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Unit 5-p3 the cardiovascular system
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- OCR
Unit 5-p3 the cardiovascular system
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The cardiovascular systemThe cardiovascular system consists of the heart, blood vessels, and blood. The cardiovascular system
also is known as the circulatory system transports and supplies oxygen to the cells in the body. The
cells require oxygen to survive, oxygen is supplied as most cells do not have direct contact. The
cardiovascular system also supplies the body with nutrients and energy. When food is digested it
travels through the intestines and is absorbed into the bloodstream along with glucose from the
liver. The blood also absorbs waste matter and transports them to excretory organs. The blood also
transports cells that fight disease, these are created by organs in the immune system. The
cardiovascular system is also responsible for the transportation of hormones produced in a singular
location within the body and then transported to another. The circulatory system also aids in the
regulation of body temperature. If the temperature becomes too low, the blood vessels will
constrict, the smaller surface area of the blood vessels will cause less heat to escape, conserving
more body heat.
The main function in summary
The cardiovascular system has three main functions, transport of nutrients, oxygen, and hormones
to cells throughout the body, regulation of body temperature and clotting of open wounds. The
cardiovascular system transports nutrients to the cells of your body via capillaries, tiny blood vessels
that connect arteries to veins. Nutrients, oxygen and wastes all pass in and out of your blood
through capillary walls. To regulate the temperature, the blood vessels become narrower, they
constrict which allows less blood flow through the skin, conserving the core body temperature.
Lastly, the cardiovascular system clots open wounds by creating a thick mass of blood tissue to help
the body stop bleeding. Proteins in your blood called fibrins work with small blood cells called
platelets to form the clot.
Main components of the cardiovascular system
The cardiovascular system consists of the arteries, aorta, superior and inferior vena cava, the right
and left atrium, the left and right ventricle, the pulmonary artery, vein, and valve, the tricuspid valve,
the pericardium, the ventricular septum, the mitral valve, and the aortic valve.
Arteries
The arteries are blood vessels that transport oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the tissues of the
body. Each artery is a muscular tube covered in smooth tissue consisting of three layers the intima,
the media, and the adventitia.
The intima, is the inner layer which is lined by a smooth tissue known as endothelium. Secondly the
adventitia, is connective tissue that anchors arteries to nearby tissues, and finally the last layer the
media, is a layer of muscle that allows arteries to handle the high pressures from the heart.
The main function of the arteries is to transport blood from the heart to the tissues of the body.
Aorta
The aorta is another artery. The aorta is the main artery that carries blood away from your heart to
the rest of your body. When blood leaves the heart via the aortic valve, it goes through the aorta,
making a curve that connects with other important arteries to transport oxygen fuelled blood to the
muscles, brain, and other cells.
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