Cardiovascular System

The cardiovascular system, also known as the circulatory system, is a network of organs and vessels that transport blood throughout the body
Responsible for delivering oxygen and nutrients to cells and removing waste products

Heart: a muscular organ that pumps blood throughout the body
- Divided into four chambers: left and right atria, and left and right ventricles
Arteries: blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the rest of the body
- Divided into elastic arteries (e.g. aorta) and muscular arteries (e.g. brachial artery)
Veins: blood vessels that carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart
- Have one-way valves to prevent backflow
Blood: a liquid tissue that transports oxygen, nutrients, and waste products throughout the body
- Composed of plasma (liquid portion) and formed elements (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets)

Systemic circulation: the pathway of oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body and back to the heart
- Begins at the left ventricle and ends at the right atrium
Pulmonary circulation: the pathway of deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs and back to the heart
- Begins at the right ventricle and ends at the left atrium

Systolic pressure: the pressure exerted by blood on artery walls when the heart beats
Diastolic pressure: the pressure exerted by blood on artery walls when the heart is at rest
Blood pressure regulation: controlled by the autonomic nervous system, which adjusts heart rate and blood vessel diameter to maintain a healthy blood pressure

Arterioles: small arteries that branch off from larger arteries and lead to capillaries
Capillaries: tiny blood vessels where oxygen and nutrient exchange occurs
Venules: small veins that merge to form larger veins
Venous return: the flow of blood back to the heart through veins

The cardiovascular system is responsible for transporting blood throughout the body, delivering oxygen and nutrients to cells, and removing waste products.

The heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood throughout the body, divided into four chambers: left and right atria, and left and right ventricles.
Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the rest of the body, with two types: elastic arteries (e.g. aorta) and muscular arteries (e.g. brachial artery).
Veins are blood vessels that carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart, with one-way valves to prevent backflow.
Blood is a liquid tissue that transports oxygen, nutrients, and waste products, composed of plasma (liquid portion) and formed elements (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets).

Systemic circulation is the pathway of oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body and back to the heart, beginning at the left ventricle and ending at the right atrium.
Pulmonary circulation is the pathway of deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs and back to the heart, beginning at the right ventricle and ending at the left atrium.

Systolic pressure is the pressure exerted by blood on artery walls when the heart beats.
Diastolic pressure is the pressure exerted by blood on artery walls when the heart is at rest.
Blood pressure is regulated by the autonomic nervous system, which adjusts heart rate and blood vessel diameter to maintain a healthy blood pressure.

Arterioles are small arteries that branch off from larger arteries and lead to capillaries.
Capillaries are tiny blood vessels where oxygen and nutrient exchange occurs.
Venules are small veins that merge to form larger veins.
Venous return is the flow of blood back to the heart through veins.

Transports oxygen from lungs to body tissues and carbon dioxide from body tissues to lungs
Regulates body pH and maintains body temperature
Transports nutrients, hormones, and waste products and supports immune function

Plasma makes up 55% of blood volume and is a clear liquid portion
- Composed of 92% water, 7% proteins (albumin, globulin, fibrinogen), and 1% nutrients, hormones, and waste products
Red Blood Cells (RBCs) make up 45% of blood volume and contain hemoglobin
- Produced in bone marrow with an average lifespan of 120 days
- Functions include oxygen transport and carbon dioxide transport
White Blood Cells (WBCs) make up 1% of blood volume and are part of the immune system
- Produced in bone marrow and function to fight infection and disease
Platelets make up 1% of blood volume and are involved in blood clotting
- Produced in bone marrow and function to form blood clots and stop bleeding

ABO blood group system consists of:
- A (A antigen)
- B (B antigen)
- AB (both A and B antigens)
- O (neither A nor B antigens)
Rh blood type consists of:
- Rh positive (Rh antigen present)
- Rh negative (Rh antigen absent)

Circulatory pathway involves:
- Deoxygenated blood returning to heart through veins
- Blood pumped from heart to lungs through pulmonary artery
- Oxygenated blood returning to heart through pulmonary veins
- Blood pumped from heart to body tissues through arteries
Blood pressure is measured in mmHg (millimeters of mercury) and includes:
- Systolic pressure (during heart contraction)
- Diastolic pressure (between heart contractions)