43

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
Heart:
o Chambers, valves and big vessels
o Blood Supply of the Heart
o Function of the Heart
o Cardiac Cycle
Blood Circulation:
o Systemic Circulation
o Pulmonary Circulation
o Portal Circulation
Blood vessels:
o Arteries
o Veins
o Blood Capillaries

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CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
The cardiovascular system consists of the heart and the vessels (arteries,
veins and blood capillaries).

THE HEART
The heart is a muscular pump whose function is to propel blood filled
System
withCardiovascular
oxygen and
nutrients through the blood vessels to the body tissues. It is
made of a special type of muscle fibers which are called the "cardiac muscles".
These muscles contract and relax spontaneously and rhythmically throughout
life.

4 Pulmonary veins

SVC
Lt. atrium
Rt. atrium

Aorta
MV

TV
IVC
Rt. ventricle

Lt. ventricle

Pulmonary Artery

To left lung

To head

To right lung
Pulmonary Artery
From head
Vena cava
Semilunar valves
Right atrium
Vena cava
From body
Tricuspid valve
Septum

Aorta
To body
Pulmonary veins
From lungs
Left atrium
Mitral valve
Tendon supporting
valve
Left ventricle

Right ventricle
Cardiac muscle

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Figure 6-2: A vertical section through the human heart. Notice that the pulmonary artery and
the aorta arise from the upper part of the right and left ventricles respectively.

Figure 6-3: The anterior surface of the heart. Notice that: (a) the right ventricle form most of
the anterior surface, (b) The aorta appears to the right of the pulmonary artery inspite that it
arises from the left ventricle.

THE BLOOD SUPPLY OF THE HEART:

Aorta
Vena cava
Ascending
Aorta

Pulmonary artery

Pulmonary veins
LCA
RCA
Vena cava

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A diagram to show the right coronary artery (RCA) and the left coronary artery (LCA) that
supplies the heart with oxygenated blood. Both arteries arise from the ascending aorta, (b)
The coronary arteries and their branching.

The heart muscle is supplied with oxygen from the blood in the coronary
arteries, which leave the aorta just above the semi-lunar valves, and run through
the muscle of the heart wall. Figure (6-4) shows the right and the left coronary
arteries.
Because the heart works continuously throughout life, it needs a constant
oxygen supply, and it is important that the coronary arteries are kept open to
maintain a good flow of blood carrying oxygen. Sometimes these arteries
become narrowed or occluded by a thrombus. This will cut off the blood
supply to an area of the heart muscle, causing severe pain and damage to the
heart muscle. The pain is called Angina.

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THE CARDIAC CYCLE

Does The Whole Heart Contract Simultaneously?
No, the cardiac cycle has different phases:
1. Diastole: Muscle relax and the blood floes into the heart.
2. Atrial Systole: Muscles of the atria contract, while that of the ventricles
remains relaxed. The atrio-ventricular valves are opened. Thus blood is
forced from the atria to the ventricles.
3. Ventricular Systole: Muscles of atria relax, while muscles of the
ventricles contract. The atrio-ventricular valves are closed. Thus the blood
is forced from the ventricles into the arteries.

Diastole

Atrial Systole

Ventricular Systole

The phases of the cardiac cycle.

When the left ventricle contracts (during the 3rd phase), the blood is
pushed forcibly into the aorta and its branches. This is called the "Heart Beat".
You can count the heart beats by counting the "Pulse". This can be done by
placing the right three middle fingers against the lower part of the front of the
left radius. Usually the pulse ranges between 70 and 80 beats per minute. During
exercise and in certain diseases the pulse rate increases.

BLOOD CIRCULATION
It is the passage of blood from the heart through the blood vessels to
the different parts of the body and back again to the heart.
Systemic Circulation: It is the passage of blood from the left ventricle through
die aorta to the different parts of the body and its return back to the right atrium
by the superior vena cava (SVC) and the inferior vena cava (IVC).
Pulmonary Circulation: It is the passage of blood from the right ventricle
through the pulmonary artery to the lungs and its return back to the left atrium
by the 4 pulmonary veins.
Portal Circulation: It is the passage of blood through two sets of capillaries.

48

Example of the portal circulation is that present in the abdomen: The

superior mesenteric artery (branch from the aorta) ends in the intestine forming a
capillary network in their wall. The blood after passing through the capillaries is
collected once more forming a vein, "portal vein". This vein enters the liver and
System
divides again into minute vascular network "sinosoids".Cardiovascular
The blood,
after
passing through the sinosoids, is collected again forming the hepatic vein that
drains into the inferior vena cava (IVC).

THE BLOOD VESSELS

There are three types of blood vessels Arteries break up into arterioles which
lead to capillaries. These lead to venules which join up to form veins. The elastic
walls of the arteries convert die irregular blood flow from the heart into a steady
flow to the tissues. The capillaries are the site of exchange of substances
between the blood and the tissues. Because they are so numerous, and their
walls are thin and permeable, small-molecule substances can diffuse freely
through the walls between the blood and the tissues. Blood is returned to the
heart in veins by pressure produced by contraction of the skeletal muscles
pressing on them from outside, and by breathing movements.

Cardiovascular System 49

What are the differences between the vein and the artery?
Veins
Arteries
Carry blood to the heart
Carry blood from the heart
Tributaries
Branches
Thin wall, collapsed
Thick wall, opened lumen (elastic f)
Valves
No valves
Cross section in cadavers is flaccid & Cross section in cadavers is circular &
contain clots
empty
Some veins do not have names "Venae Have names
comitantes"
Fairly thin outer wall
Thick-outer wall
Very small lumen

Small lumen

An artery
A diagram to show the differences between an artery, a vein and a capillary. Notice that the
artery has a thick elastic wall, the vein has a thinner muscular wall, while the capillary has a
very thin and permeable wall which is formed only of one layer of flattened cells.

The valves are

like pockets set
in the wall of
the vein
Longitudinal section through a vein showing the valves inside. These valves allow the
passage of blood only in one direction.

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Cardiovascular System

:A diagram to show the branching of an arteriole into capillaries, and then the joining of
capillaries to form venules.