Know the structure and function of the

Cardiovascular system

“The cardiovascular system, also known as the circulatory system,

is a system of the body comprised of the heart, the blood, and the
blood vessels. This system is responsible for transporting blood. As
the cardiovascular system moves blood throughout the body, cells
receive oxygen and nutrients. Carbon dioxide and other wastes are
removed from the body as well.” (www.wisegeek.com)

Heart
“Your heart is roughly the size of a clenched fist and weighs about
300g. It lies just to the left in your chest, surrounded by a protective
membrane called the pericardium.” (www.bupa.co.uk)

“The heart wall itself is made up of 3 layers : the epicardium (outer

layer), the myocardium (strong middle layer that forms most of the
heart wall) and the endocardium (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.”
(BTEC sport level 3, Mark Adams et al, Essex 2010)
“Your heart has 4 chambers. The upper chambers are called the left
and right atria, and the lower chambers are called the left and right
ventricles. A wall of muscle called the septum separates the left and
right atria and the left and right ventricles. The left ventricle is the
largest and strongest chamber in your heart. The left ventricle's
chamber walls are only about a half-inch thick, but they have
enough force to push blood through the aortic valve and into your
body.”

(www.texasheartinstitute.org/HIC/Anatomy)

Atria- upper chambers of the heart, they receive blood returning to

your heart from either the body or the lungs. Right atrium receives
deoxygenated blood from the superior (vein that receives
deoxygenated blood from the upper body) and inferior vena cava
(vein that receives deoxygenated blood from the lower body).

-BTEC sport level 3, Mark Adams et al, Essex 2010.

Four types of valves regulate blood flow through your heart:

• The tricuspid valve regulates blood flow between the right

atrium and right ventricle.

• The pulmonary valve controls blood flow from the right

ventricle into the pulmonary arteries, which carry blood to
your lungs to pick up oxygen.

• The mitral valve lets oxygen-rich blood from your lungs pass
from the left atrium into the left ventricle.

• The aortic valve opens the way for oxygen-rich blood to pass
from the left ventricle into the aorta, your body's largest
artery, where it is delivered to the rest of your body.

(www.texasheartinstitute.org/HIC/Anatomy)

Blood Vessels
“Blood vessels, then, are hollow utensils for carrying blood. Located
throughout your body, your blood vessels are hollow tubes that
circulate your blood.” (www.fi.edu/learn/heart/vessels)
There are three types of blood vessels;

• Arteries

During blood circulation, the arteries carry blood away from the
heart.

(google.com)

“They have two major properties: elasticity and contractility.

They have thick muscular walls to carry blood at high speeds
under high pressure. When the heart ejects blood into the large
arteries, the arteries expand to accommodate the extra blood.”

(BTEC sport level 3, Mark Adams et al)

• Capillaries

The capillaries connect the arteries to the veins.

 “They are the smallest of all the blood vessels, narrow and very
thin. They are essential to the vascular system as they bathe the
tissues of the body with blood and allow the diffusion of oxygen
and nutrients required by the body’s cells.”

(BTEC sport level 3, Mark Adams et al)

• Veins

Finally, the veins carry the blood back to the heart.

“They have thinner walls than arteries and a relatively large

diameter. By the time blood reaches the veins, it is flowing slowly
and under low pressure. Contracting muscles push the thin walls
of the veins inwards to help squeeze the blood back towards the
heart.”

(BTEC sport level 3, Mark Adams et al)

BIBLIOGRAPHY!
www.wisegeek.com

www.bupa.co.uk

BTEC sport level 3 (M.Adams, R.Barker, A.Gledhill, C.Lydon,

C.Mulligan, P.Phillippo,L.Sutton. Essex 2010)

www.texasheartinstitute.org/HIC/Anatomy

www.fi.edu/learn/heart/vessels

google.com