ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
Location of the Heart
 The heart rests on the diaphragm,
near the midline of the thoracic
cavity.
 Lies in the mediastinum
Pericardium
 The membrane that surrounds and
protects the heart is the pericardium
 The pericardium is a triple-layered
sac that surrounds and protects the
heart.
- Fibrous pericardium
composed of tough, inelastic,
dense irregular connective
tissue.
- Serous pericardium – a thinner,
more delicate membrane that
forms a double layer around the
heart
Layers of the Heart Wall
The wall of the heart consists of three
layers:
 the epicardium (external layer),
 the myocardium (middle layer), and
 the endocardium (inner layer).
Chambers of the Heart
 Right Atrium
- The right atrium forms the right
surface of the heart and receives
blood from three veins: the
superior vena cava, inferior vena
cava, and coronary sinus
- The right ventricle is about 4–5
mm (0.16–0.2 in.) in average
thickness and forms most of the
anterior surface of the heart. The
inside of the right ventricle
contains a series of ridges
formed by raised bundles of
cardiac muscle fibers called
trabeculae carneae.
 Left Atrium
– - The left atrium is about the same
thickness as the right atrium and
forms most of the base of the
heart. It receives blood from the
lungs through four pulmonary
veins. Like the right atrium, the
inside of the left atrium has a
smooth posterior wall.
 Left ventricle
- The left ventricle is the thickest
chamber of the heart, averaging
10 15 mm (0.4 0.6 in.), and forms
the apex of the heart
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- Blood is forced into the

ventricles to complete
ventricular filling

3. Isovolumetric contraction
- Atrial systole ends;
ventricular systole begins
- Intraventricular pressure
rises
- AV valves close
- For a moment, the
ventricles are completely
closed chambers

4. Ventricular systole
Cardiac Cycle - Ventricles continue to
contract
 A complete heartbeat consisting of
- Intraventricular pressure
systole (contraction) and diastole now surpasses the
(relaxation) of both atria plus systole pressure in the major
and diastole of both ventricles arteries leaving the heart
 Average heart rate is approximately - Semilunar valves open
75 beats per minute - Blood is ejected from the
 Cardiac cycle length is normally 0.8 ventricles
second
5. Isovolumetric relaxation
 5 Events of Cardiac cycle - Ventricular diastole
begins
- Pressure falls below that
in the major arteries
- Semilunar valves close
1. Atrial diastole (ventricular) - For another moment, the
- Heart is relaxed ventricles are completely
- Pressure in heart is low closed chambers
- Atrioventricular valves are - When atrial pressure
open increases above
- Blood flows passively into intraventricular Atria are
the atria and into ventricles relaxed and filling with
- Semilunar valves are closed blood

2. Atrial systole Pulse

- Ventricles remain in diastole
- The alternate expansion and
Atria contract
recoil of elastic arteries after
each systole of the left ventricle
 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

creates a traveling pressure  Formed elements

wave that is called the pulse. The - Non living matrix
pulse is strongest in the arteries  Plasma
closest to the heart, becomes
weaker in the arterioles, and
disappears altogether in the
capillaries.

Blood Pressure

 Blood pressure is the pressure

exerted by blood on the wall of an
artery when the left ventricle
undergoes systole and then diastole.
It is measured by the use of a
Functions of the Blood
sphygmomanometer.
 Measuring blood pressure  Transportation
- Two arterial blood pressures are - Transport of gases, nutrients,
measured and waste products
 Systolic—pressure in the  Regulation
arteries at the peak of - Circulating blood helps maintain
ventricular contraction homeostasis of all body fluids.
 Diastolic—pressure when Blood helps regulate pH through
ventricles relax the use of buffers.
 Expressed as systolic pressure over - Adjust body temperature
diastolic pressure in millimeters of  Protection
mercury (mm Hg)  Clot formation
- For example, 120/80 mm Hg  Fight against infection
Blood Formed Elements

 The only fluid tissue in the human  Red Blood Cells (Erythrocyte)
body - Biconcave disk; transport
 Classified as a connective tissue oxygen
 Components of blood - transport oxygen from the
- Living cells lungs to body cells and deliver

carbon dioxide from body cells
to the lungs.
 White Blood Cells
(Leukocytes)
- Crucial in the body’s defense
against disease
 Platelet (Thrombocytes)
- Derived from ruptured
multinucleate cells
(megakaryocytes)
- Needed for the clotting
process
- Platelet count ranges from
150,000 to 400,000 per cubic
millimeter of blood
 300,000 is considered a
normal number of platelets
per cubic millimeter of
blood
Erythrocytes
 Main function is to carry oxygen
 Anatomy of circulating erythrocytes
- Biconcave disks
- Essentially bags of hemoglobin
- Anucleate (no nucleus)
- Contain very few organelles
 5 million RBCs per cubic millimeterof
blood
Leukocytes
 Crucial in the body’s defense against
disease
 These are complete cells, with a
nucleus and organelles
 Able to move into and out of blood
vessels (diapedesis)
 Can move by amoeboid motion
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
 Can respond to chemicals released
by damaged tissues
 4,800 to 10,800 WBC per cubic
millimeter of blood
Abnormal numbers of leukocytes
 Leukocytosis
- WBC count above 11,000
leukocytes/mm 3
- Generally indicates an infection
 Leukopenia
 Abnormally low leukocyte level
 Commonly caused by certain drugs
such as corticosteroids and anticancer
agents
 Leukemia
 Bone marrow becomes cancerous, turns
out excess WBC
List of the WBCs from most to least
abundant
 Neutrophils
 Lymphocytes
 Monocytes
 Eosinophils
 Basophils
ABO Blood Groups
 The ABO blood group is based on
two glycolipid antigens called A and
B.
 People whose RBCs display only
antigen A have type A blood. Those
who have only antigen B are type B.
Individuals who have both A and B
antigens are type AB; those who
have neither antigen A nor B are
type O.
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 Blood type AB can receive A, B,  Blood samples are mixed with anti A
AB, and O blood and anti B serum
 Universal recipient  Coagulation or no coagulation leads
 Blood type B can receive B and to determining blood type
O blood  Typing for ABO and Rh factors is
 Blood type A can receive A and done in the same manner
O blood  Cross matching—testing for
 Blood type O can receive O agglutination of donor RBCs by the
blood recipient’s serum, and vice versa
 Universal donor

Rh Blood Groups

 Named because of the presence or

absence of one of eight Rh antigens
(agglutinogen D) that was originally
defined in Rhesus monkeys
 Problems can occur in mixing Rh
blood into a body with Rh ––(Rh The Heart’s Role in Blood Circulation
negative) blood
 Systemic circulation
Rh Dangers During Pregnancy - Blood flows from the left side of
the heart through the body
 Danger occurs only when the mother
tissues and back to the right side
is Rh–and the father is Rh+, and the
of the heart
child inherits the Rh+factor; Rh
 Pulmonary circulation
Disease.
- Blood flows from the right side of
 RhoGAM shot can prevent build-up
the heart to the lungs and back
of anti-Rh+antibodies in mother’s
to the left side of the heart
blood

Blood Typing
 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

 Arterioles
- Exchanges between tissues and
blood
 Capillary beds
- Return blood toward the heart
 Venules
 Veins

Blood Vessels: Microscopic Anatomy

 Three layers (tunics)

- Tunic intima
 Endothelium
- Tunic media
 Smooth muscle
 Controlled by sympathetic
nervous system
Fetoplacental Circulation Adaptations: - Tunic externa
 Mostly fibrous connective
 Umbilical Veins tissue
 Ductus venosus
 Foramen ovale
 Ductus arteriosus
 Umbilical artery

Formation of Varicose veins

Blood Vessels: The Vascular System

 Transport blood to the tissues and

back
- Carry blood away from the heart
 Arteries