3.3

• function of the cardiovascular system - transport oxygen, waste, nutrients to cells in the body
• right side of the heart - pumps blood to the lungs

  • drops off carbon and picks up oxygen
• left side of the heart - receives oxygen rich blood and pumps it to the rest of the body
• 4 chambers in the heart

  1. right atrium
  2. right ventricle
  3. left atrium
  4. left ventricle
• aorta - main artery that carries blood from the heart to the body
• pathway of blood flow

  1. deoxygenated blood enters the right atrium through the top
  2. the right atrium contracts forcing blood into the right ventricle
  3. the right ventricle contracts to send blood through a series of valves that take the blood to the lungs
  4. diffusion of gasses takes place, the blood is now oxygenated
  5. the oxygenated blood is pumped to the left atrium
  6. The left atrium CONTRACTS, forcing blood into the LEFT VENTRICLE.
  7. the left ventricle CONTRACTS, forcing blood into the AORTA
  8. blood is carried to all body tissues
• arteries -

  • vessels that carry blood away from your heart
  • Break down into smaller arterioles
  • Have thicker muscular layer than veins since they have to withstand high pressure as the blood leaves the heart
• veins - vessels that carry blood to your heart

  • Thinner and have one-way valves to prevent backflow of blood
  • Break down into smaller venules 
• capillaries -

  • Made of specialized epithelial tissue only 1 cell layer thick
  • Very narrow so that blood cells must pass through single file
  • these adaptations help increase the rate of gas exchange between blood and cell
• blood consists of

  • red blood cells
  • white blood cells
  • platlets
  • plasma
• Red Blood Cells - Carry oxygen to your cells

  • Mature red blood cells do not have a nucleus (more room to transport oxygen)
  • Very flexible – allowing them to maneuver through small spaces
• White Blood Cells - Specialized to fight infection
• Platelets - Help stop bleeding at cuts
• Plasma- Liquid portion of the blood that holds and transports nutrients and waste products
• • Atherosclerosis - buildup of cholesterol in the arteries; narrows the arteries making it difficult for blood to flow
  • Sometimes hereditary, sometimes caused by lifestyle
• • Hypertension- also known as high blood pressure
  • Dangerous because there is a risk of a vessel 
• Stroke - occurs when the blood flow to the brain is restricted

  • Usually a blood clot, or narrowing of an artery
  • Result is loss of function, depending on what part of the brain is not receiving blood (oxygen, nutrients, etc)
• parts of the heart

  A) right atrium

  B) aorta

  C) left atrium

  D) left ventricle

  E) right ventricle