The Cardiovascular System

A. Functions:• 1. Carries oxygen and nutrients

to the body cell.• 2. Carries carbon dioxide and

other wastes to the lungs and kidneys where they are released from the body.

The Cardiovascular System

B. Structure

• 1. Heart: chambers, pulmonary & systemic circulation.

• 2. Blood: plasma, red & white blood cells, hemoglobin, platelets.

• 3. Blood vessels: arteries, capillaries, veins.

•Problems:• 1. Congenital Heart Disease:

“occurring at birth,” valves not functioning, hole between chambers, or defective blood vessels from heart.

• 2. Heart Murmurs: defective valve in heart.• 3.Varicose veins: swollen enlarged veins.

(prolonged standing, pregnancy, wearing tight clothes, aging.)

• 4. Thrombosis: blood clot in • blood vessel.• 5. Anemia: low count of red blood

cells.• 6. Sickle-cell Anemia: defect in red

blood cells. Sickle shaped cells that deprive oxygen.

• 7. Leukemia: type of cancer, abnormal production of white blood cells.