Cardiovascular System Anatomy and Physiology – Nurseslabs

By daniellenierenberg

Journey to the heart of our being with the cardiovascular system study guide. Aspiring nurses, chart the pulsating rivers of life as you discover the anatomy and dynamics of the bodys powerful pump and intricate vessel networks.

The functions of the heart are as follows:

The cardiovascular system can be compared to a muscular pump equipped with one-way valves and a system of large and small plumbing tubes within which the blood travels.

The modest size and weight of the heart give few hints of its incredible strength.

The heart muscle has three layers and they are as follows:

The heart has four hollow chambers, or cavities: two atria and two ventricles.

The great blood vessels provide a pathway for the entire cardiac circulation to proceed.

The heart is equipped with four valves, which allow blood to flow in only one direction through the heart chambers.

Although the heart chambers are bathed with blood almost continuously, the blood contained in the heart does not nourish the myocardium.

Blood circulates inside the blood vessels, which form a closed transport system, the so-called vascular system.

Except for the microscopic capillaries, the walls of the blood vessels have three coats or tunics.

The major branches of the aorta and the organs they serve are listed next in the sequence from the heart.

Arterial Branches of the Ascending Aorta

The aorta springs upward from the left ventricle of the heart as the ascending aorta.

Arterial Branches of the Aortic Arch

The aorta arches to the left as the aortic arch.

Arterial Branches of the Thoracic Aorta

The aorta plunges downward through the thorax, following the spine as the thoracic aorta.

Arterial Branches of the Abdominal Aorta

Finally, the aorta passes through the diaphragm into the abdominopelvic cavity, where it becomes the abdominal aorta.

Major veins converge on the venae cavae, which enter the right atrium of the heart.

Veins Draining into the Superior Vena Cava

Veins draining into the superior vena cava are named in a distal-to-proximal direction; that is, in the same direction the blood flows into the superior vena cava.

Veins Draining into the Inferior Vena Cava

The inferior vena cava, which is much longer than the superior vena cava, returns blood to the heart from all body regions below the diaphragm.

As the heart beats or contracts, the blood makes continuous round trips- into and out of the heart, through the rest of the body, and then back to the heart- only to be sent out again.

The spontaneous contractions of the cardiac muscle cells occurs in a regular and continuous way, giving rhythm to the heart.

The conduction system occurs systematically through:

In a healthy heart, the atria contract simultaneously, then, as they start to relax, contraction of the ventricles begins.

Cardiac output is the amount of blood pumped out by each side of the heart in one minute. It is the product of the heart rate and the stroke volume.

A fairly good indication of the efficiency of a persons circulatory system can be obtained by taking arterial blood and blood pressure measurements.

Arterial pulse pressure and blood pressure measurements, along with those of respiratory rate and body temperature, are referred to collectively as vital signs in clinical settings.

The right and left sides of the heart work together in achieving a smooth-flowing blood circulation.

Substances tend to move to and from the body cells according to their concentration gradients.

The capacity of the heart for work decreases with age. Older peoples rate is slower to respond to stress and slower to return to normal after periods of physical activity. Changes in arteries occur frequently which can negatively affect blood supply.

Health promotion teaching can include risk detection and reduction for cardiovascular diseases, blood pressure and cholesterol level monitoring, ideal weight maintenance, and a low-sodium diet.

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Cardiovascular System Anatomy and Physiology - Nurseslabs