The Cardiovascular System

a closed system of the heart &

blood vessels
heart pumps blood
Blood vessels allow blood to
circulate to all parts of the body

Function of the circulatory system:

heart & blood vessels transport
water, gases (O2, CO2, N2),
proteins, hormones throughout
the body

regulate temperature & blood pH

facilitate the functions of the

immune system

BLOOD VESSELS
Artery
Vein
Capillary

3 Types of blood vessels

- form a closed system of tubes

- carry blood from the heart to body cells & back to the heart

(artery, vein, capillary)

major arteries ( attach to the heart):

-

arch of the Aorta (largest artery)

pulmonary trunk
(left & right pulmonary arteries)

coronary arteries
(supply blood to heart muscles)

Function of
capillaries:
Site of gas exchange, nutrient
delivery, waste removal

Gas And Nutrient Exchange

exchange of gases & small

particles (certain nutrients &
wastes): passive diffusion

Gases & these other

substances simply
move into or out of
the capillary down their
concentration gradient
(passive simple diffusion)

Vessel Structure and Function

Because intravenous
pressure is so low,
veins have valves to
keep blood flowing in only
1 direction
when exposed to higher
than normal pressures,
veins can become
incompetent (varicose
veins).

Summary Blood
vessels

ARTERIES
carry blood (oxygenated) away from the heart to the
capillaries
- thicker & stronger than veins due to high pressure of the
blood w/in the vessel
- Aorta: largest conducting artery

VEINS

carry blood towards the heart frm the capillaries

Carries deoxygenated blood
Relatively thin walls; have one-way valves
Great veins: superior & inferior vena cava

CAPILLARIES

microscopic , smallest blood vessels; one layer thick

- allow the exchange of gases, nutrients & wastes between
blood & cells

Major blood vessels in the human body

The Human
HEART

muscular

pump

The HEART

heart : muscular pump of the

circulatory system

weighs about 350g (abt size of

a closed fist); blunt cone shape

beats >10,000 times per day

(and does so, w/o complaint,
for most years of our life)

Location:
- between the lungs in the middle
of the chest, behind the sternum
Apex( hearts bottom) - tilted to
left side - directed towards left
hip

Function:
pumps blood through a
closed system of blood
vessels

Apex

The Pericardium
pericardium
membrane that
surrounds & protects the
heart
retains its position in
the mediastinum
(while allowing for
some freedom of
movement).

Layers of the Heart Wall

EPICARDIUM
thin, transparent
outer layer
MYOCARDIUM
thick middle layer
composed of cardiac
muscles
ENDOCARDIUM
Innermost layer
simple squamous
epithelium or
"endothelium

4
(2)

(2)

ATRIA (2) = receiving chambers

VENTRICLES (2) = discharging chambers

Facts..

By the end of a long life, a person's heart may have beaten

(expanded & contracted) more than 3.5 billion times. In
fact, each day, the average heart beats 100,000 times,
pumping about 2,000 gallons (7,571 liters) of blood.

The human heart begins beating early in fetal life and continues
regular beating throughout the life span of the individual. If the heart
stops beating for more than 3 or 4 minutes permanent brain damage
may occur.

Blood flow to the heart muscle itself also depends on the continued
beating of the heart and if this flow is stopped for more than a few
minutes, as in a heart attack, the heart muscle may be damaged to
such a great extent that it may be irreversibly stopped.

Heart VALVES
FUNCTION:
Act as one-way doors
prevent backflow of blood (keep
blood flowing in one direction
through your heart)

Open as blood is pumped through

Close to prevent backflow

Four

(4) valves
Atrioventricular valves
between atria & ventricles
Bicuspid valve (left)
Tricuspid valve (right)
Semilunar valves
- between ventricle & artery
Pulmonary semilunar valve
Aortic semilunar valve

CIRCULATION
PATHWAYS
PULMONARY circuit
- carries oxygen-poor
blood (deoxygenated bld)
from the heart to the
lungs (for oxygenation)

- then returns O2nated bld

to the heart

- powered by the right side

of the heart

SYSTEMIC circuit
carries oxygen-rich blood
(oxygenated bld) from the
heart to the different tissues
of the body (organ systems)
returns deoxygenated blood
frm the body tissues back
to the heart
powered by the left side of
the heart

Blood Circulation

Figure 11.3
Copyright2003PearsonEducation,Inc.publishingasBenjaminCummings

Pulmonary
Circuit
Deoxgenated bld frm
superior vena cava & inferior vena cava
(frm upper body parts) (lower body parts)
RIGHT ATRIUM
(via tricuspid valve)
RIGHT VENTRICLE
(via pulmonary arteries)
LUNGS
(exchange of O2 & CO2 b/n blood & air
in alveoli of lungs)
Then oxygenated blood returns to heart
via pulmonary veins

Systemic Circuit
Oxygenated blood returns to the heart
(via pulmonary veins)
LEFT ATRIUM
(via bicuspid valve)
LEFT VENTRICLE
(via aortic valve)
AORTA
-major artery supplies
BODY CELLS /system
(to all body parts/tissues except lungs)
-> Systemic Arteries
systemic capillaries
(site of gas & nutrient exchange)
Becomes Deoxygenated bld- veins
-> Sup. & inf. Vena cava enters
pulmonary circuit

keeps the heartbeat regular