The Cardiovascular

System
Gerard Mark C. Santos
Department of Natural Sciences
College of Arts and Sciences
San Beda College

Functions of the Heart

1. Generating blood pressure

Required for blood flow through the blood

vessels

2. Routing blood

Two pumps, moving blood through the

pulmonary and systemic circulations

3. Regulating blood supply

Adjusts blood flow by changing the rate and

force of heart contractions as needed

Systemic and Pulmonary Circulation

Pulmonary circulation
The flow of blood from
the heart through the
lungs back to the heart
Picks up oxygen and
releases carbon dioxide
in the lungs

System circulation
The flow of blood from
the heart through the
body back to the heart
Delivers oxygen and
picks up carbon dioxide
in the bodys tissues
Fig. 17.1

Heart in the Pericardium

Fig. 17.3

Heart Wall

Fig. 17.4

Internal Anatomy of the Heart

Fig. 17.6

Function of the Heart Valves

Fig. 17.8

Blood
Flow
Through
the Heart
Fig. 17.9

Fig.
17.13

Cardiac Cycle
Repetitive contraction and relaxation of the
heart chambers
Overview of Systole and Diastole

Atrial systole is contraction of the atria

Systole is contraction of the ventricles
Atrial diastole is relaxation of the atria
Diastole is relaxation of the ventricles

Cardiac
Cycle

Fig.
17.15

Cardiac Cycle
Heart sounds (lub-dup) are associated
with closing of heart valves
First sound occurs as AV valves close and
signifies beginning of systole
Second sound occurs when SL valves close
at the beginning of ventricular diastole

Fig.
17.17

Baroreceptor and Chemoreceptor Reflexes

Fig. 17.18

Effects of Aging on the Heart

Aging results in gradual changes in the function of
the heart, which are minor under resting
conditions but are more significant during exercise
Some age-related changes to the heart are the
following

Decreased cardiac output and heart rate

Increased cardiac arrhythmias
Hypertrophy of the left ventricle
Development of stenoses or incompetent valves
Development of coronary artery disease and heart
failure

Exercise improves the functional capacity of the

heart at all ages.

Functions of the Peripheral Circulation

The heart provides the major force that

causes blood to circulate
The peripheral circulation
1. Carries blood
2. Exchanges nutrients, waste products, and
gases with tissues
3. Helps regulate blood pressure
4. Directs blood flow to tissues

General Features of Blood Vessels

Arteries carry blood away from the heart

toward capillaries, where exchange between
the blood and interstitial fluid occurs

Blood flows from the heart through elastic arteries,

muscular arteries, and arterioles to the capillaries

Veins carry blood from the capillaries toward

the heart

Blood returns to the heart from the capillaries

through venules, small veins, and large veins

Fig. 18.2

Fig. 18.1

Fig. 18.4

Aging of the Arteries

Arteriosclerosis results from a loss of

elasticity in the aorta, large arteries, and
coronary arteries
Atherosclerosis is the deposition of
materials in arterial walls to form plaques

Systemic Circulation: Arteries

Arteries carry blood
from the left ventricle
of the heart to all
parts of the body

Fig. 18.6

Major Veins

Fig.
18.17

Physiology of Circulation

Blood Pressure
A measure of the force exerted by blood
against the blood vessel wall. Blood moves
through vessels because of blood pressure
Can be measured by listening for Korotkoff
sounds produced by turbulent flow in
arteries as pressure is released from a
blood pressure cuff

Fig.
18.29

Examples of Cardiovascular Regulation

Exercise

Local control mechanisms increase blood flow through

exercising muscles, which lowers peripheral resistance
Cardiac output increases because of increased venous
return, stroke volume, and heart rate
Vasoconstriction in the skin, the kidneys, the
gastrointestinal tract, and skeletal muscle (nonexercising and exercising) increases peripheral
resistance, which helps prevent a drop in blood
pressure
Blood pressure increased despite an overall decrease
in peripheral resistance because of increased cardiac
output

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