Cardiovascular System Overview

Study Notes

The cardiovascular system is responsible for transporting oxygen, fluids, electrolytes, and metabolic products through the blood to and from tissues.
The heart, blood vessels, and blood together form the major transport system in the body, delivering oxygen and nutrients while removing waste.
The heart is a hollow cone-shaped organ located between the lungs and beneath the sternum, with specific structures like atria, ventricles, and valves.
Blood circulation through the heart involves deoxygenated blood entering through the vena cava, moving through the heart chambers, lungs for oxygenation, and then to the rest of the body.
Coronary circulation supplies oxygenated blood to the heart muscles through coronary arteries and drains deoxygenated blood via cardiac veins.
The cardiac cycle includes diastole (relaxation and blood refill) and systole (contraction and blood pumping).
The cardiac conduction system involves nodes and fibers that stimulate heart contractions to pump blood effectively.
Cardiac output is the amount of blood pumped by the ventricles in one minute, calculated by multiplying stroke volume and heart rate.
Risk factors for cardiovascular disease include traditional factors like hypertension, elevated lipid levels, smoking, diabetes, obesity, and sedentary lifestyle.
Non-traditional risk factors such as metabolic syndrome, elevated CRP levels, and high homocysteine levels can also impact cardiovascular health.

Description

Explore the major components of the cardiovascular system including the heart, blood vessels, and blood circulation. Learn about the cardiac cycle, coronary circulation, cardiac conduction system, and factors affecting cardiovascular health.