Chapter: 09

Human Systems: Cardio-Vascular System

Dr. Md. Iqbal Rouf Mamun

Professor
Department of Chemistry
University of Dhaka
 What is the Cardiovascular System?
The cardiovascular system, also called the circulatory system, is the organ system that
transports materials to and from all the cells of the body.

Its primary function is to transport nutrients and

oxygen-rich blood to all parts of the body and to carry
deoxygenated blood back to the lungs.

The materials carried by the cardiovascular system include:

✔ oxygen from the lungs,
✔ nutrients from the digestive system,
✔ hormones from glands of the endocrine system, and
✔ waste materials from cells throughout the body.
❑ Components of the cardiovascular system

It consists of the heart, blood vessels, and

blood

The heart: A muscular pump that forces blood

around the body.

A closed system of blood vessels: These

vessels include:
Arteries: Vessels that carry blood away
from the heart.
Veins: Vessels that bring blood back to the
heart.
Capillaries: Tiny vessels that branch off
from arteries to deliver blood to all body
tissues.
A closed system of blood vessels: These vessels include:
Arteries: Vessels that carry blood away from the heart.
Veins: Vessels that bring blood back to the heart.
Capillaries: Tiny vessels that branch off from arteries to deliver blood to all
body tissues.
❑ Blood: A Fluid Connective Tissue
Blood is a fluid connective tissue composed of 55%
plasma and 45% formed elements including WBCs
(Leucocytes), RBCs (Erythrocytes), and platelets.

Since these living cells are suspended in plasma, blood

is known as a fluid connective tissue and not just fluid.

❑ Components of Blood
There are many cellular structures in the composition of
blood. When a sample of blood is spun in a centrifuge
machine, they separate into the following constituents:

Plasma, buffy coat and erythrocytes.

Thus blood contains RBC, WBC, platelets and plasma.

❑ Functions of Blood
Blood is responsible for the following body functions:

Provides oxygen to the cells

Blood absorbs oxygen from the lungs and transports
it to different cells of the body. The waste carbon
dioxide moves from the blood to the lungs and is
exhaled.

Transports Hormones and Nutrients

The digested nutrients such as glucose, vitamins,
minerals, and proteins are absorbed into the blood
through the capillaries.

The hormones secreted by the endocrine glands are

also transported by the blood to different organs and
tissues.
Homeostasis
Blood helps to maintain the internal body
temperature by absorbing or releasing heat.

Blood Clotting at Site of Injury

The platelets help in the clotting of blood at the site
of injury.

Transport of waste to the Kidney and Liver

Blood enters the kidney where it is filtered to
remove nitrogenous waste out of the blood plasma.
The toxins from the blood are also removed by the
liver.

Protection of the body against pathogens

The White Blood Cells fight against infections.
They multiply rapidly during infections.
What is the cardiac cycle?
The cardiac cycle consists of two phases.

The first phase is diastole, in which the ventricles

fill with blood. During diastole, blood vessels return
blood to the heart in preparation for the next
contraction of the ventricles.

The second phase is systole, in which the ventricles

contract and eject blood. The pressure inside the
ventricles becomes greater than the pressure inside
adjacent blood vessels, thereby forcing the blood
from the ventricles to the vessels.
❑ Cardiovascular disease (CVD)
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a general term
for conditions affecting the heart or blood
vessels.

It's usually associated with a build-up of fatty

deposits inside the arteries (atherosclerosis) and
an increased risk of blood clots.

It can also be associated with damage to arteries

in organs such as the brain, heart, kidneys and
eyes.
❑ Types of CVD

Coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease occurs when the flow of
oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle is blocked
or reduced.

This puts an increased strain on the heart, and can

lead to:

Angina – chest pain caused by restricted blood

flow to the heart muscle

Heart attacks – where the blood flow to the heart

muscle is suddenly blocked

Heart failure – where the heart is unable to pump

blood around the body properly
Strokes and TIAs
A stroke is where the blood supply to part of the
brain is cut off, which can cause brain damage
and possibly death.

A transient ischaemic attack (also called a TIA or

"mini-stroke") is similar, but the blood flow to
the brain is only temporarily disrupted.

Peripheral arterial disease

Peripheral arterial disease occurs when there's a
blockage in the arteries to the limbs, usually the
legs.
❑ Causes of CVD
The exact cause of CVD isn't clear, but there are
lots of things that can increase your risk of
getting it. These are called "risk factors".

High blood pressure

High blood pressure (hypertension) is one of the most important risk factors for CVD.
If your blood pressure is too high, it can damage your blood vessels.

Smoking
Smoking and other tobacco use is also a significant risk factor for CVD. The harmful
substances in tobacco can damage and narrow your blood vessels.

High cholesterol
Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in the blood. If you have high cholesterol, it
can cause your blood vessels to narrow and increase your risk of developing a blood
clot.
risk factors cont….
Diabetes
Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes your
blood sugar level to become too high.

High blood sugar levels can damage the blood

vessels, making them more likely to become
narrowed.

Being overweight or obese

Being overweight or obese increases your risk of
developing diabetes and high blood pressure, both of
which are risk factors for CVD.
Other risk factors

age – CVD is most common in people over 50 and

your risk of developing it increases as you get older
gender – men are more likely to develop CVD at an
earlier age than women

diet – an unhealthy diet can lead to high cholesterol

and high blood pressure

alcohol – excessive alcohol consumption can also

increase your cholesterol and blood pressure levels,
and contribute to weight gain
❑ Preventing CVD

Lifestyle tips

Manage body weight: If a person loses 5–10%Trusted Source of their body weight, they
may reduce their risk of developing CVD.

Get regular exercise: The American Heart Association (AHA) recommend doing 150
minutes of moderate-to-intense physical activity every week.

Follow a heart-healthy diet: Eating foods that contain polyunsaturated fats and omega-3,
such as oily fish, alongside fruits and vegetables can support heart health and reduce the
risk of CVD. Reducing the intake of processed food, salt, saturated fat, and added sugar
has a similar effect.

Quit smoking: Smoking is a key risk factor for almost all forms of CVD. Although
quitting can be difficult, taking steps to do so can drastically reduce its damaging effects
on the heart.