Cardiovascular System

Cardiovascular System
o Cardiovascular system is a closed system of tubes which
consists of heart and blood vessels.
o William Harvey (1628) discovered the circulation of the
blood.
Circulation
o Two circuits
The pulmonary circulation
The systemic circulation
The Pulmonary Circulation
o The blood passes from the heart through the pulmonary
arteries (CO2) to the lungs and returns through the
pulmonary veins (O2) to the heart.
The Systemic Circulation
o From the heart, the blood passes through the arteries to all
parts of the body and returns to the heart through the
superior and inferior vena cava and cardiac veins.

 Types of Blood Vessels

(Angiology - study of blood and lymphatic vessels)
o Arteries
Large or Elastic or Conducting Arteries
Aorta, brachiocephalic trunk, left common carotid
and left subclavian artery and pulmonary arteries
Their walls contain elastic tissue
o Medium-Sized / Muscular / Distributing Arteries
Continuation of the elastic arteries
Their walls contain more smooth muscle.
Branches arise from the main trunk at
Acute angle (E.g. Superior mesenteric artery)
At right angle (E.g. Renal arteries)
At obtuse angle (E.g. Recurrent arteries)
They differ in rate of blood flow and arteriosclerosis
usually occurs in a branch near its origin.
o Arterioles Are the smallest division of the arteries
Diameter is less than 100 m (0.1 mm).
The walls are relatively thick in relation to the small
lumen
Consist mostly of smooth muscle
The arterioles provide the greatest resistance to the
flow of blood
Their constriction serves to reduce the pressure of the
blood before it enters the capillaries.

o Capillaries (capillus = hair)

Communicating link between arterioles & venules
Act as a semi-permeable membrane (exchange)
- 1 mm long and 7 or more in diameter
Three different types
Continuous capillaries - muscle
Fenestrated capillaries - kidney, endocrine
gland and intestine.
Discontinuous capillaries (sinusoid) - liver,
spleen.
The cornea, the epidermis and hyaline cartilage do not
have capillaries.
o Cavernous Tissue
It is the numerous blood-filled spaces
Lined with endothelium
Separated by fibrous septa containing smooth muscle

E.g. Erectile tissue

Corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum of the penis
Corpora cavernosa of the clitoris
Lining of the nasal cavity

Veins
o Venules
Small sized vessels
Collect blood from the capillary plexus
Join similar vessels to form vein
o Superficial veins
Run independently of arteries in subcutaneous tissue
4

o Deep veins
Accompany the arteries and have the same name
Medium sized arteries usually below the elbow and
knee are often accompanied by two veins, one on each
side (venae comitantes)
o Venous return to the heart
Mostly by way of vena cavae
Alternate pathways which do not accompany the
arteries are
Azygos system
Vertebral system
Portal system
o Valves
Valves are present in many veins
Prevent the reverse flow of blood
Consist of one to three cusps
Directed toward the heart
Numerous in the veins of the limbs
Absent in most veins of the trunk, portal and vertebral
systems
Superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, veins of the
head and neck (including the ophthalmic veins and the
dural sinuses), vertebral, cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic
and pelvic veins and portal vein do not have true
valves
o Varicose Veins
Varicose veins are veins that have become enlarged
and twisted
6

 When veins become varicose, the cusps of the valves

no longer meet properly, and the valves do not work
(valvular incompetence)
This allows blood to flow backwards and they enlarge
even more
Arterio-Venous Anastomosis or Shunt
o Arterioles communicate directly with venules (by-pass the
capillaries)
Prevent loss of heat - In skin of the palm of the hand,
skin of terminal phalanges (fingertips) known as Glomus
bodies, skin of the nose, lips and eyelids, tip of the
tongue and in the intestine
Anastomosis
o Arteries anastomose with each other
E.g.
Hand and foot (palmar and plantar arch)
Base of the brain (arterial circle)
Around the joints (around the elbow or knee)

o Provide
Collateral circulation if one artery is occluded
Equalization between two arteries
End Arteries
o Anatomical End Artery
Arteries that do not anastomose with neighbouring
arteries
If artery is occluded it would cause serious nutritional
disturbances resulting in death (necrosis) of the tissue
7

 E.g. Central retinal artery and its occlusion result in

blindness.

o Functional End Artery

An artery anastomosing so poorly with neighbouring
artery that an adequate blood supply is not maintained
after its occlusion
E.g. Arteries supplying segments of the brain, kidney, heart
spleen and intestine.

o Vasa vasorum
Blood vessels that supply nutrient to blood vessels

ARTERY

VEIN

1. Carry oxygenated blood

away from the heart

1. Carry deoxygenated blood

towards the heart

2. Yellowish or bluish colour in

living

2. Dark blue in living

3. Walls are thick to withstand

pressure from the lumen

3. Walls are thinner to

withstand little pressure
from the lumen

4. Diameters are small

4. Diameters are larger than

those of the corresponding
arteries

5. O2 content in the blood is

high (except in the
pulmonary artery)

5. O2 content of blood in
them is low

6. The blood spurts out when

the artery is cut. Its cut
ends retract and thus the
bleeding stops

6. The blood oozes out when

vein is cut.

7. Their thicker walls do not

collapse after death.

7. Their thinner wall collapse

if blood drains out of them
after death

8. Characterized by pulsation

8. Do not pulsate

9. They have no valves

9. Valves are present, to

prevent backflow of blood

10.
The flow of blood is
more rapid

10.
The flow of blood is
slower

11.
Their structure is fairly
constant and less
numerous

11.
Their structure is les
constant and more
numerous than arteries