Cardiovascular system

• The cardiovascular system transports important nutrients throughout the body and removes metabolic waste
• Cardiovascular system

  Composed of the heart, blood, and blood vessels
• Kinds of blood vessels

  • Arteries
  • Veins
  • Capillaries
• Arteries

  • Carry blood away from the heart
  • Except for the pulmonary artery, carry oxygen-rich blood
  • Have thick and elastic walls
• The aorta is the largest artery in the human body
• Veins


  • Carry blood from the tissues and cells to the heart
  • Except for the pulmonary veins, carry oxygen-poor blood
  • Have thin walls and possess valves
• The inferior and the superior venae cavae are among the largest veins in the body
• Capillaries


  • Connect an artery to a vein
  • Are the smallest among the three blood vessels
  • Allow small molecules to easily pass through and diffuse into adjacent cells
• The actual exchange of gases between blood cells takes place within the capillary walls