The Cardiovascular System
 A closed system of the heart and blood vessels
 The heart pumps blood
 Blood vessels allow blood to circulate to all parts of
the body
 The function of the cardiovascular system is to deliver
oxygen and nutrients and to remove carbon dioxide and
other waste products
The Heart
 Location
 Thorax between the lungs
 Pointed apex directed toward left hip
 About the size of your fist
 Base lies along the second rib
 Apex rests on the diaphragm along the fifth
intercostal muscle
The Heart: Coverings
 Pericardium – a double serous membrane
 Visceral pericardium – lies close to the heart
 Parietal pericardium – outside layer
 Serous fluid fills space between layers of pericardium to
prevent friction
The Heart: Heart Wall
 Epicardium - outer layer (visceral pericardium)
 Connective tissue layer
 Myocardium – middle layer
 Mostly cardiac muscle
 Endocardium – Inner layer
 Endothelium – simple squamous
The Heart: Chambers
 Right and left side act as separate pumps
 Four chambers – divided by septum
 Atria – receiving chambers (interatrial septum)
 Right atrium – from SVC and IVC
 Left atrium – from 4 pulmonary veins
 Ventricles – discharging chambers (interventricular
septum)
 Right ventricle – to 2 pulmonary arteries
 Left ventricle – to aorta
o Relatively thicker because it absorbs pressure
from aorta
The Heart: Valves
 Allow blood to flow in only one direction
 Atrioventricular valves between atria and ventricles
 Bicuspid or Mitral valve (left)
 Tricuspid valve (right)
 Semilunar valves between ventricle and artery
 Pulmonary semilunar valve
 Aortic semilunar valve
 Valves open as blood is pumped through
 Held in place by chordae tendineae (“heart strings”)
 Close to prevent backflow
Operation of Heart Valves
 S1 (first heartbeat) – closure of the AV valves
 S2 (second heartbeat) – closure of the SL valves
 Cardiac Cycle – 0.8 seconds to complete
Regulation of Heart Rate
 60-100 beats per minute on healthy adults
 Bradychardia – less than 60 – vagus nerve
 Tachychardia – more than 100 – sympathetic NS
Major Arteries
 Aorta – largest artery and highest pressure
 Ascending aorta
 Aorta arc
 Descending aorta
 Thoracic aorta – above diaphragm
 Abdominal aorta – below diaphragm
 Pulmonary trunk
 Right pulmonary artery
 Left pulmonary artery
Major Veins
 Superior Vena Cava
 Collects venous blood from organs that lie above the
diaphragm
 Inferior Vena Cava
 Collects venous blood from organs that lie below the
diaphragm
 Both open and deposit deoxygenated blood to the right
atrium.
The Heart: Associated Great Vessels
 (O) Aorta arises from left ventricle
 (D) Pulmonary arteries arise from right ventricle
 (D) Vena cavae open up into the right atrium
 (O) Pulmonary veins open up into the left atrium
No mixing of blood except in Congenital Heart Disease.
Coronary Circulation
 Blood in the heart chambers does not nourish the
myocardium
 The heart has its own nourishing circulatory system
 Coronary arteries
 Cardiac veins
 Blood empties into right atrium via coronary sinus
 Vasodilation – enlargement of the lumen size
 Controlled by sympathetic nervous system
3. Tunic externa or adventitia
 Mostly fibrous connective tissue

Differences between Blood Vessel Types

 Walls of arteries are the thickest
 Lumens of veins are larger
 Skeletal muscle “milks” blood in veins toward the heart
 Walls of capillaries are only one cell layer thick to allow
for exchanges between blood and tissue

Movement of Blood through Vessels

 Most arterial blood is pumped by the heart
 Veins use the milking action of muscles to help move
blood

Blood Circulation Capillary Beds

 Systemic Circuit  Capillary beds consist of two types of vessels
 Aorta before the succession 1. Vascular shunt – directly connects an arteriole to a
 Vena cavae after the succession venule
 Pulmonary Circuit 2. True capillaries – exchange vessels
 Oxygen and nutrients cross to cells
The Heart: Conduction System  Carbon dioxide and metabolic waste products
 Intrinsic conduction system (nodal system) cross into blood
 Heart muscle cells contract, without nerve impulses,
in a regular, continuous way Pulse
 Special tissue sets the pace  Pulse – pressure wave of blood
 Sinoatrial node (Pacemaker)  Monitored at “pressure points” where pulse is easily
 Right atrium palpated
 Atrioventricular node
 Junction of right atria and ventricle
 Atrioventricular bundle (Bundle of His)
 Proximal end of the interventricular septum
 Bundle branches (right and left)
 Distal end of the interventricular septum
 Purkinje fibers
 Posterior ventricular wall

Blood Vessels: The Vascular System

 Taking blood to the tissues and back
 Arteries
 Arterioles
 Capillaries
 Venules
 Veins

Blood Vessels: Anatomy

 Three layers (tunics)
1. Tunic interna or intima
 Endothelium Arterial Supply of the Brain
2. Tunic media  ICA
 Smooth muscle  Vertebral arteries
Vasoconstriction – decrease of the lumen size
Fetal circulation
In infants Remnants
 Ductus venosus Ligamentum venosum
 Ductus arteriosus Ligamentum arteriosum
 Foramen ovale Fossa ovalis
 Umbilical vein Ligamentum teres
 Umbilical arteries Umbilical ligaments