CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM

BLOOD VESSELS AND BLOOD

Phases of heart contraction

• Systole - (contraction) refers to the

phase of contraction.
• Diastole - the phase of relaxation
(dilation or expansion).

Blood Vessels

Three main types

1. Veins
 Carry blood towards the heart
 Usually carries unoxygenated blood
except Pulmonary Veins
 Contain Valves to prevent back flow
 Darker red in color
a. Venioles – smaller veins
2. Arteries
 Carry blood away from the heart
 Usually carries oxygenated blood except on the
Aorta
 Thicker Tunica media
 Contain pulse
 Brighter red in color
a. Arterioles – smaller arteries
3. Capillaries
 Facilitate transfer of O2, Nutrients, waste in blood and
tissue
 Smallest vessels for transfer of oxygenated blood to
unoxygenated blood from the tissue and vice versa

Features of the Circulatory System

Pulse
Surging of blood through arteries
Pulse rate not the same as HR
Stroke volume
Amount of blood discharged by one ventricle
Cardiac Output
Amount of blood discharged in one minute
Blood Pressure
Two phases
Systolic
– Upper number (90-140mmhg)
– Is a measure of maximal pressure
Diastolic
– Lower number (60-90mmhg)
– Measure of minimum pressure
 CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM

BLOOD
• A connective tissue
• Means of communication between the cells and different parts of the body
• Hematology – science that studies blood and blood disorders

Functions
• Transport of O2, CO2, nutrients, heat,
wastes, and hormones
• Regulation of pH, body temperature,
and water content of cells
• Hemostasis, prevention of blood loss
• Defense mechanism via leukocytes

Characteristics
• Greater viscosity than water
• Temp : 38 degree C
• pH : 7.4
• 8% of body weight
• Blood volume ranges b/n 4-6 L
(77mL/kg)
– Female: 4-6 L
– Male : 5-6 L

BLOOD COMPONENTS
• Plasma – Fluid component
• Erythropoietin – RBC
• Thrombopoietin – platelet
• Cytokines - WBC

Plasma
• Water (91%)
• Solutes ( 9%)
– Proteins such as globulins,
albumin, fibrinogen
– Nutrients
– Enzymes
– Hormones
– Respiratory gassess (O2,CO2)
– Electrolytes (Na, Cl,K)
Erythrocytes (Red Blood Cells)
• Contain Oxygen – Hemoglobin
• Approximately 4.5-5 million per microliter
of blood, where 1 drop is equivalent to 50
microliters.
• Biconcave discs without nuclei
• Live for 120 days

• Neutrophils/ wandering or fixed macrophages

Leukocytes (White Blood Cells) – Phagocytosis
• Nucleated cells • Eosinophils
• (-) hemoglobin, (+) Cytoplasmic granules – Histamine/allergic rxns, parasitic worms
Eosinophils, Basophils,
• Basophils
neutrophils
– Mast cells
• Physiology
– Live for few hours/days • B-Lymphocytes
– 5,000 to 10,000 per microliter – Plasma Cells
– *philia means increase • T-Lymphocytes
– *penia means decrease – Destroy directly
• NK-Lymphocytes
– Tumor cells, microbes
• Monocytes
– Blood to tissue
 CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM

Platelets
• Thrombopoietin
• 150,000 – 400,000 platelets per
microliter
• Lifespan 5-9 days
• Prevent bleeding
• Promote blood clot

Hemostasis
• Stoppage of bleeding
• Involves 3 process
– Vascular spasm: vessel
constriction
– Platelet plug formation:
clumping of platelets
– Blood coagulation: clot,
protein fibers (fibrin)
wherein formed elements
are also trapped

Blood Groups