Cardiovascular System: Structure, Function, and Response to Exercise

Flashcards covering the structure and function of the cardiovascular system, blood vessels, heart, blood, thermoregulation, and responses to exercise.

Cardiovascular System

System that transports nutrients, oxygen, and water to cells and removes waste, fights disease and regulates body temperature.

Types of Blood Vessels

Arteries, Veins, and Capillaries

Components of Blood

Platelets, plasma, red and white blood cells

Cardiac Output

The volume of blood pumped out of the heart in one minute.

Stroke Volume

The volume of blood ejected from the left ventricle with each contraction.

Heart Rate

The number of times the heart beats per minute.

Functions of the Cardiovascular System

Circulates blood to all parts of the body, brings oxygen, water, and nutrients to cells, removes carbon dioxide and waste, maintains body temperature and hydration levels, and fights diseases.

Two pumps of the heart

Left atrium and left ventricle: oxygenated rich blood, right atrium and right ventricle: carbon dioxide-rich blood

Cardiac Cycle

Movement of blood through the heart in one heart beat; consists of systole and diastole.

Systole

Heart contracts, forcing blood out of the heart.

Diastole

Heart relaxes and fills with blood.

Blood Cells

Make up 45% of the blood volume; include red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Plasma

Make up 55% of the blood volume.

Red Blood Cells

Carry oxygen to, and carbon dioxide from, the cells and muscles.

Hemoglobin

Substance within red blood cells that carries oxygen though the blood stream

White Blood Cells

Fight diseases by digesting them; exist in a ratio of one to every 700 red blood cells.

Platelets

Cause blood to clot when a blood vessel is damaged.

Plasma

Carries nutrients to the body and assists the platelets in blood clotting; 90% water.

Arteries

Carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body.

Veins

Carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart.

Capillaries

Smallest blood vessels where the exchange of nutrients and waste between the blood and the body cells occurs.

Systolic Blood Pressure

The highest pressure, pressure on the arteries as the left ventricle pumps.

Diastolic Blood Pressure

The lowest pressure, pressure on the arteries as the left ventricle relaxes.

Thermoregulation

Maintenance of body temperature and the heat exchange that occurs between the body and the environment.

Vasodilation

Blood vessels expand or dilate to allow increased blood flow to the skin surface for heat loss.

Vasoconstriction

Blood vessels reduce in size or contract to restrict blood flow to the skin and redirect it to the internal organs, decreasing heat loss.

Hyperthermia

Rise in core temperature greater than 36.5–37.5 degrees.

Hypothermia

Reduced core body temperature below 35 degrees Celsius.

Stroke Volume (SV)

Amount of blood pumped by the left ventricle with each beat of the heart.

Cardiac Output (Q)

Amount of blood pumped by the heart per minute.

Factors Affecting Resting Heart Rate

Gender, eating, laughing, smoking, and body position.

Calculating Maximum Heart Rate

220 – your age

Cardiovascular Variables

Heart Rate, Stroke Volume, Cardiac Output, Systolic blood pressure, Blood Flow, Blood volume, A-vo2 difference

A-VO2 diff

Arterioles compared with the venuoles