Functions of The Cardiovascular System
Functions of The Cardiovascular System
Functions of The Cardiovascular System
SYSTEM
Cardiovascular System- consist of heart,
blood vessels, and blood
Cardiovascular- pertaining to the heart and
blood vessels
(cardi/o means heart, vascul means blood
vessels, and -ar means pertaining to).
These structures work together to efficiently
pump blood to all body tissues.
HEART
PERICARDIUM
• Any disruption in this blood flow can - form a low-pressure collecting system
result in a stroke or other brain damage. to return oxygen-poor blood to the
heart.
• The arterioles are the smaller, thinner
branches of arteries that deliver blood to
▪ Venules are the smallest veins that
the capillaries. As it enters one end of the join to form the larger veins.
capillary bed, it is here that the rate of ▪ The walls of the veins are thinner and
flow of arterial blood slows. less elastic than those of the arteries.
▪ The venous blood continues its flow at
an increased speed as it continues its
return journey to the heart. Venous
means relating to, or contained in, the
veins.
▪ Veins have valves that enable blood to
flow only toward the heart and to
prevent it from flowing away from the
heart.
▪ Superficial veins are located near the
body surface.
CAPILLARIES ▪ Deep veins are located within the
- which are only one epithelial cell in tissues and away from the body
thickness, are the smallest blood surface.
vessels in the body.
VENA CAVA
▪ Serum is plasma fluid after the blood
- the two largest veins in the body. cells and the clotting proteins have
These are the veins that return blood been removed.
into the heart.
▪ Fibrinogen and prothrombin are
▪ Superior vena cava transports blood the clotting proteins found in plasma.
from the upper portion of the body to
Formed Elements of the Blood
the heart.
▪ Inferior vena cava transports blood 1. Erythrocytes (RBC)
from the lower portion of the body to - transport oxygen to the tissues.
the heart.
- this oxygen is transported by hemoglobin,
PULSE AND BLOOD PRESSURE which is the oxygen-carrying blood protein
pigment of the erythrocytes.
▪ The pulse is the rhythmic pressure
against the walls of an artery
caused by the contraction of the 2. Leukocytes (WBC)
heart.
- blood cells involved in defending the body
▪ Blood pressure is the measurement against infective organisms and foreign
of the amount of systolic and substances.
diastolic pressure exerted against
the walls of the arteries. Neutrophils- through phagocytosis,
neutrophils play a major role in the immune
▪ Systolic pressure, which occurs system’s defense against pathogens, including
when the ventricles contract, is the bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
highest pressure against the walls of
an artery. Phagocytosis- is the process of destroying
pathogens by surrounding and swallowing
▪ The term systole means contraction them.
of the heart, and systolic means
pertaining to this contraction Basophils- are responsible for causing the
phase. symptoms of allergies.
▪ Compression-only resuscitation -
can be effective in keeping a patient
suffering from cardiac arrest alive
until professional responders arrive,
although artificial respiration is still
recommended for children, drowning
victims, and drug overdoses.
ABBREVIATIONS RELATED TO
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM