Cardiovascular system hard

Overview of the Circulatory System

• Consists of the heart, blood vessels, and blood.
• Responsible for transporting nutrients, oxygen, hormones, and waste products throughout the body.

Main Components

1. Heart

   • Muscular organ that pumps blood.
   • Divided into four chambers:
     • Right atrium
     • Right ventricle
     • Left atrium
     • Left ventricle
   • Functions:
     • Pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs (pulmonary circulation).
     • Pumps oxygenated blood to the body (systemic circulation).

2. Blood Vessels

   • Arteries: Carry oxygenated blood away from the heart (except pulmonary arteries).
   • Veins: Carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart (except pulmonary veins).
   • Capillaries: Microscopic vessels where gas and nutrient exchange occurs.

3. Blood

   • Composed of:
     • Red blood cells (carry oxygen).
     • White blood cells (immune response).
     • Platelets (blood clotting).
     • Plasma (liquid component carrying nutrients, hormones, and waste).

Types of Circulation

1. Systemic Circulation

   • Blood flows from the left side of the heart to the rest of the body and back to the right side.
   • Supplies oxygen and nutrients to tissues.

2. Pulmonary Circulation

   • Blood flows from the right side of the heart to the lungs and back to the left side.
   • Responsible for oxygenation of blood and removal of carbon dioxide.

Functions

• Transportation: Delivers oxygen and nutrients; removes waste products.
• Regulation: Maintains body temperature and pH balance.
• Protection: Transports immune cells to site of infections; clotting mechanisms prevent blood loss.

Common Disorders

• Hypertension: High blood pressure.
• Atherosclerosis: Hardening and narrowing of arteries.
• Heart Attack: Blockage of blood flow to heart muscle.
• Stroke: Interruption of blood supply to the brain.
• Anemia: Decreased red blood cells or hemoglobin.

Lifestyle Factors Affecting Health

• Diet: High in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains supports a healthy circulatory system.
• Exercise: Regular physical activity strengthens the heart and improves circulation.
• Tobacco Use: Increases risk of cardiovascular diseases.
• Stress Management: Chronic stress can negatively impact heart health.

Key Terms

• Cardiac Output: Volume of blood the heart pumps per minute.
• Blood Pressure: Force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels.
• Cholesterol: A type of fat found in the blood; high levels can lead to heart disease.

Overview of the Circulatory System

• Comprises the heart, blood vessels, and blood.
• Essential for transporting nutrients, oxygen, hormones, and waste products throughout the body.

Main Components

• Heart: A muscular organ divided into four chambers: right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, and left ventricle.

• Pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs for oxygenation (pulmonary circulation) and delivers oxygenated blood to body tissues (systemic circulation).

• Blood Vessels:

  • Arteries: Transport oxygenated blood away from the heart, with the exception of pulmonary arteries.
  • Veins: Return deoxygenated blood to the heart, except for pulmonary veins.
  • Capillaries: Tiny vessels where gas and nutrient exchange occurs at the tissue level.

• Blood Composition:

  • Red blood cells: Carry oxygen.
  • White blood cells: Involved in the immune response.
  • Platelets: Play a crucial role in blood clotting.
  • Plasma: The liquid component that carries nutrients, hormones, and waste products.

Types of Circulation

• Systemic Circulation: Blood circulates from the left side of the heart to the body and returns to the right side, supplying essential oxygen and nutrients to tissues.
• Pulmonary Circulation: Blood moves from the right side of the heart to the lungs for oxygenation and then returns to the left side of the heart.

Functions

• Transportation: Delivers oxygen and nutrients to cells while removing waste products.
• Regulation: Maintains body temperature and pH balance.
• Protection: Distributes immune cells to fight infections and facilitates clotting to prevent blood loss.

Common Disorders

• Hypertension: Characterized by consistently high blood pressure.
• Atherosclerosis: Involves hardening and narrowing of arteries due to plaque buildup.
• Heart Attack: Results from blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle.
• Stroke: Occurs when blood supply to the brain is interrupted.
• Anemia: Defined by a decrease in the number of red blood cells or hemoglobin levels.

Lifestyle Factors Affecting Health

• Diet: A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is beneficial for circulatory health.
• Exercise: Regular physical activity strengthens the heart and enhances circulation efficiency.
• Tobacco Use: Increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
• Stress Management: Chronic stress can have deleterious effects on heart health.

Key Terms

• Cardiac Output: Refers to the volume of blood the heart pumps each minute.
• Blood Pressure: The force exerted by circulating blood against the walls of blood vessels.
• Cholesterol: A type of fat found in the blood; elevated levels are linked to an increased risk of heart disease.