Cardiovascular System

The Heart

 It is a pump which propels the blood into the blood vessels

 It is formed of 4 chambers:
The Heart
 On right side: right atrium & right ventricle
 On left side: left atrium & left ventricle

Flow of the Blood in

the the Heart
 Flow of the Blood in the the Heart
 It receives venous blood (deoxygenated) from whole body (through the superior vena cava, inferior vena
cava). Blood passes down through the right atrio-ventricular orifice, guarded by tricuspid valve into the Right atrium
right ventricle
 It receives blood from the right atrium and pumps it to the lungs through the pulmonary trunk (which
Right ventricle
will divides into 2 pulmonary arteries) guarded by pulmonary valve
 It receives oxygenated blood from the lungs through 4 pulmonary veins (2 from each lung). Blood passes
Left atrium
through the left atrio-ventricular orifice, guarded by mitral valve into the left ventricle
 It receives blood from the left atrium and pumps it through the aorta guarded by aortic valve to the whole
Left ventricle
body
The Heart Valves
 Valves are present inside the heart.
 They permit the blood to pass in one direction only from the atria to the ventricles & from the The Heart Valves
ventricles to the arteries
The Blood Supply of The Heart The Blood Vessels Connected to The Heart
 The Blood Vessels
 Arteries
 Connection between arteries and veins They include
 Veins
The Arteries

 Elastic vessels which carry blood away from the heart

 Like trees, arteries give branches.
 A big artery gives medium sized arteries which give arterioles and
smaller arterioles which finally give arterial capillaries.
 Arteries may communicate with each other (anastomosis)
The Arteries

 Function of the anastomosis is if the main artery supplying a region is obstructed, blood can find an
alternative pathway through these anastomosis.
 Anastomosis is rich in regions where movements can interfere with continuous constant circulation,
e.g., around joints and in hands & feet
 Arteries which have no communications with neighbouring arteries are called end arteries.
 Anatomical end arteries: no connection exists at all between the arteries. If this artery is obstructed,
damage of the area supplied by it takes place e.g. central retinal artery of the eye. Types of End
 Functional end arteries: anastomosis exists between the arteries, but if the main artery is obstructed the Arteries
anastomosis can not compensate as an alternative pathway e.g. coronary arteries of the heart.
 The Veins

 Veins are wide thin walled vessels which carry blood to

the heart
 Like rivers veins have tributaries. The Veins
 Venous capillaries collect into small venules, larger
venules, small veins & finally large veins
 Connections between arteries and veins

 Capillaries are minute vessels which connect arterioles & venules

 They have very thin walls & serve as the site of exchange between
blood & tissues

 Arterio-venous anastomosis
 Direct connections between small arterioles & venules. Connections
 They are numerous in skin of lips, hands, feet & nose between arteries
 Their walls are surrounded by sphincters which open & close to and veins
control blood supply to the organ & regulate body temperature

 Sinusoids
 Irregular wide spaces than capillaries.
 Present in many sites like liver, spleen, bone marrow &
suprarenal glands
 Cells lining sinusoids include phagocytic Kupffer cells
 Circulation of blood
 Blood passes from left ventricle to aorta which branches to
supply the whole body
 Venous blood is collected to reach the right atrium by 3 veins: Systemic
 Superior vena cava draining upper ½ of body. Circulation
 Inferior vena cava draining lower ½ of body
 Coronary sinus draining the heart

 Blood passes from right ventricle to the lungs through the

pulmonary artery. Pulmonary
 In the lungs gaseous exchange takes place & oxygenated Circulation
blood returns to the left atrium by the pulmonary veins

 Blood passes from GIT capillaries (contains nutrients) to portal

vein → liver sinusoids→ hepatic veins → then to IVC.
 It starts from capillaries (in the GIT) & ends in capillaries or Hepatic Portal
sinusoids (in the liver). circulation
 Inside liver cells, the nutrients substances are processed into
glucose, fat and proteins.
Important Notes
 Important Blood Vessels

Neck
Upper Limb (Arteries)
 External Jugular Vein
 Surface projections
 Superficial to Sternoclediomastoid
(anatomy) of the main
muscle (SCM)
arteries of the upper limb.
 Internal Jugular Vein
 AxA, axillary artery;
 Deep to Sternoclediomastoid muscle
 Bra, brachial artery; RaA,
(SCM)
radial artery;
 Subclavian Vein

Catheterization of the Catheterization of the right internal

right subclavian vein. jugular vein.
Measuring Blood Pressure Using a Sphygmomanometer
 Important Blood Vessels

Upper Limb (Veins)

 Surface projections (anatomy) of the main vein of the upper
limb.
 CV, cephalic vein;
 Bve, basilic vein;
 ABV, antibrachialvein;
 MCV, median cubital vein

Lower Limb (Arteries)

Upper Limb (venipuncture or phlebotomy)