Cardiovascular System Overview

Cardiovascular System

• The system consists of the heart and blood vessels.

Components of the Cardiovascular System

• Blood vessels: arteries, veins, capillaries.
• Arteries carry blood away from the heart.
• Veins return blood to the heart.
• Capillaries connect arteries and veins.

Role of the Heart

• The heart pumps blood throughout the body.
• It facilitates blood flow through a network of blood vessels.

The Structure of the Heart

• The heart has four chambers.
• Right atrium: Receives blood from the body except the lungs.
• Right ventricle: Receives blood from the right atrium and pumps it to the lungs.
• Left atrium: Receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs.
• Left ventricle: Pumps blood out to the body via the aorta.

Apex of the Heart

• The lower tip of the heart.

Heart Septum

• Interatrial septum: Separates the right and left atria.
• Interventricular septum: Separates the right and left ventricles.

The Heart Layers

• Endocardium: The innermost layer.
• Myocardium: The middle and thickest layer, composed of muscle tissue.
• Epicardium: The outermost layer.
• Pericardium: A sac that surrounds the heart.

Blood Flow and Circuits

• Pulmonary Circuit: Blood movement from the right ventricle to the lungs via pulmonary arteries and back to the left atrium through pulmonary veins.
• Systemic Circuit: Circulation of blood through the arteries, capillaries, and veins of the body.

Medical Terminology

• Cardi/o: Heart
• Vas/o: Vessel
• Hem/o, Hemat/o: Blood
• -Eemia: Blood condition
• Angi/o: Vessel
• Aort/o: Aorta
• Arteri/o: Artery
• Ather/o: Fatty
• Atri/o: Atrium
• Brady-: Slow
• Coron/o: Encircling, such as in the coronary blood vessels, encircling the heart
• -Ectasis: Dilation, expansion
• Electr/o: Electricity
• Endo-: Within, inner
• Tachy-: Fast
• Thromb/o: Clot
• Valv/o, Valvul/o: Valve
• Varic/o: Dilated
• Vas/o-: Vessel
• Ven/o: Vein
• Ventricul/o: Ventricle
• -Gram: Written record
• Isch: Restricting, thinning
• My/o: Muscle