The Cardiovascular System

Plasma

• Makes up 55% of the blood

Formed Elements

• Makes up 45% of the blood

• Red blood cells

• White blood cells

• Platelets

Red Blood Cells

• Erythrocytes

• Most abundant of blood cells

• Contains hemoglobin, a red protein made from iron

• Transports oxygen to cells through hemoglobin

• Transports carbon dioxide from cells to the lungs for disposal

Disorders of RBC

• Anemia

• Iron Deficiency Anemia

• Sickle Cell Anemia

Anemia

• Lack of healthy red blood cells

• Causes a decrease in the ability of the blood to carry oxygen

• Caused by

  • Decreased number of RBC, such as in hemorrhage or bleeding

  • Decreased hemoglobin due to decreased iron

  • Defective RBC

Iron Deficiency Anemia

• Lack of RBC due to low iron

• Mechanism is metabolic due to

  • Blood loss

  • Lack of iron in diet

  • Lack of iron absorption

Sickle Cell Anemia

• RBC are deformed and can block blood vessels

• Most commonly found in African Americans

• Mechanism is genetics

White Blood Cells

• Leukocytes

• Part of immune system; defends body against pathogenic organisms and other microorganisms

Disorders of WBC

• Leukopenia

• Leukocytosis

Leukopenia

• Abnormal low WBC count

• Causes

  • Infectious disease such as HIV, AIDS, other viruses

  • Leukemia - cancer of the blood

  • Bone marrow disorders

  • Chemotherapy

Leukocytosis

• Abnormal high WBC count

• Causes

  • An infection

  • Leukemia

Platelets

• Thrombocytes

• Fragmented cells

• Initiate blood clotting process

Disorders of the Platelets

• Thrombosis

• Embolism

• Hemophilia

Thrombosis

• Formation of blood clot in a blood vessel

• Can become large and inhibit circulation

Embolism

• Blood clot breaks off into bloodstream

Hemophilia

• X-linked genetic disorder

• Causes lack of clotting factors so normal clotting does not occur

Blood Types

• A, B, AB, O

• Determined by what antigen(s) a person possesses

• Person does not form antibodies against their own antigen

Antigen

• Substance that causes an immune response in the body

• Blood type protein found on red blood cells

• 2 types in the ABO system are A and B

Antibody

• Protein produced in response to a specific antigen

• Located in the plasma

• 2 types in the ABO system are anti-A and anti-B

Rh System

• Rh factor is another antigen on the red blood cell

• Rh +

  • Blood has the Rh factor (most common)

• Rh -

  • Blood does not have the Rh factor

• The anti-Rh antibody is only produced in Rh- individuals when exposed to the Rh factor

Heart Chambers

• Left and right atrium (atria)

  • Superior chambers

  • Receive blood from veins

• Left and right ventricles

  • Inferior chambers

  • Blood is pumped out into arteries

Heart Valves

• Help blood to travel in 1 direction

• Atrioventricular (AV) valves

• Bicuspid valve (Mitral valve)

• Tricuspid valve

• Chordae Tendineae

• Semilunar (SL) valves

  • Aortic valve

  • Pulmonary valve

Atrioventricular (AV) Valves

• Located between the atria and ventricles

• Prevents blood from being forced back into the atria when the ventricles contract

Bicuspid Valve (Mitral Valve)

• Located in left side of the heart

• Has 2 flaps or cusps

Tricuspid Valve

• Located in right side of the heart

• Has 3 flaps or cusps

Chordae Tendineae

• String that attach the AV valves to the walls of the heart

• Stop flaps form flipping into the atria

Semilunar (SL) Valves

• Located between the exit of the ventricles and the arteries that carry blood out of the heart

  • Aortic valve

  • Pulmonary valve

Aortic Valve

• Between the pulmonary artery and right ventricle

• Allows blood to go out to body

Pulmonary Valve

• Between the pulmonary artery and right ventricle

• Allows blood to go out to lungs

Blood Vessels

• Arteries

• Veins

• Capillaries

Arteries

• Carry blood away from the heart

  • Aorta

  • Pulmonary Artery

  • Arterioles

Aorta

• Left ventricle → body

• Oxygenated blood

Pulmonary Artery

• Right ventricle → lungs

• Deoxygenated blood

Arterioles

• Tiny branches of arteries

Veins

• Carries blood towards the heart

  • Superior vena cava

  • Inferior vena cava

  • Pulmonary vein

  • Venules

Superior Vena Cava

• Upper body → right atrium

Inferior Vena Cava

• Lower body → right atrium

• Both deoxygenated blood

Pulmonary Vein

• Lungs → left atrium

• Oxygenated blood

Venules

• Small branches of veins

Capillaries

• Carries blood from the arterioles to the venules

• Where the exchange of O2, CO2, and nutrients occurs

Pulmonary circulation

• Blood going from the heart to the lungs to deposit CO₂ and gain oxygen

Systemic Circulation

• Blood going from the heart to the body to deposit oxygen and pick up CO₂

Coronary Circulation

• Provides the heart tissue with blood