Unit 1 Assignment 3 Dom Hughes

The Cardiovascular system

In this assignment I will be explaining the structure and function of the

cardiovascular system.

Structure of the cardiovascular system

They include 2 main headings:

 Heart
 Blood vessels

The heart
The heart is the centre of the cardiovascular system. It is situated in the
left hand side of the chest beneath the sternum. It is a hollow muscular
pump that drives blood into and through the arteries in order to deliver
it to the tissues and working muscles.

The heart is surrounded by a twin layered sac known as the pericardium.

The cavity between the layers is filled with pericardial fluid, whose
purpose is to prevent friction as the heart beats. The heart wall itself is
made up of three layers: The epicedium (the outer layer), myocardium
(the strong middle layer that forms most of the heart wall) and the
endocardium (the inner layer). The right side of the heart is separated
from the left by a solid wall known as the septum. This prevents the
blood on the right side coming into contact with the blood on the left
side. The heart can be thought of as two pumps. They include the two
chambers on the right and the left. The chambers on the right supply
blood and this is where gaseous exchange takes place. This blood is the
returned to the left hand side of the heart via the capillaries, venules
and veins.
There are many different parts in the heart that all have certain jobs to
keep the blood pumping.
Aorta
This is located is the upper chamber of the heart and they receive blood
returning to your heart from either the body or the lungs. The right
atrium receives deoxygenated blood and the left oxygenated blood.
Ventricles
These are the pumping chambers of the heart and have thicker walls
than the atria. The right ventricle pumps blood to the pulmonary
circulation for the lungs and the left ventricle pumps blood for the
circulation for the body.
Bicuspid valve
These are one of the four valves in the heart which are situated between
the left atrium and the left ventricle.
Tricuspid valve
This is situated between the right atrium and the right ventricle and it
allows blood to flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle.
Aortic valve
This is between the left ventricle and the aorta which prevents backflow.
Pulmonary valve
This is between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery which also
prevents backflow from the pulmonary artery.
Aorta
This is the body’s main artery and it originates in the left ventricle and
carries oxygenated blood to all parts of the body.
Superior vena cava
This is a vein that receives deoxygenated blood from the upper body.
 Inferior vena cava
This vein receives deoxygenated blood from the lower body.
Pulmonary vein
This carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium.
Pulmonary artery
This carries deoxygenated blood from the heart back to the lungs. It is
the only artery that carries deoxygenated blood.

Blood vessels

This is where the blood flows around the body in a complex network of
vessels.
There are 4 types of blood vessels:
 Arteries
 Arterioles
 Capillaries
 Veins

Arteries

They carry blood away from the heart and they also carry oxygenated
blood. They have two major properties elastically and contractility. They
have thick muscular wall to carry blood at high speeds under pressure.
The arteries can expand to accommodate the extra blood. The smooth
muscle surrounding the arteries enables their diameter to be decreased
and increased as required. This contractility of the arteries helps to
maintain blood pressure in relation to changes in blood flow. They are
largely deep and branch into smaller arterioles that ultimately deliver
blood to the capillaries.
Arterioles

They have thinner walls than arteries. They control blood distribution
.This mechanism facilitates adjustment of blood flow to the capillaries.
They are required during exercise to increase the amount of blood flow
in order to get extra oxygen. Other areas like the gut have their
temporary blood flow so therefore the diameter of their arterioles is
decreased.
Capillaries

These form an extensive network that connects arteries and veins by

uniting arterioles and venules. They are the smallest of the blood
vessels, narrow and thin. They are a essential part of the vascular system
as they allow diffusion of oxygen and nutrients. The walls of the
capillaries are only one cell thick, allowing nutrients, oxygen and waste
products. The pressure of blood within the capillaries is higher than that
in veins.

Veins
This is the return of the deoxygenated blood to the heart. They have
thinner walls than arteries and have a large diameter. Contacting
muscles push the thin walls of the veins inwards to help squeeze the
blood back towards the heart. AS the muscles contract there are a
number of pockets in the veins that assist in preventing any backflow
when the muscles relax. They branch into smaller vessels called venules,
which extend to the capillary network.
Functions of the cardiovascular system
There are many important factors that help the function of the
cardiovascular system.
Thermoregulation
This is when increased energy expenditure during exercise requires
adjustments in blood flow that affect the cardiovascular system. This
system is responsible for the distribution and redistribution of heat
within your body to maintain thermal balance.
Vasodilation
During movement the cardiovascular systems active muscles increase
through dilation of arterioles. Vasodilation causes an increase in the
diameter of blood vessels to decrease resistance to the flow of blood to
the area supplied by the vessels.
Vasoconstriction
Sometimes blood vessels can also temporarily shut down blood flow to
tissues. It also causes a decrease in the diameter of blood vessels. Once
contraction of involuntary muscles fibres occur the walls of the blood
vessel increase resistance to blood flow.
Function of blood
The function of the blood is to provide the fluid environment for cells
and is the medium by which many materials are carried to and from
these cells. Blood has four principle constituents; they include plasma,
red blood cells, white blood cells of which there are different types, and
platelets or cell fragments.
There are many functions for the blood. They include distribution,
regulation and protection. The blood helps to maintain the body’s
temperature by absorbing and distributing heat. Nutrients are
transported from the intestines to the liver and body cells, and waste
products from the tissues. Also protective white blood cells, antibodies,
hormones and medicines are also transported in the blood.
Oxygen transport
Exercise increases the demand for more oxygen. The blood gets
transported from the lungs to the parts of the body that require it the
most.
Clotting
This is a complex process during which white blood cells form solid clots.
If a blood vessel is damaged the wall is covered by a fibrin clot to assist
repair of the damage. Platelets form a plug at the site of damage. This is
made possible by the constant supply of blood through the
cardiovascular system.
Fighting infection
In blood it contains antibodies and white blood cells which help defend
against viruses and bacteria.