Cardiovascular System
The cardiovascular system is an organ system comprised of the heart, blood and blood vessels. The cardiovascular system forms a part of the circulatory system, which circulates blood, lymph and oxygen throughout the body. The cardiovascular system works in conjunction with the digestive system to move nutrients throughout the body, and is also closely related to nervous system function. Here are some facts and functions of the cardiovascular system.
1. The Heart is at the Center of the Cardiovascular System
The heart pumps oxygenated blood to the body and deoxygenated blood to the lungs. The heart has four chambers; one atrium and one ventricle for pumping oxygenated blood, and one atrium and one ventricle for pumping deoxygenated blood. The left side receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it, through the aorta, to the rest of the body. The right side receives deoxygenated blood and pumps it back to the lungs. 2. Arteries Carry Blood Away from the Heart
Arteries carry oxygenated, nutrient rich blood away from the heart, to distribute it among the tissues of the body. The thick walls of your arteries contain muscle that absorbs the pressure of the heart beat and helps slow down the flow of the blood. Arteries are often located very close to the surface of the skin. You can feel the pressure of your arterial heart beat in your wrist when you take your pulse.
3. Veins Carry Blood Back to the Heart
Veins carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart, so it can be pumped into the lungs where it will gather more oxygen. Veins have thinner walls than arteries, because, by the time your blood reaches your veins, it has lost much of the pressure it had when it was pumped out of the heart. Veins are usually located further beneath the skin than arteries.
4. Arterioles and Capillaries Ensure that Blood is Distributed to All Organs
Arteries divide into smaller blood vessels known as arterioles. Arterioles then divide into much smaller blood vessels called
1. The Heart is at the Center of the Cardiovascular System
The heart pumps oxygenated blood to the body and deoxygenated blood to the lungs. The heart has four chambers; one atrium and one ventricle for pumping oxygenated blood, and one atrium and one ventricle for pumping deoxygenated blood. The left side receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it, through the aorta, to the rest of the body. The right side receives deoxygenated blood and pumps it back to the lungs. 2. Arteries Carry Blood Away from the Heart
Arteries carry oxygenated, nutrient rich blood away from the heart, to distribute it among the tissues of the body. The thick walls of your arteries contain muscle that absorbs the pressure of the heart beat and helps slow down the flow of the blood. Arteries are often located very close to the surface of the skin. You can feel the pressure of your arterial heart beat in your wrist when you take your pulse.
3. Veins Carry Blood Back to the Heart
Veins carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart, so it can be pumped into the lungs where it will gather more oxygen. Veins have thinner walls than arteries, because, by the time your blood reaches your veins, it has lost much of the pressure it had when it was pumped out of the heart. Veins are usually located further beneath the skin than arteries.
4. Arterioles and Capillaries Ensure that Blood is Distributed to All Organs
Arteries divide into smaller blood vessels known as arterioles. Arterioles then divide into much smaller blood vessels called