The Cardiovascular System

● A closed system of the heart and blood vessels Major Arteries

− The heart pumps blood ● Aorta – largest artery and highest pressure
− Blood vessels allow blood to circulate to all parts of − Ascending aorta
the body − Aorta arc
● The function of the cardiovascular system is to deliver − Descending aorta
oxygen and nutrients and to remove carbon dioxide and ● Thoracic aorta – above diaphragm
other waste products ● Abdominal aorta – below diaphragm
● Pulmonary trunk
The Heart − Right pulmonary artery
● Location − Left pulmonary artery
− Thorax between the lungs
− Pointed apex directed toward left hip Major Veins
● About the size of your fist ● Superior Vena Cava
− Base lies along the second rib − Collects venous blood from organs that lie above the
− Apex rests on the diaphragm along the fifth diaphragm
intercostal muscle ● Inferior Vena Cava
− Collects venous blood from organs that lie below the
The Heart: Coverings diaphragm
● Pericardium – a double serous membrane ● Both open and deposit deoxygenated blood to the right
− Visceral pericardium – lies close to the heart atrium.
− Parietal pericardium – outside layer
● Serous fluid fills space between layers of pericardium to The Heart: Associated Great Vessels
prevent friction ● (O) ​Aorta arises from left ventricle
● (D) ​Pulmonary arteries arise from right ventricle
The Heart: Heart Wall ● (D) ​Vena cavae open up into the right atrium
● Epicardium - outer layer (visceral pericardium) ● (O) ​Pulmonary veins open up into the left atrium
− Connective tissue layer No mixing of blood except in Congenital Heart Disease.
● Myocardium – middle layer
− Mostly cardiac muscle Coronary Circulation
● Endocardium – Inner layer ● Blood in the heart chambers does not nourish the
− Endothelium – simple squamous myocardium
● The heart has its own nourishing circulatory system
The Heart: Chambers − Coronary arteries
● Right and left side act as separate pumps − Cardiac veins
● Four chambers – divided by septum − Blood empties into right atrium via coronary sinus
− Atria – receiving chambers (interatrial septum)
● Right atrium – from SVC and IVC Blood Circulation
● 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 ● Systemic Circuit
− Aorta before the succession
Regulation of Heart Rate − Vena cavae after the succession
● 60-100 beats per minute on healthy adults ● Pulmonary Circuit
− Bradychardia – less than 60 – vagus nerve
− Tachychardia – more than 100 – sympathetic NS The Heart: Conduction System
● Intrinsic conduction system (nodal system)
− Heart muscle cells contract, without nerve impulses,
in a regular, continuous way
● Special tissue sets the pace
− Sinoatrial node (Pacemaker)
● Right atrium
− 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 Arterial Supply of the Brain
− Endothelium ● ICA
2. Tunic media ● Vertebral arteries
− Smooth muscle
Vasoconstriction – decrease of the lumen size Fetal circulation
Vasodilation – enlargement of the lumen size In infants Remnants
− Controlled by sympathetic nervous system ● Ductus venosus Ligamentum venosum
3. Tunic externa or adventitia ● Ductus arteriosus Ligamentum arteriosum
− Mostly fibrous connective tissue ● Foramen ovale Fossa ovalis
● Umbilical vein Ligamentum teres
Differences between Blood Vessel Types ● Umbilical arteries Umbilical ligaments
● 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

Capillary Beds
● Capillary beds consist of two types of vessels
1. Vascular shunt – directly connects an arteriole to a
venule
2. True capillaries – exchange vessels
− Oxygen and nutrients cross to cells
− Carbon dioxide and metabolic waste products
cross into blood

Pulse
● Pulse – pressure wave of blood
● Monitored at “pressure points” where pulse is easily
palpated