ZION
EMERGENCY
AND DISASTER
RESCUE UNIT
Cardiovascular System
The cardiovascular system is sometimes called the blood-vascular, or simply the
circulatory, system.
It consists of the heart, which is a muscular pumping device, and a closed system
of vessels called arteries, veins, and capillaries. As the name implies, blood
contained in the circulatory system is pumped by the heart around a closed circle
or circuit of vessels as it passes again and again through the various "circulations"
of the body.
The vital role of the cardiovascular system in maintaining homeostasis depends
on the continuous and controlled movement of blood through the thousands of
miles of capillaries that permeate every tissue and reach every cell in the body. It
is in the microscopic capillaries that blood performs its ultimate transport
function. Nutrients and other essential materials pass from capillary blood into
fluids surrounding the cells as waste products are removed.
Functions of the cardiovascular system
Blood circulates through a network of vessels throughout the body to provide
individual cells with oxygen and nutrients and helps dispose of metabolic wastes.
The heart pumps the blood around the blood vessels.
Functions of blood and circulation:
• Circulates OXYGEN and removes Carbon Dioxide.
• Provides cells with NUTRIENTS.
• Removes the waste products of metabolism to the excretory organs for
disposal.
• Protects the body against disease and infection.
• Clotting stops bleeding after injury.
• Transports HORMONES to target cells and organs.
• Helps regulate body temperature.
Blood
Blood is made up of about 45% solids (cells) and 55% fluids
(plasma). The plasma is largely water, containing proteins,
nutrients, hormones, antibodies, and dissolved waste products.
General types of blood cells: (each has many different sub-types)
ERYTHROCYTES
(red cells) are small red disk shaped cells. They contain
HAEMOGLOBIN, which combines with oxygen in the lungs and is
then transported to the body's cells. The haemoglobin then returns
carbon dioxide waste to the lungs. Erythrocytes are formed in the
bone marrow in the knobby ends of bones.
LEUKOCYTES
(white cells) help the body fight bacteria and infection. When a
tissue is damaged or has an infection the number of leukocytes
increases. Leukocytes are formed in the small ends of bones.
Leukocytes can be classed as granular or non granular. There are
three types of granular leukocytes (eosinophils, neutrophils, and
basophils), and three types of non-granular (monocytes, T-cell
lymphocytes, and B-cell lymphocytes).
THROMBOCYTES
(platelets) aid the formation of blood CLOTS by releasing various
protein substances. When the body is injured thrombocytes
disintegrate and cause a chemical reaction with the proteins found
in plasma, which eventually create a thread like substance called
FIBRIN. The fibrin then "catches" other blood cells which form the
clot, preventing further loss of blood and forms the basis of
healing.
ARTERIES
carry oxygenated blood away from the heart. They are thick
hollow tubes which are highly ELASTIC which allows them to
DILATE (widen) and constrict (narrow) as blood is forced down
them by the heart. Arteries branch and re-branch, becoming
smaller until they become small ARTERIOLES which are even
more elastic. Arterioles feed oxygenated blood to the
capillaries. The AORTA is the largest artery in the body, taking
blood from the heart, branching into other arteries that send
oxygenated blood to the rest of the body.
CAPILLARIES
distribute the nutrients
and oxygen to the body's
tissues and remove
deoxygenated blood and
waste. They are extremely
thin, the walls are only one
cell thick and connect the
arterioles with the venules
(very small veins).
VENULES
(very small veins) merge into VEINS which carry blood back to the
heart. The vein walls are similar to arteries but thinner and less
elastic. Veins carry deoxygenated blood towards the lungs where
oxygen is received via the pulmonary capillaries. The PULMONARY
Veins then carries this oxygenated blood back to the heart.
HEART
The human heart is a muscular
organ about the size of your fist,
located in the center of the
thoracic cavity. The heart has four
chambers: two upper called ATRIA
and two lower chamber called
VENTRICLES. Cardiovascular
System Circulation of blood.
The heart is a muscular pumping organ located medial to the
lungs along the body’s midline in the thoracic region. The bottom
tip of the heart, known as its apex, is turned to the left, so that
about 2/3 of the heart is located on the body’s left side with the
other 1/3 on right. The top of the heart, known as the heart’s
base, connects to the great blood vessels of the body: the aorta,
vena cava, pulmonary trunk, and pulmonary veins.
Roots, suffixes, and prefixes
Most medical terms are comprised of a root word plus a suffix (word
ending) and/or a prefix (beginning of the word). Here are some
examples related to the Integumentary System.
COMPONENT meaning example
CARDIO- heart echocardiogram = sound wave image of the heart.
CYTE- cell thrombocyte = clot forming cell.
HAEM- blood haematoma - a tumour or swelling filled with blood.
THROMB- clot, lump thrombocytopenia = deficiency of thrombocytes in the blood
ETHRO- red ehtrocyte = red blood cell
LEUKO- white leukocyte = white blood cell
SEP, SEPTIV- toxicity due to micro-organisms septicaemia
VAS- vessel / duct cerebrovascular = blood vessels of the cerebrum of the brain.
HYPER- excessive hyperglycaemia = excessive levels of glucose in blood.
HYPO- deficient / below hypoglycaemia = abnormally low glucose blood levels.
-PENIA deficiency neutropenia = low levels of neutrophilic leukocytes.
-EMIA condition of blood anaemia = abnormally low levels of red blood cells.
