Introduction to

Cardiovascular Physiology
Welcome to Block 3! Part II

Rebecca Petre Sullivan, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Physiology
Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
MERB 1047 - rpetre@temple.edu
 Disclosure

I currently have no relationships of any kind with any company

whose products or services in any way relate to the practice of
medicine, medical education or research.
Learning Objectives
• At the end of this lecture, students will
• Describe the primary function(s) of the cardiovascular system
• Describe the circuitry of the cardiovascular system
• What is the relationship of structure to function?

• Note: the purpose of this lecture is to serve as an introduction to

topics which will be expanded upon in future sessions
 Primary function of the
cardiovascular system
Deliver blood to the tissues
Structure and organization:

Three major components:

1) Heart (two-sided pump)
• Generates pressure to
drive blood through
series of blood vessels
2) Blood vessels
• Carry blood to and from
sites of exchange
3) Blood
 Other important functions of the
cardiovascular system
Maintenance of homeostasis
• Regulation of arterial blood pressure

• Delivery of hormones

• Regulation of body temperature

• Involved in adjustments to altered physiological states, for

example:
• Changes in posture

• Exercise

• Hemorrhage
The primary function is to provide adequate blood flow
to the tissues and organs
• At rest vs. during times of increased demand (fever,
exercise, etc.)
The goal of short term control of the
CV system (seconds, minutes):
Maintain adequate cerebral and
coronary blood flow
• Most regulatory mechanisms which
work in the short term (e.g.
baroreceptor reflex) are designed to
maintain normal systemic arterial
blood pressure
If blood flow to the tissues is
inadequate, a physiological
state called shock exists
The goal of long term control of the
CV system (hours to months):
Maintain adequate blood flow to all
tissues of the body
• Blood flow needed to meet the
metabolic demands of the tissues
• Blood flow needed to meet the special
functions of the tissues in excess of
metabolic needs:
• Kidneys: maintain the
concentration of substances in
the blood within normal ranges
• Skin: dissipate heat
The heart is a simple transport system pump
• 2 side-by-side pumps
What properties of the different
• Right side receives vessel types (arteries, veins,
oxygen-poor blood from capillaries) are important for their
function?
body tissues
• Pumps to lungs to get rid
of CO2, pick up O2, via
pulmonary circuit
• Left side receives
oxygenated blood from
lungs
• Pumps to body tissues via
systemic circuit
Both sides of the heart pump at the
same time, but let’s follow one spurt of Oxygen-poor blood
blood all the way through the system. Oxygen-rich blood

Pulmonary
Tricuspid semilunar
Superior vena cava(SVC) Right valve Right valve Pulmonary
Inferior vena cava(IVC) atrium ventricle trunk
Coronary sinus
Pulmonary
arteries
SVC Coronary
sinus Pulmonary
trunk
Right Tricuspid
atrium Pulmonary
valve semilunar
Right valve
IVC ventricle

O2-poor blood O2-poor blood is

To heart carried in 2 pulmonary To lungs
returns from the body
tissues back to the heart. arteries to the lungs
(pulmonary circuit) to be
oxygenated.

Systemic Pulmonary
capillaries capillaries

O2-rich blood is O2-rich blood returns to

To body To heart
delivered to the body the heart via the
tissues (systemic circuit). pulmonary veins.

Aorta Pulmonary
veins

Aortic Left
semilunar Mitral
atrium
valve valve
Left
ventricle

Aortic
semilunar Mitral
Valve Left valve Left pulmonary
Aorta ventricle atrium veins

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc.

Schematic diagram showing the circuitry of the cardiovascular system. The arrows show the
direction of blood flow. Percentages represent the percent (%) of cardiac output (rate at which
blood is pumped from either ventricle (L/min); at steady state, left side CO = right side CO)

Figure 4-1, Costanzo

 Distribution of Blood Volume
• The largest volume of blood is
found in the venous system in the
unstressed individual.
• That volume in the venous system
can act as a reserve volume of
blood in response to constriction via
sympathetic stimulation.
• In comparison, the arterial
system, pulmonary circulation,
cardiac circulation and capillary
beds contain smaller volumes.
• These blood volumes flow to and
from the various organs.