Download Cardiovascular System aka Circulatory System

Cardio- means heart
 Vascular- means blood vessels
 Aka Circulatory System because its job is
to circulate blood throughout the body.
 Blood carries many materials including:

› Nutrients from food
› Oxygen from the lungs
› Wastes from cells
› Hormones (chemical messages)

Heart- main organ of the cardiovascular
system
› made mostly of cardiac muscle tissue
› Right side pumps oxygen poor blood to the
lungs (left side in pictures)
› Left side pumps oxygen rich blood to the
body (right side in pictures)
› 4 chambers: atrium = upper, ventricle = lower
› One-way valves separate the chambers so
blood can’t flow backwards
Atrium- receives
blood
 Ventricle- sends
blood (thick muscle)

Arteries- carry blood
away from the heart
 Veins- carry blood
towards the heart
 Valves- prevent
backwards flow of
blood


Arteries- bring blood away from heart
› Thick, muscular walls to help pump and
withstand pressure.
› Typically carry oxygenated blood.
› EXCEPTION: Pulmonary artery carries
deoxygenated blood away from heart to the
lungs.

Capillaries- exchange materials with
cells
› Extremely thin-walled blood vessels.
› Exchange O2 and nutrients for CO2 and
wastes.

Veins- bring blood towards the heart
› One-way valves to prevent blood from
flowing backwards
› Typically carry deoxygenated blood.
› EXCEPTION: Pulmonary vein carries
oxygenated blood towards the heart from
the lungs.

Systemic Circulation- blood flow
between the heart and the body.
› Purpose: to deliver O2 and nutrients and pick
up wastes from body cells
› Left ventricle (larger to pump to entire body)

Pulmonary Circulation- blood flow
between the heart and the lungs.
› Purpose: to replenish O2 and drop off CO2 at
lungs.
› Right ventricle

Cardiovascular problems affect your
entire body.
› Atherosclerosis (narrowing of blood vessels)
› Hypertension (high blood pressure)
› Heart attack & stroke- blood flow to heart or
brain is blocked
Causes: smoking, high cholesterol, stress,
physical inactivity, heredity
 Eat healthy and get plenty of exercise to
keep cardiovascular system healthy
