The Cardiovascular System
Body Systems
Cardiovascular System
- relates to the heart, blood vessels and circulation in the body.
The cardiovascular system, also known as the circulatory system, refers to the network that transports blood throughout the body. It is composed of the heart, blood vessels, and blood.
There are actually two circulatory systems: * The pulmonary circulation – sends blood from the heart to the lungs. * The systemic circulation – sends blood from the heart to all the other parts of our bodies.
Blood consists of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. It is pumped by the heart to flow through blood vessels to provide nutrients to and remove waste from cells and tissues of the body.
The heart is the key organ in …show more content…
the cardiovascular system. Its main function is to supply blood and oxygen to all parts of the body. It produces electric impulses through a process called cardiac conduction. These impulses cause the heart to contract then relax, producing the ‘heart beat’. The beating of the heart drives the cardiac cycle, which pumps blood throughout the body.
The heart has four chambers, enclosed by thick muscle walls. It is situated between the lungs, slightly left of the middle of the chest cavity. The lower two chambers of the heart are called the right and left ventricles. These are divided by a wall called the interventricular septum. The upper two chambers of the heart are the right and left atria. These are divided by the interatrial septum. The ventricles and the atria are separated by atrioventricular valves. The lower and upper halves have different uses. Ventricles pump blood out of the heart, whereas atria receive blood entering the heart.
Blood vessels are a network of pipes or tubes through which blood flows throughout the body. Arteries, veins and capillaries are forms of blood vessels.
Arteries carry blood away from the heart. They have thick, muscular walls that contract to keep blood moving from the heart, through the body.
In the systemic circulation, oxygen-rich blood moves from the heart into the aorta, the body’s largest blood vessel. This artery goes up and back from the left ventricle, and down in front of the spinal column into the abdomen. At the beginning of the aorta, two coronary arteries branch off and divide into smaller arteries that provide oxygen and nourishment to the cardiac muscles. The pulmonary artery is the body’s other main artery, which carries oxygen-poor blood. From the right ventricle, it divides into right and left branches, on the way to the lungs where the blood receives oxygen.
Arterial walls consist of three layers: * The endothelium – the smooth, inner lining of the artery. * The media – the middle part of the artery, made up of muscle and elastic tissue.
* The adventitia – the tough covering that protects the exterior of the artery.
As they travel farther away from the heart, arteries branch out into arterioles, which are smaller and less flexible.
Veins carry blood back to the heart. They are not as muscular as arteries, but they contain valves that prevent blood from flowing backwards. Veins have the same three layers that arteries have. However veins are thinner and less flexible.
The two largest veins are the superior and inferior vena cavae. In this context, superior and inferior do not mean better and worse. The terms are referring to the locations of the vena cavae. The superior is located above and the inferior below the heart.
Capillaries connect the arteries and veins. They are the smallest, thinnest, and most common, though some of the most important parts of the cardiovascular system. It is through them that nutrients and oxygen are delivered to cells. Waste materials like carbon dioxide are also removed by …show more content…
capillaries.
The cardiovascular system works closely with other systems in the body. The respiratory system supplies oxygen and nutrients, while having waste and carbon dioxide carried out of the body. Hormones, produced by the endocrine system, are transported via the heart and circulatory system. The lymphatic and immune systems are also closely associated with the circulatory system.
The circulatory system is an intricate and complicated network that is vital for life and living. Unfortunately, cardiovascular disorders and diseases are common.
Heart and circulatory problems are grouped into two categories: * Congenital – problems were present at birth * Acquired – problems developed some time after birth
Congenital cardiovascular defects may be cause by genetic disorders or complications during development in the uterus.
A common sign of a congenital heart defect is a heart murmur. It is an abnormal sound, such as a blowing or gushing noise, that is heard when listening to a heart.
Some common examples of acquired cardiovascular disorders and diseases include hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, heart failure, congestive heart failure, etc. Heart failure is the inability of the heart to pump enough blood to sustain life. It often results from left side heart failure or lung disorders that obstruct pulmonary circulation. Congestive heart failure is the inability of the left ventricle to pump effectively. It is called congestive heart failure because it decreases the pumping pressure in the systemic circulation, causing the body to retain fluids.
It is better to stop these problems before they even occur. Exercising, eating a balanced and nutritious diet, maintaining an appropriate weight, and regular medical check-ups are some ways to keep the heart healthy and avoid long term cardiovascular disorders and
diseases.
Durani, Yamini
Heart and Circulatory System
TeensHealth
January 2013, 30th May 2013
<http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/body_basics/heart.html>
Taylor, Tim
Cardiovascular System
InnerBody
30th May 2013
<http://www.innerbody.com/image/cardov.html#full-description>
Bailey, Regina
Cardiovascular System
About.com, Biology
30th May 2013
<http://biology.about.com/od/organsystems/ss/cardiovascular-system.htm>
Cardiovascular System
- relates to the heart, blood vessels and circulation in the body.
The cardiovascular system, also known as the circulatory system, refers to the network that transports blood throughout the body. It is composed of the heart, blood vessels, and blood.
There are actually two circulatory systems: * The pulmonary circulation – sends blood from the heart to the lungs. * The systemic circulation – sends blood from the heart to all the other parts of our bodies.
Blood consists of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. It is pumped by the heart to flow through blood vessels to provide nutrients to and remove waste from cells and tissues of the body.
The heart is the key organ in …show more content…
the cardiovascular system. Its main function is to supply blood and oxygen to all parts of the body. It produces electric impulses through a process called cardiac conduction. These impulses cause the heart to contract then relax, producing the ‘heart beat’. The beating of the heart drives the cardiac cycle, which pumps blood throughout the body.
The heart has four chambers, enclosed by thick muscle walls. It is situated between the lungs, slightly left of the middle of the chest cavity. The lower two chambers of the heart are called the right and left ventricles. These are divided by a wall called the interventricular septum. The upper two chambers of the heart are the right and left atria. These are divided by the interatrial septum. The ventricles and the atria are separated by atrioventricular valves. The lower and upper halves have different uses. Ventricles pump blood out of the heart, whereas atria receive blood entering the heart.
Blood vessels are a network of pipes or tubes through which blood flows throughout the body. Arteries, veins and capillaries are forms of blood vessels.
Arteries carry blood away from the heart. They have thick, muscular walls that contract to keep blood moving from the heart, through the body.
In the systemic circulation, oxygen-rich blood moves from the heart into the aorta, the body’s largest blood vessel. This artery goes up and back from the left ventricle, and down in front of the spinal column into the abdomen. At the beginning of the aorta, two coronary arteries branch off and divide into smaller arteries that provide oxygen and nourishment to the cardiac muscles. The pulmonary artery is the body’s other main artery, which carries oxygen-poor blood. From the right ventricle, it divides into right and left branches, on the way to the lungs where the blood receives oxygen.
Arterial walls consist of three layers: * The endothelium – the smooth, inner lining of the artery. * The media – the middle part of the artery, made up of muscle and elastic tissue.
* The adventitia – the tough covering that protects the exterior of the artery.
As they travel farther away from the heart, arteries branch out into arterioles, which are smaller and less flexible.
Veins carry blood back to the heart. They are not as muscular as arteries, but they contain valves that prevent blood from flowing backwards. Veins have the same three layers that arteries have. However veins are thinner and less flexible.
The two largest veins are the superior and inferior vena cavae. In this context, superior and inferior do not mean better and worse. The terms are referring to the locations of the vena cavae. The superior is located above and the inferior below the heart.
Capillaries connect the arteries and veins. They are the smallest, thinnest, and most common, though some of the most important parts of the cardiovascular system. It is through them that nutrients and oxygen are delivered to cells. Waste materials like carbon dioxide are also removed by …show more content…
capillaries.
The cardiovascular system works closely with other systems in the body. The respiratory system supplies oxygen and nutrients, while having waste and carbon dioxide carried out of the body. Hormones, produced by the endocrine system, are transported via the heart and circulatory system. The lymphatic and immune systems are also closely associated with the circulatory system.
The circulatory system is an intricate and complicated network that is vital for life and living. Unfortunately, cardiovascular disorders and diseases are common.
Heart and circulatory problems are grouped into two categories: * Congenital – problems were present at birth * Acquired – problems developed some time after birth
Congenital cardiovascular defects may be cause by genetic disorders or complications during development in the uterus.
A common sign of a congenital heart defect is a heart murmur. It is an abnormal sound, such as a blowing or gushing noise, that is heard when listening to a heart.
Some common examples of acquired cardiovascular disorders and diseases include hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, heart failure, congestive heart failure, etc. Heart failure is the inability of the heart to pump enough blood to sustain life. It often results from left side heart failure or lung disorders that obstruct pulmonary circulation. Congestive heart failure is the inability of the left ventricle to pump effectively. It is called congestive heart failure because it decreases the pumping pressure in the systemic circulation, causing the body to retain fluids.
It is better to stop these problems before they even occur. Exercising, eating a balanced and nutritious diet, maintaining an appropriate weight, and regular medical check-ups are some ways to keep the heart healthy and avoid long term cardiovascular disorders and
diseases.
Durani, Yamini
Heart and Circulatory System
TeensHealth
January 2013, 30th May 2013
<http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/body_basics/heart.html>
Taylor, Tim
Cardiovascular System
InnerBody
30th May 2013
<http://www.innerbody.com/image/cardov.html#full-description>
Bailey, Regina
Cardiovascular System
About.com, Biology
30th May 2013
<http://biology.about.com/od/organsystems/ss/cardiovascular-system.htm>