Cardiovascular system

• Cardiovascular System


  The system responsible for circulating blood around the body
• Cardiovascular System


  • Has different functions
• How the heart pumps blood around the body

  1. The heart chambers

  2. Diastole and systole

  3. Blood flow through the heart
• The heart is just a pump
• To understand the left and right sides of the heart, imagine viewing it from behind
• Practice question: Explain the role of the pulmonary artery in physical activity and sport
• Types of blood vessels

  • Arteries
  • Veins
  • Capillaries
• Arteries


  Carry blood away from the heart, have thick muscular walls to withstand high pressure
• Veins


  Carry blood towards the heart, have thinner walls and valves to prevent backflow
• Capillaries


  Carry blood through the body to exchange gases and nutrients, have very thin walls to allow easy passage of substances
• Other blood vessels


  • Arterioles
  • Venules
• Blood flow through the body

  Flows from arteries to arterioles to capillaries to venules to veins
• Types of blood cells

  • Red blood cells
  • White blood cells
• Red blood cells


  Carry oxygen and transport it around the body, contain haemoglobin
• White blood cells


  Fight disease to keep the body healthy and performing well
• Vampires cross the sea in blood vessels
• Practice question: Describe the characteristics of capillaries and explain how they aid performance in physical activity and sport