Cardiovascular System
The Cardiovascular System The cardiovascular system consists of a heart and an enclosed system of blood vessels categories into arteries, capillaries and veins. The heart is a muscle about the size of the fist; its wall is made up of a muscle known as the Cardiac Muscle, and is located between the two lungs and lies left of the middle of the chest (cliff notes). A fibrous covering known as the pericardium which surrounds around the whole heart holds the heart in place but allows it to move as it beats. The outer wall is made up of three layers known as the epicardium (outer), myocardium (middle) and endocardium (inner). The heart has two sides a right and a left and it has 4 chambers. “The top 2 are known as the left and right atrium. The left atrium receives blood from the lungs while the right atrium receives blood from the rest of the body. The bottom two are known as the right and left ventricles”. The right ventricle pumps the blood to the lungs while the lings enrich deoxygenated blood with oxygen (Buzzle). “The heart, blood vessels and blood help transport vital nutrients throughout the body, regulate body temperature, protect the body from pathogens and removing metabolic waste” (Buzzle). The heart pumps oxygenated blood to different parts of the body. The blood contains plasma, white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. The White Blood Cells help in protecting the body from disease-causing pathogens. The Red Blood Cells carry oxygen to the tissues. The platelets are involved with the coagulation of the blood. The heart contains blood vessels that are categorized into arteries, capillaries and veins. The arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the body from the heart. The Capillaries are small blood vessels that connect the arterioles to small veins called venules. “These small veins branch out into a network of larger veins that carry blood to the Vena Cava (largest vein of the body). They distribute oxygen and nutrients
Citations: CliffsNotes.com. Functions of the Cardiovascular System. 28 Feb 2013
http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/topicArticleId-277792,articleId-277673.html
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http://www.buzzle.com/articles/cardiovascular-system-function.html
http://www.ehow.com/info_8215196_medical-assistant-responsbilties-cardiology.html