Cardiovascular System Overview

• The cardiovascular system is responsible for transporting oxygen, fluids, electrolytes, and waste products through the blood to and from tissues.
• The heart, blood vessels, and blood make up the cardiovascular system, serving as the body's major transport system.
• The heart is a hollow, cone-shaped organ located in the mediastinum, pumping blood through the vessels to tissues.
• Blood circulation through the heart involves deoxygenated blood entering through the vena cava, moving through the atria, ventricles, and out to the lungs for oxygenation before being distributed to the body.
• Coronary circulation supplies oxygenated blood to the heart muscles through coronary arteries and drains deoxygenated blood through cardiac veins.
• The cardiac cycle includes diastole (relaxation) and systole (contraction) periods, essential for pumping blood efficiently.
• The cardiac conduction system involves nodes and fibers that stimulate heart contractions for effective blood circulation.
• 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 hypertension, smoking, diabetes, obesity, and sedentary lifestyle.
• Alterations in cardiovascular function can lead to conditions like decreased cardiac output, impaired tissue perfusion, and blood alterations impacting oxygen transport.
• Nursing assessment of the cardiovascular system includes history-taking, physical examinations, and diagnostic studies to monitor cardiac status.

Explore the key components and functions of the cardiovascular system, including the heart, blood vessels, blood circulation, coronary circulation, cardiac cycle, and cardiac conduction system. Learn about cardiac output, risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and nursing assessment techniques.