A03.

2 – Describe the structure and function of the heart and the vascular system in relation

to sport and exercise.

The vascular system is made up of the vessels that carry our blood. Arteries carry oxygen-

rich blood away from the heart. Veins then carry oxygen-poor blood back to your heart.

There is one exception to that statement; when the blood starts its vascular system trip at

the right side of the heart, it is the pulmonary artery that carries the oxygen-poor blood to

the lungs where it then exchanges carbon dioxide for oxygen. Then the pulmonary vein

carries oxygen-rich blood back to the heart. The blood goes back to the left side of the heart

and is pumped out to the rest of the body. The main artery leading from the heart to the

rest of the body is called the aorta. As the blood travels, it enters smaller and smaller blood

vessels, reaching every cell in the body, dropping off nutrients and picking up waste

products and carbon dioxide. The blood then starts the trip back in the veins, entering larger

and larger ones as it goes, passing through the liver on the way to drop off waste products.

The blood eventually arrives back at the right side of the heart to start the trip all over

again. (www.health-news-and-information.com).

Blood moves through the circulatory system as a result of being pumped out by the heart.

Blood leaving the heart through the arteries is saturated with oxygen. The arteries break

down into smaller and smaller branches in order to bring oxygen and other nutrients to the

cells of the body's tissues and organs. As blood moves through the capillaries, the oxygen

and other nutrients move out into the cells, and waste matter from the cells moves into the

capillaries. As the blood leaves the capillaries, it moves through the veins, which become

larger and larger to carry the blood back to the heart. (www.healthsystem.virginia.). The

vascular system also functions as a very important component for a number of other various

body systems. One of those systems is the respiratory system. As blood flows through the
capillaries in the lungs, carbon dioxide is given up and oxygen is picked up. The carbon

dioxide is expelled from the body through the lungs, and the oxygen is taken to the body

tissues by the blood. Another of those systems is the digestive system. As food is digested,

blood flows through the intestinal capillaries and picks up nutrients, such as glucose (sugar),

vitamins, and minerals. These nutrients are delivered to the body tissues by the blood.

Another system is called the kidneys and urinary system. Waste materials from the body

tissues are filtered out from the blood as it flows through the kidneys. The waste material

then leaves the body in the form of urine. It also plays a part in temperature control.

Regulation of the body's temperature is assisted by the flow of blood among the different

parts of the body. Heat is produced by the body's tissues as they go through the processes

of breaking down nutrients for energy, making new tissue, and giving up waste matter.

(www.healthsystem.virginia.).
 This image is of the

vascular system. The red coloured section is the arterial part of the vascular system and the

blue is of the venous part of the vascular system.

The human heart is a hollow, upside-down, pear-shaped shell. The inside of the heart is

divided into four chambers, the left and right atria and the left and right ventricles, which

periodically fill with blood and empty. (www.integrativebiology.ox.ac.uk).

Because the heart is composed primarily of cardiac muscle tissue that continuously

contracts and relaxes, it must have a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients. The coronary

arteries are the network of blood vessels that carry oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood to the

cardiac muscle tissue. (www.cardioconsult.com).

The right atrium receives de-oxygenated blood from the body through the superior vena

cava (head and upper body) and inferior vena cava (legs and lower torso). The senatorial
node sends an impulse that causes the cardiac muscle tissue of the atrium to contract in a

coordinated, wave-like manner. The tricuspid valve, which separates the right atrium from

the right ventricle, opens to allow the de-oxygenated blood collected in the right atrium to

flow into the right ventricle. The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs

through the pulmonary vein. As the contraction triggered by the senatorial node progresses

through the atria, the blood passes through the mitral valve into the left ventricle. The right

ventricle receives de-oxygenated blood as the right atrium contracts. The pulmonary valve

leading into the pulmonary artery is closed, allowing the ventricle to fill with blood. Once

the ventricles are full, they contract. As the right ventricle contracts, the tricuspid valve

closes and the pulmonary valve opens. The closure of the tricuspid valve prevents blood

from backing into the right atrium and the opening of the pulmonary valve allows the blood

to flow into the pulmonary artery toward the lungs. The left ventricle receives oxygenated

blood as the left atrium contracts. The blood passes through the mitral valve into the left

ventricle. The aortic valve leading into the aorta is closed, allowing the ventricle to fill with

blood. Once the ventricles are full, they contract. As the left ventricle contracts, the mitral

valve closes and the aortic valve opens. The closure of the mitral valve prevents blood from

backing into the left atrium and the opening of the aortic valve allows the blood to flow into

the aorta and flow throughout the body. (www.cardioconsult.com). The heart has a

muscular wall which is also known as the myocardium. It is constantly active and it needs a

generous supply of oxygen and energy from blood. To provide this the heart actually has its

own network of blood vessels that are known as the coronary arteries. These two arteries

both the right and the left branch from the main artery, the aorta just after it leaves the

heart, divide over the hearts surface and send smaller blood vessels into the heart muscle.

The pattern of the coronary veins which collect wastes from the muscle tissue is similar.
Most of the blood that is inside these veins is collected by the coronary sinus which is a

large vein that is situated at the back of the heart which then empties into the right atrium.

(Steve Parker).

The heart is made up of a number of different things. The heart has four main valves that

control the blood flow in the body. Each of the different valves has the same basic structure

although they differ in certain details. (Steve Parker).

The tricuspid valve separates the right atrium from the right ventricle. It opens to allow the

de-oxygenated blood collected in the right atrium to flow into the right ventricle. It closes as

the right ventricle contracts, preventing blood from returning to the right atrium; thereby,

forcing it to exit through the pulmonary valve into the pulmonary artery.

(www.cardioconsult.com). The mitral valve separates the left atrium from the left ventricle.

It opens to allow the oxygenated blood collected in the left atrium to flow into the left

ventricle. It closes as the left ventricle contracts, preventing blood from returning to the left

atrium; thereby, forcing it to exit through the aortic valve into the aorta.

(www.cardioconsult.com). The pulmonary valve separates the right ventricle from the

pulmonary artery. As the ventricles contract, it opens to allow the de-oxygenated blood

collected in the right ventricle to flow to the lungs. It closes as the ventricles relax,

preventing blood from returning to the heart. (www.cardioconsult.com). The aortic valve

separates the left ventricle from the aorta. As the ventricles contract, it opens to allow the

oxygenated blood collected in the left ventricle to flow throughout the body. It closes as the

ventricles relax, preventing blood from returning to the heart. (www.cardioconsult.com). In

the upper heart there is a set of four fibrous cuff like rings that are known as the cardiac

skeleton. The rings are there to provide rigid points of attachment for the four heart valves
and for the various sections of heart muscle. The wrap around arrangement of the muscle

fibres in ventricle walls, and the timing of their contractions mean that the ventricles squirt

blood from the apex (lower pointed end) and upwards and out through the pulmonary and

aortic valves rather than squeezing blood down so that it pools in the apex region. (Steve

Parker). Basically the four rings of fibrous tissue in the heart that is known as the cardiac

skeleton and their rigidity stops the valves from deforming. (Steve Parker).

This diagram shows the structure of the heart. As you can see labelled are the important

parts of the heart that have been discussed above. The pulmonary artery that you can see

labelled on the diagram above is the vessel transporting de-oxygenated blood from the right
ventricle to the lungs. A common misconception is that all arteries carry oxygen-rich blood.

It is more appropriate to classify arteries as vessels carrying blood away from the heart.

(www.cardioconsult.com).

The heart also has a number of veins throughout it. Basically veins are blood vessels that

carry blood to the heart. The superior vena cava is one of the two main veins bringing de-

oxygenated blood from the body to the heart. Veins from the head and upper body feed

into the superior vena cava, which empties into the right atrium of the heart.

(www.cardioconsult.com). The inferior vena cava is one of the two main veins bringing de-

oxygenated blood from the body to the heart. Veins from the legs and lower torso feed into

the inferior vena cava, which empties into the right atrium of the heart.

(www.cardioconsult.com). The pulmonary vein is the vessel transporting oxygen-rich blood

from the lungs to the left atrium. A common misconception is that all veins carry de-

oxygenated blood. It is more appropriate to classify veins as vessels carrying blood to the

heart. (www.cardioconsult.com). The structure of veins is very similar to the structure of

arteries and consists of three layers. Tunica Adventitia: This is the strong outer covering of

arteries and veins which consists of connective tissues, collagen and elastic fibres.

Tunica Media: This is the middle layer and consists of smooth muscle and elastic fibres. This

layer is thinner in veins.

Tunica Intima: This is the inner layer which is in direct contact with the blood flowing

through the vein. It consists of smooth endothelial cells. The hollow centre through which

blood flows is called the lumen. Veins also contain valves which prevent the back flow of

blood and aid venous return. (www.teachpe.com).

Another major part of the heart is the aorta. The aorta is the largest single blood vessel in

the body. It is approximately the diameter of your thumb. This vessel carries oxygen-rich

blood from the left ventricle to the various parts of the body. (www.cardioconsult.com).

The heart also contains muscles and tendons. The papillary muscles attach to the lower

portion of the interior wall of the ventricles. They connect to the chordae tendineae, which

attach to the tricuspid valve in the right ventricle and the mitral valve in the left ventricle.

The contraction of the papillary muscles opens these valves. When the papillary muscles

relax, the valves then close. (www.cardioconsult.com).

The chordae tendineae are tendons linking the papillary muscles to the tricuspid valve in the

right ventricle and the mitral valve in the left ventricle. As the papillary muscles contract and

relax, the chordae tendineae transmit the resulting increase and decrease in tension to the

respective valves, causing them to open and close. The chordae tendineae are string-like in

appearance and are sometimes referred to as "heart strings." (www.cardioconsult.com).

Capillaries are the smallest of all blood vessels in the body and form the connection

between veins and arteries. As arteries branch and divide into arterioles and continue to

reduce in size as they reach the muscle they then become capillaries. Capillaries form a

capillary bed, which is a vast expanse of very small vessels forming a network throughout

the muscle. However, unlike veins and arteries, the main function of capillaries is not

transporting blood. They are specially designed to allow the movement of substances,

mainly gases Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide into and out of the capillary. (www.teachpe.com).

The gaseous exchange - The oxygen carried within the red blood cells as Oxyhaemoglobin, at

this point dissociates from the Haemoglobin and then passes through the capillary wall and
into the muscle cells where it is then 'picked up' by Myoglobin, the muscle cells equivalent

to Haemoglobin. The Oxygen can now be used in aerobic metabolism to provide the muscle

with energy. (www.teachpe.com).

The waste product that is produced during aerobic metabolism is Carbon Dioxide. Due to

the lower concentration of Carbon dioxide in the capillaries than the muscle tissue

(especially during high levels of metabolism) there is as a result a surge through the capillary

wall. From here the blood continues into venules and then veins which return the

deoxygenated and CO2 rich blood back to the heart and then on to the lungs where the CO2

is exhaled and more Oxygen is then taken up. (www.teachpe.com).

Capillaries have very thin walls comprised only of endothelial cells, which allows substances

to move through the wall with ease. Capillaries are very small, measuring 5-10 micrometres

in width. However, the cross-sectional area of capillaries within an average size muscle

would be larger than that of the Aorta. This allows a fast and efficient transfer of oxygen-

carrying red blood cells to the site where they are needed. (www.teachpe.com).
Arteries are a major part of the heart. Arteries are blood vessels which carry blood away

from the heart. All of which, with the exception of the pulmonary artery, carry oxygenated

blood. The most widely known artery within the human body is the Aorta. This is the largest

of all blood vessels and transports blood away from the left ventricle of the heart where it

then branches into smaller arteries. (www.teachpe.com). As the arteries divide further they

become smaller and smaller, until they are then classed as arterioles. Arterioles continue to

branch into smaller and smaller vessels which, once they have decreased in size below 10

micrometers in diameter and they then become known as capillaries. (www.teachpe.com).

The pulmonary artery, is classed as an artery as it carries blood away from the heart,

however it actually carries deoxygenated blood. The blood it carries has travelled around

the body and back to the heart where it is pumped, via the pulmonary artery, into the lungs

to release waste products and to pick up more oxygen. (www.teachpe.com).

This image is an example of what arteries look like.

The artery walls are made up of three

different layers which are: Tunica Adventitia

– which is the strong outer covering of

arteries and veins which consists of

connective tissues, collagen and elastic

fibres. (www.teachpe.com).