Cardiovascular System Overview

Overview

• The cardiovascular system, also known as the circulatory system, is a network of organs and vessels that transport blood throughout the body.
• Its primary function is to deliver oxygen and nutrients to cells and remove waste products.

Components

• Heart: a muscular organ that pumps blood throughout the body.
• Arteries: blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart.
• Veins: blood vessels that carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart.
• Capillaries: tiny blood vessels where oxygen and nutrients are exchanged with cells.
• Blood: a liquid tissue that transports oxygen, nutrients, and waste products.

Blood Flow

• Pulmonary circulation: blood flow from the heart to the lungs to pick up oxygen and release carbon dioxide.
• Systemic circulation: blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body to deliver oxygen and nutrients.
• Cardiac cycle: the sequence of events that occurs in the heart during one heartbeat.

Blood Pressure

• Systolic pressure: the highest pressure in the arteries, occurring when the heart beats.
• Diastolic pressure: the lowest pressure in the arteries, occurring between beats.
• Hypertension: high blood pressure, which can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Blood Vessels

• Elastic arteries: able to stretch and recoil with each heartbeat, allowing for efficient blood flow.
• Muscular arteries: able to constrict and dilate to regulate blood pressure.
• Veins: have one-way valves to prevent blood from flowing backwards.

Cardiovascular Health

• Risk factors: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, and lack of exercise.
• Cardiovascular disease: a range of conditions, including heart attacks, strokes, and atherosclerosis, that affect the heart and blood vessels.
• Prevention: maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet and regular exercise, can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular System

• The cardiovascular system is a network of organs and vessels that transport blood throughout the body, delivering oxygen and nutrients to cells and removing waste products.

Components of the Cardiovascular System

• The heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood throughout the body.
• Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart.
• Veins are blood vessels that carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart.
• Capillaries are tiny blood vessels where oxygen and nutrients are exchanged with cells.
• Blood is a liquid tissue that transports oxygen, nutrients, and waste products.

Blood Flow

• Pulmonary circulation is the flow of blood from the heart to the lungs to pick up oxygen and release carbon dioxide.
• Systemic circulation is the flow of blood from the heart to the rest of the body to deliver oxygen and nutrients.
• The cardiac cycle is the sequence of events that occurs in the heart during one heartbeat.

Blood Pressure

• Systolic pressure is the highest pressure in the arteries, occurring when the heart beats.
• Diastolic pressure is the lowest pressure in the arteries, occurring between beats.
• Hypertension is high blood pressure, which can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Blood Vessels

• Elastic arteries are able to stretch and recoil with each heartbeat, allowing for efficient blood flow.
• Muscular arteries are able to constrict and dilate to regulate blood pressure.
• Veins have one-way valves to prevent blood from flowing backwards.

Cardiovascular Health

• Risk factors for cardiovascular disease include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, and lack of exercise.
• Cardiovascular disease is a range of conditions, including heart attacks, strokes, and atherosclerosis, that affect the heart and blood vessels.
• Prevention measures include maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet and regular exercise, to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.