Human anatomy and

physiology
Introduction to the cardiovascular
system
 Cardiovascular system
• The cardiovascular system is the primary
circularity system of the human body.
It comprises:
• A hearth
• A blood
• A blood vessels
 Cont…
General Functions of the Cardiovascular System

• One function of the cardiovascular system is transport. 

• Some substances carried by the cardiovascular system are dissolved or suspended

in the fluid portion of the blood. 

• Others are bound up in special cellular elements called red blood cells (RBCs).

• The cardiovascular system also provides protection against foreign substances.

 Cont….
• This function involves active attack by white blood cells as
well as more subtle processes of the immune system.

Red and White Blood Cells

 Direction of Flow of Arteries and Veins

• Blood vessels are the conduits of the cardiovascular system. They make up a closed
system, since there is no place in the system where whole blood can leave.

• Arteries generally carry blood from the chambers of the heart to the tissue of the
body. 

• Veins carry blood from the tissues to the chambers of the heart. 

• (Coronary arteries carry blood from the chambers of the heart inside to the walls of
the heart outside.)

• Arteries and Veins

 Cont….
Arteries and Veins

Arteries ad Veins
 The Circulatory System

• The Circulatory System

• Blood circulation is also a two cycle system. 

• It involves both the pulmonary cycle and the systemic cycle. Blood circulates through
two circuits.

• In the pulmonary cycle, blood circulates from the heart to the lungs and back to the
heart. 

• In the systemic cycle, blood circulates from the heart to the rest of the body and back
to the heart
 Cont….
The Circulatory System
Blood circulation is also a two cycle system. 

It involves both the pulmonary cycle and

the systemic cycle. Blood circulates through
two circuits.

In the pulmonary cycle, blood circulates from

the heart to the lungs and back to the heart. 

In the systemic cycle, blood circulates from the

heart to the rest of the body and back to the
heart.
 Fetal circulation
Since the fetus is located within the uterus, its
lungs do not take in air. 

Therefore, the pulmonary cycle does not

function in the fetus.

Essentially, fetal blood flows to and from the

placenta. 

There are certain bypasses in the heart to

avoid the pulmonary cycle. 

At the time of birth, the fetal circulation is

changed to the normal pattern
In simple organisms such as unicellular and
Introduction to Circulatory Systems

one or two layer organisms, materials can be

transferred among cells by simple processes
of diffusion.

However, in large organisms, a system is

needed for the distribution and collection of
materials.

This is because diffusion does not occur fast

enough to carry the large volumes of materials
necessary through the greater distances
required. 

Circulatory systems, for example the

cardiovascular system, are used by the human
body to carry substances.
 Cont…
Oxygen
• Oxygen is obtained by the blood through the process of external respiration in the
lungs. Oxygen is then transported to the individual body cells, where it is used in
metabolic oxidation. 

• This provides energy for production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is

necessary for carrying on the life processes of the body.
 Cont….
nutrients

• Some of the substances distributed to the body cells are products of the digestive
system. 

• These materials meet individual cell requirements for energy, growth, repair,
synthesis of new materials, and storage for later use
 Cont…

Waste substances

• Some substances are collected from the body cells for elimination. 

• These include carbon dioxide, nitrogenous wastes, and other potentially harmful
substances that are carried to organs like the lungs, liver, or kidneys for elimination
from the body.
 Cont…..
Hormones

• Hormones are the products of endocrine glands. 

• Hormones and other control substances are distributed throughout the body by circulatory
systems.

• The tissues or organs affected by these substances are usually called target organs.

• In turn, substances released by the target organs often affect the original endocrine gland. This
results in a feedback system.
 Cont…
Components of Any Circulatory System
Any circulatory system has three general components as follows:
• Vehicle
• Conduits
• Motive forces

he vehicle is a fluid (flowing) medium. Vehicle

The materials being carried are dissolved

or suspended in this fluid. 

Examples of this include blood, lymph, or

cerebrospinal fluid.
 Cont….
Conduits

Conduits are like pipes. 

They contain the fluids in which materials are

transported to and from the various parts of
the body.

The blood vessels or lymph vessels are

examples of these.
 Cont…
• Motive Forces

Motive forces act upon the vehicle to make it

flow through the conduits.

In the cardiovascular system these are

provided by the heart.
 Cont…
Examples of Circulatory Systems
Some examples of circulatory systems of the human body
include:
• the cardiovascular system
• the lymphatic system
• the CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) system
• The lesser systems include:
• the aqueous humor of the bulbus oculi (eyeball)
• the endolymph and perilymph, which are fluids of the inner ear
• This course focuses on the cardiovascular system.