CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM

BY: Dana Olortegui and Austin Strickland

Functions:

The cardiovascular system is basic to life and the beat of ones heart is an automatic function which is controlled by the brain. Three main functions:

  1. Transport-It transports oxygen from the lungs to the various cells of the body. Its primary function is to transport nutrients from the intestines to the lungs and other parts of the body, and carbon dioxide from the cells to the lungs.
  2. Regulate-the body temperature and body heat, and the regulation of the salt and water content of the cells in the body.
  3. Protect-It performs the function of protecting the body and its organs from infection and diseases by providing white blood cells that have the ability to fight against them. And anther important function is to protect the body from excessive blood loss through the process of blood clotting during an injury.

Organs:

  • Heart:The primary function of the heart is to supply oxygen to the body and to get rid of body waste products (carbon dioxide). The heart does this by collecting oxygen- depleted blood from the body and pumping it to the lungs.
  • Veins:The inferior and superior vena cavacarries the de-oxygenated blood to the heart.
  • Arteries:Pulmonary Artery carries the oxygen to the lungs.

Diseases:

Cardiovascular diseases include a number of affecting the structures of or the function of the heart.

  • Coronary artery disease, also called atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries that provide vital oxygen and nutrients to the heart.
  • Congenital heart disease is a type of defect in one or more structures of the heart defects may produce symptoms at birth or later on in life.
  • Cardiomyopathies are diseases of the heart muscle itself, it is also called an enlarged heart, which can result the heart’s ability to pump blood is weakened.