P.
E Explanation 5 Major Functions of the
CardiovascularSystem
The cardiovascular system, also
known as the circulatory system,
includes the heart, arteries, veins,
capillaries and blood. The heart
functions as the pump that moves
blood through the body. The arterial
circulation delivers blood from the
heart to the body, and the venous
circulation carries it back to the
heart. Capillaries are tiny blood
vessels at the interface of the
arterial and venous circulation
where exchange of substances
between the blood and body tissues
occurs. The cardiovascular system
serves several major functions that
are necessary for life.
Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide
Transport
Supplying oxygen to the body is the
most essential function of the
cardiovascular system. Although all
cells require oxygen, brain cells are
the most sensitive and begin to die
in as little as 3 minutes if deprived
of oxygen. During inhalation, air
enters the lungs and oxygen is
absorbed through the air sacs into
the bloodstream. This oxygen-rich
blood is pumped through the heart
into the arterial circulation. In the
capillaries, oxygen diffuses out of
the blood and into the cells of the
body's organs and tissues. At the
same time, carbon dioxide -- a
waste product produced by cells --
is absorbed into the blood and
transported to the lungs through the
venous circulation. When this
oxygen-poor blood reaches the
lungs, carbon dioxide diffuses
through the air sacs and is then
exhaled. This cycle occurs with
every breath.
Nutrient and Waste Product
Transport
Delivering nutrients to the body is
another critical function of the
cardiovascular system. After food is
digested in the stomach and
intestines, its component nutrients
are absorbed into the bloodstream.
These nutrients include sugars,
fats, vitamins, minerals and protein
building blocks called amino acids.
Each of these nutrients is vital to
healthy body function. For example,
the sugar glucose is the body's
primary fuel to generate energy,
and amino acids enable the body to
manufacture new cells. Like
oxygen, nutrients diffuse from the
bloodstream into body cells via the
capillaries. In addition to carbon
dioxide, the circulatory system picks
up metabolic waste products and
toxins and transports them to the
liver, kidneys and lungs for eventual
elimination from the body.
Disease Protection and their body-wide delivery via the
Healing circulatory system.
Body Temperature
The circulatory system serves as
the highway for disease-fighting
Regulation
cells and proteins, and messengers Body temperature regulation is an
of the immune system. Immune often overlooked but important
system cells called white blood cells function of the cardiovascular
patrol the body in search of system. Optimal function of the
invading germs. If an infection human body occurs within a
occurs, these cells send chemical relatively narrow temperature
alarm signals that travel through the range, which is tightly regulated. If
bloodstream, which subsequently body temperature begins to rise,
transports infection-fighting cells to blood vessels close to the body
the site of the infection. The surface dilate, increasing in size.
circulatory system also carries This allows the body to rid itself
chemical messengers that attract excess heat through the skin.
cells to heal tissues that have been Conversely, if body temperature
damaged due to injury or disease. drops, surface blood vessels
Hormone Delivery constrict to conserve body heat.
The cardiovascular system works in
Hormones are chemical concert with the body's sweating
messengers produced by endocrine mechanism as the primary
glands that affect distant organs. regulators of body temperature.
The cardiovascular system serves
as the transportation connection
between the endocrine glands and
the organs or tissues they control
via hormones. For example,
hormones produced in the pituitary
gland in the brain control other
endocrine glands -- such as the
thyroid, ovaries and testes -- as well
as directing childhood growth.
Similarly, the blood-sugar-lowering
hormone insulin produced in the
pancreas affects the uptake and
use of blood sugar throughout the
body. And thyroid hormones affect
the metabolic rate of virtually every
body organ and tissue, thanks to