOSH: It is large at the top and small at the bottom.

HEARTH: Here slag and liquid iron accumulate.

TAP HOLES: This is the openings to tap iron off. This is at the bottom of the hearth.  Its upper part takes in tuyeres for air blast.