The cardiovascular system

A circulatory system consists of a pump (the heart), a fluid (the blood) and a series of blood vessels (the vascular system). All together those elements form the cardiovascular system.

Functions of the Cardiovascular System

1.Keeps oxygen poor blood separate from oxygen rich blood 2. Keeps the blood flowing in one direction 3. Creates blood pressure

4. Regulates blood supply

Anatomy of the Heart

Cone-shaped muscular organ about the size of a fist In the thoracic cavity between the lungs within mediastinum on slant

The Heart:
Wall and Coverings
Heart coverings
Pericardium
Covers the heart and large blood vessels attached to the heart

Heart walls:
Epicardium
Outermost layer Fat to cushion heart

Visceral pericardium
Innermost layer Directly on the heart

Myocardium
Middle layer Primarily cardiac muscle

Parietal pericardium
Layer on top of the visceral pericardium

Endocardium
Innermost layer Thin and smooth Stretches as the heart pumps

Pericardium

Heart Wall

The Heart

Four chambers Two atria

Upper chambers Left and right Separated by interatrial septum

Two ventricles
Lower chambers Left and right Separated by interventricular septum

Atrioventricular septum separates the atria from the ventricles

Heart

Septum, or wall, separates the right side form the left side preventing mixing of oxygen-rich blood and oxygen-poor blood Flaps of connective tissue called valves divide each side into 2 chambers: totaling 4 chambers

left atrium right atrium

left ventricle septum

right ventricle

 Allow blood to flow in only one direction Four valves

Atrioventricular valves between atria and ventricles
Bicuspid valve (left) Tricuspid valve (right)

The Heart: Valves

Semilunar valves between ventricle and artery

Pulmonary semilunar valve Aortic semilunar valve

The Heart: Valves

Tricuspid valve prevents blood from flowing back into the right atrium when the right ventricle contracts Bicuspid/ Mitral valve prevents blood from flowing back into the left atrium when the left ventricle contracts Pulmonary valve prevents blood from flowing back into the right ventricle Aortic valve prevents blood from flowing back into the left ventricle

The Heart: Valves

Valves open as blood is pumped through Held in place by chordae tendineae (heart strings)

Close to prevent backflow

Operation of Heart Valves

What are the functions of Blood Vessels?

Transport blood and its contents

Carry out exchange of gases

Regulate blood pressure

Direct blood flow

Blood vessels
Arteries Blood pressure in arteries and arterioles carries blood away from the heart.

Blood Vessels:
Arteries and Arterioles Strongest of the blood vessels Arterioles

Carry blood away from the heart

Small branches of arteries

Aorta
Takes blood from the heart to the body

Coronary arteries
Supply blood to heart muscle

Three layers (tunics)

Tunic interna Endothelium Tunic media

Smooth muscle
Controlled by sympathetic nervous system Tunic externa

Mostly fibrous
connective tissue

Blood vessels
Veins Skeletal muscle contractions returns blood in veins and venules to the heart.

Blood Vessels: Veins and Venules

Blood under no pressure in veins
Does not move very easily Skeletal muscle contractions help move blood Sympathetic nervous system also influences pressure

Valves prevent backflow Venules

Small vessels formed when capillaries merge

Superior and inferior vena cava

Largest veins Carry blood into right atrium

Blood Pressure
Force blood exerts on the inner walls of blood vessels
Highest in arteries Lowest in veins

Systolic pressure
Ventricles contract Blood pressure is at its greatest in the arteries

Diastolic pressure
Ventricles relax Blood pressure in arteries is at its lowest

Reported as the systolic number over the diastolic number

20

Blood vessels
Capillaries Thin-walled capillaries permit exchange of materials and gas with the tissues.

Blood Vessels: Capillaries

Branches of arterioles Smallest type of blood vessel Connect arterioles to venules Only about one cell layer thick Oxygen and nutrients can pass out of a capillary into a body cell

Carbon dioxide and other waste products pass out of a body cell into a capillary

Movement of Blood Through Vessels

Most arterial blood is pumped by the heart Veins use the milking action of muscles to help move blood

Capillary Beds
Capillary beds consist of two types of vessels
Vascular shunt directly connects an arteriole to a venule

Figure 11.10

Slide 11.28a

24

Artery/Vein differences
Arteries (aa.) Direction Blood Away from of flow Heart Pressure Higher Walls THICKER: Tunica media thicker than tunica externa Smaller No valves Veins (vv.) Blood to Heart Lower THINNER: Tunica externa thicker than tunica media Larger Valves

Lumen Valves

Sources Mader,sylvia. Introduction to Biology. 5thed

26