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.

Functions

• Transports oxygen and nutrients to cells and tissues
• Removes waste products, such as carbon dioxide and lactic acid
• Regulates body temperature
• Maintains pH balance
• Supports immune function

Components

Heart

• Muscular organ that pumps blood throughout the body
• Divided into four chambers: left and right atria, and left and right ventricles
• Atria receive blood, ventricles pump blood out of the heart

Blood Vessels

• Arteries: carry oxygenated blood away from the heart
• Veins: carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart
• Capillaries: allow for exchange of oxygen and nutrients with cells

Blood

• Liquid connective tissue composed of:
  • Plasma (water, proteins, nutrients, waste products)
  • Red blood cells (carry oxygen)
  • White blood cells (part of immune system)
  • Platelets (involved in blood clotting)

Blood Circulation

• Pulmonary circulation: heart → lungs → heart (oxygenation of blood)
• Systemic circulation: heart → body tissues → heart (delivery of oxygen and nutrients)

Blood Pressure

• Force exerted by blood on vessel walls
• Regulated by:
  • Heart rate
  • Blood volume
  • Vessel diameter

Regulation of the Cardiovascular System

• Autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulates heart rate and blood pressure
• ANS has two branches:
  • Sympathetic nervous system (increases heart rate and blood pressure)
  • Parasympathetic nervous system (decreases heart rate and blood pressure)

Overview

• The cardiovascular system is a network of organs and vessels that transport blood throughout the body.

Functions

• The cardiovascular system transports oxygen and nutrients to cells and tissues.
• It removes waste products such as carbon dioxide and lactic acid.
• It regulates body temperature.
• It maintains pH balance.
• It supports immune function.

Components

Heart

• The heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood throughout the body.
• It has four chambers: left and right atria, and left and right ventricles.
• The atria receive blood, while the ventricles pump blood out of the heart.

Blood Vessels

• Arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart.
• Veins carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart.
• Capillaries allow for the exchange of oxygen and nutrients with cells.

Blood

• Blood is a liquid connective tissue composed of plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
• Plasma consists of water, proteins, nutrients, and waste products.
• Red blood cells carry oxygen.
• White blood cells are part of the immune system.
• Platelets are involved in blood clotting.

Blood Circulation

• Pulmonary circulation involves the heart, lungs, and heart again, and it is the pathway for oxygenation of blood.
• Systemic circulation involves the heart, body tissues, and heart again, and it is the pathway for the delivery of oxygen and nutrients.

Blood Pressure

• Blood pressure is the force exerted by blood on vessel walls.
• It is regulated by heart rate, blood volume, and vessel diameter.

Regulation of the Cardiovascular System

• The autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulates heart rate and blood pressure.
• The ANS has two branches: the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system.
• The sympathetic nervous system increases heart rate and blood pressure.
• The parasympathetic nervous system decreases heart rate and blood pressure.