Cardiovascular system

• Arteries


  • Carry blood away from the heart
  • Do not have valves
  • Have thick layers of muscle over walls
• Veins


  • Carry blood into the heart
  • Have valves to prevent backflow
  • Have thin walls
• Capillaries


  • Bring nutrients and oxygen to tissues
  • Remove waste
  • Form extensive networks
  • Increase surface area (bicca disk)
• Red blood cells


  • Have no nucleus
  • More room for haemoglobin
• White blood cells


  • Defend against disease
  • Include phagocytes and lymphocytes
• Platelets


  • Clot blood to seal wounds
• Plasma


  Liquid part of blood that transports carbon dioxide and circulates heat and soluble food
• Cardiovascular disease risk factors

  • High blood pressure
  • Diabetes
  • Smoking
  • Obesity
  • Unhealthy diet
• Cardiovascular disease treatments


  • Statins (lower cholesterol)
  • Angioplasty (unblock blood vessels)
  • Lifestyle changes (improve diet, quit smoking/alcohol)
• Blood flows from the right side to the left side of the heart
• Red blood cells have a large surface area and have a disk shape
• The biconcave shape allows red blood cells to squeeze through narrow capillaries.