THE CARDIOVASCULAR
SYSTEM
Chapter 23 Section 1
THE
CARDIOVASCULAR
(CV) SYSTEM
An organ that is part of the cardiovascular system
“Cardio” means heart
“Vascular” means blood vessel
Blood vessels – arteries, capillaries, and veins – carry
blood that is pumped by the heart
YOUR CARDIOVASCULAR (CV)
SYSTEM
Made up of the heart, blood, and blood vessels
The heart creates pressure when it beats
Pressure moves blood through the body
CV system helps to maintain homeostasis
Carries nutrients
Removing wastes
Carries hormones (chemical signals)
THE HEART
Made of mostly cardiac muscle tissue
About the size of your fist in the center of your chest
cavity
Left side of heart carries oxygen rich blood
Right side of heart carries oxygen poor blood
There are upper and lower chambers
Upper chambers: ATRIUM (atria, plural)
Lower chambers: VENTRICLES
THE HEART (CONTINUED…)
Valves: flap-like structures between the atria & ventricles;
also where large arteries attach to the heart
Close to prevent backflow of blood
“lub-dub, lub-dub” sound of beating heart is caused by valves
closing
Tricuspid valve: located on right side between chambers (3
flaps)
Bicuspid (or Mitral) valve: on the left side between
chambers (2 flaps)
THE HEART
http://www.biologyjunction.com/heart_cross_section1.gif
BLOOD VESSELS
3 types:
Arteries – carry blood away from the heart
Capillaries – tiny vessel where gas exchange occurs
Veins – carry blood back to the heart
BLOOD VESSELS
http://www.daviddarling.info/images/blood_vessels.gif
ARTERIES:
Largest artery in the body: aorta
Have thick walls
Contain a layer of smooth muscle
High pressure (blood pressure)
Feel your pulse
Walls can stretch
http://www.jonbarron.org/sites/default/files/images/artery.jpg
CAPILLARIES
Tiny vessels that allow the exchange of nutrients,
oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other wastes
Walls are only one cell thick
Vary narrow
No cell in the body is more than 3-4 cells away from a
capillary
CAPILLARIES
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http://www.uic.edu/classes/bios/bios100/lecturesf04am/capillary.gif
VEINS
After leaving the capillaries, blood enters the veins
Carry blood back to the heart
Valves prevent blood backflow
Skeletal muscle contraction helps push blood back to
heart
VEINS
http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/230998/230998,1265576888,6/stock-vector-anatomy-of-blood-vessels-from-artery-through-capillaries-to-
vein-labeled-46171528.jpg
TWO TYPES OF CIRCULATION
The circulation between heart and lungs:
PULMONARY CIRCULATION
The flow of blood from the heart to the lungs and back to the
heart through the pulmonary arteries, capillaries, and veins
The circulation between the heart and the rest of your
body:
SYSTEMIC CIRCULATION
The flow of blood from the heart to all parts of the body and
back to the heart
CIRCULATION LOOPS:
http://www.biosbcc.net/doohan/sample/images/heart/0283circulation.jpg
CARDIOVASCULAR PROBLEMS:
Causes:
Smoking, high blood cholesterol, stress, physical inactivity,
heredity…
Types of problems:
Atherosclerosis
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Heart attack
Heart failure
BOOK REFERENCE:
Allen, K.Z. (2007). Holt science & technology life
science. Austin, Texas: Holt, Reinhart and Winston.
