THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM

Blood

average adult has 5 liters, 1.3 gallons of blood

consists of plasma (55%) and cells (45%)

Erythrocytes

red blood cells

Leukocytes

white blood cells

Thrombocytes

platelets

The heart

pumps oxygenated blood and nutrients throughout the body

ability to adequately supply tissues with oxygenated blood

BPM

how fast the heart pumps blood

heart rate

faster heart rate means the heart is working harder

tachycardia

high resting heart rate (>100 bpm)

bradycardia

slow resting heart rate (<60 bpm)

blood pressure

the force of pumped blood on arterial walls

impacted by cardiac output (volume of blood being pumped by heart) and peripheral resistance (resistance to blood flow in small arteries/elasticity)

systolic (120) top number

diastolic (80) bottom number

Hypertension

resting blood pressure is persistently too high

result: damage to arterial walls or weakening of heart muscle

Hypotension

resting blood pressure is persistently too low

systolic < 90 mmHg OR diastolic < 60 mmHg

results: fainting or shocking

can be the case in athletes (not a problem)

Cardiovascular disease

Is an umbrella term for conditions involving the heart or blood vessels

Examples of cardiovascular diseases

coronary artery disease and heart attack

stroke

heart failure

arrhythmias

peripheral artery disease

Atherosclerosis

the buildup of plaque within artery walls

Plaque contains

fat

blood cells

other substances

plaque narrows

and stiffens arteries, reducing blood flow

Plaque can

rupture and trigger a blood clot

A clot may

partially or completely block circulation

Coronary artery disease

occurs when atherosclerosis affects the arteries supplying the heart