The cardiovascular system Flashcards
what is the cardiovascular system?
it’s the transport system of the body
what is the cardiovascular system made up of?
-the heart which pumps blood around the body
-three types of blood vessels to carry blood to other cells
-blood which delivers oxygen and food and removes waste products
what does transport mean?
transports substances around the body, these include oxygen, glucose, carbon dioxide, nutrients and waste products away from the body (the need for this increases as you exercise)
what is temperature regulation?
by controlling the internal diameter of the lumen of the blood vessels, the body maintains the temperature of around 37°C
when the body is hot what does this create?
vasodilation
when the body is cold what does this create?
vasoconstriction
what is vasodilation?
increases blood flow to the skin where it is cooled e.g. during exercise
what is clotting?
platelets in the form of blood clots which seal open wounds
why is clotting important?
it’s important to stop infection and excessive bleeding
what is the heart?
the heart is a muscular organ located between the lungs in the centre of the chest and is about the size of a fist
what type of muscle does the heart consist of?
cardiac muscle
what are the two destinations that the heart pumps blood to?
-the lungs where t becomes oxygenated and returns to the heart
-to the rest of the body where it becomes deoxygenated as it delivers the oxygen it carries to the muscles and organs
describe the route that blood takes through the heart
(1) blood from the veins flows into the atria, which begins to fill, deoxygenated blood enters the right atrium, and oxygenated blood flows into the left atrium
(2) the vena cava and the pulmonary veins prevents backflow from the atria into the main veins
(3) the atria contract, forcing blood into the ventricles, which fill
(4) the main heart valves (tricuspid and bicuspid) are forced shut, so preventing backflow into the atria
(5) the ventricles contract, forcing blood into the aorta and pulmonary artery
(6) the walls of the aorta and pulmonary artery expand
(7) the elastic walls of the aorta and pulmonary artery contract, forcing blood towards the body and the lungs
(8)the atria and ventricles relax
what helps the blood travel through between the atriums and ventricles?
valves
what are the valves anatomical names?
tricuspid and bicuspid valves
