CARDIOVASCULAR

SYSTEM
Heart

ALLPPT.com _ Free PowerPoint Templates, Diagrams and Charts

Location of the Heart

In the mediastinum between second rib and fifth intercostal

space; on superior surface of diaphragm; two thirds to the
Left of the midsternal line; anterior to vertebral column,
posterior to sternum.

About the size of your fist

less than 1lb.
The heart: coverings
Pericardium- a double serous
membrane
Parietal layer (next to heart)
Visceral layer (outside layer)

Serous fluid fills the space between the layers

of pericardium.
PERIETAL LAYER OF PERICARDIUM

Clear fibrous bag protecting and

anchoring heart. Limits filling beyond a
certain volume.
Visceral layer

On external surface of heart; very thin layer of fluid

between layers to decrease friction.
❖ Endocardium – the thin layer of the heart wall. This layer lines the inner
heart chambers, covers heart valves, and is continuous with the
endothelium of large blood vessels. The endocardium of heart atria
consists of smooth muscle, as well as elastic fibers.
Heart
Heart Structure

• The heart is a four-chambered, hollow, muscular organ that is slightly larger than a man’s closed
fist. It is surrounded by a thin fluid-filled sac called the pericardium, and its walls have three
distinct layers.
• The heart has two sides, a right and a left. Each side has two chambers, an upper and a lower.
One-way valves between the chambers help prevent the backflow of blood and keep it moving
through the heart in the right direction.
• The right and the left chambers are separated from each other by partitions called septa(singular
septum).
Three Layers of Heart

❖ Epicardium (visceral layer)- the thin outer layer of the heart wall. It is also
known as visceral pericardium as it forms the inner layer of the
pericardium. The epicardium is composed primarily of loose connective
tissue, including elastic fibers and adipose tissue
FUNCTION: to protect the inner heart layers and also assists in the production of
pericardial fluid. This fluid fills the pericardial cavity and helps to reduce friction between
pericardial membranes.
❖ Myocardium (muscle of heart)– the middle layer of the heart wall. It is
composed of cardiac muscle fibers, which enable heart contractions. The
myocardium is the thickest layer of the heart wall, with its thickness varying
in different parts of the heart. The myocardium of the left ventricle is the
thickest as this ventricle is responsible for generating the power needed to
pump oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
❖ Endocardium(inner lining) – the thin inner layer of heart wall. This layer
lines the inner heart chambers, covers heart valves, and is continuous with
the endothelium of large blood vessels. The endocardium of heart atria
consists of smooth muscle, as well as elastic fibers.
Layers of the heart Location Description Function

Epicardium Outer layer of the Thin, Covers the heart

heart serous(watery) and attaches to the
membrane that is pericardium
continuous with the
lining of the
pericardium
Myocardium Middle layer of the Thick layer of Contracts to pump
heart cardiac muscle blood into the
arteries

Endocardium Inner layer of the Thin layer of Lines the interior

heart epithelial cells that chambers and
is continuous with valves
the lining of the
blood vessels
Chambers of the Heart

The upper chambers on each side of the heart are called atria, and the lower
chambers are called ventricle. The atria are receiving chambers, and the
ventricles are pumping or delivering chambers.
Two atria

Separated by interatrial septum; coronary

sulcus encircles junction of atria and
ventricles; auricles increase atrial volume.
Two ventricles

Separated by interventricular septum; anterior

and posterior interventricular sulci on external
surface suggest location of septum inside.
Chamber of the heart Location Function

Right Atrium Upper right chamber Receives deoxygenated blood from

the body via both the
Superior(upper) vena cava and
inferior (lower) vena cava and
pumps into the right ventricle

Right Ventricle Lower right chamber Receives blood from the right atrium
and pumps it into the pulmonary
artery, which carries it to the lungs
to be oxygenated.

Left Atrium Upper left chamber Receives oxygenated blood from

the lungs via the pulmonary veins
and pumps it into the left ventricle.

Left Ventricle Lower left chamber Receives blood from the left atrium
and pumps it into the aorta. The cell
walls of the left ventricle are nearly
three times as thick as those of the
right ventricle owing to the force
required to pump the blood into the
arterial system.
Valves

• The valves at the entrance to the ventricles are called atrioventricular (AV)
valves. The valves that exit the ventricles are called semilunar valves
because they are crescent-shaped like a half moon.

• Valves open as blood is pumped through.

• Held in place by chordae tendineae “heart string”

• Close to prevent backflow

VALVE PATHOLOGY

• Incompetent valve = backflow and re-pump.

• Stenosis= stiff= heart workload increased

• May be replaced
• Lup dub heart sound
Valves Location Desription Function

Right AV valve or Between the right atrium Has three cusps hence Closes when the right
tricuspid valve and right ventricle the name tricuspid vent. Contracts and
prevents blood from
flowing back into the
right atrium

Left valve or Bicuspid Between the left atrium Has two cusps, hence Closes when the left
or mitral valve and left ventricle the name bicuspid vent. Contracts and
prevents blood from
flowing back into the left
atrium

Right semilunar valve or Ate the entrance to the Has three half-moon- Closes when the right
pulmonic/pulmonary pulmonary artery shaped cusps vent. Relaxes and
valve prevents blood from
flowing back into the
right ventricle

Left semilunar valve or At the entrance to the Has three half shaped Closes when the left
aortic valve aorta cusps ventricle relaxes and
prevents blood from
flowing back into the left
ventricle
The heart: associated great vessels

• Aorta
leaves left ventricles
• Pulmonary arteries
leaves right ventricles
• Vena cava
enters right atrium
• Pulmonary veins
enter left atrium
Coronary circulation

• Bloods in the heart chambers does not nourish the myocardium

• The heart has its own nourishing circulatory system

coronary arteries
cardiac veins
blood empties into the right atrium via the coronary sinus
Conduction system

Intrinsic conduction system (nodal system)

heart muscle cells contract, without nerve impulses, in a regular,
continuous way

Special tissue sets the pace

sinoatrial node( right atrium)
pacemaker
atrioventricular node( junction of r&l atria and ventricles)
atrioventricular bundle (bundle of his)
bundle branches (reght and left)
Cardiac cycle

• Atria contract simultaneously

• Atria relax, then ventricles contract
• Systole= contraction
• Diastole= relaxation
Regulation of heart

• Stroke volume usually remains relatively constant

• starling’s law of the heart- the more that the cardiac muscle is stretched,
the stronger the contraction.

• Changing heart rate is the most common way to change cardiac putput
Regulation of heart rate

Increased heart rate

sympathetic nervous system
crisis
low blood pressure
Hormones
epinephrine
thyroxine
Exercise
Decreased blood volume
Decreased heart rate
Parasympathetic nervous system
High blood pressure or blood volume
decreased venous return
blood ves·sel
ˈbləd ˌvesəl/
noun
noun: blood vessel; plural noun: blood
vessels

a tubular structure carrying FREE

blood through the tissues and organs;
a vein, artery, or capillary. PPT TEMPLATES
INSERT THE TITLE
OF YOUR PRESENTATION HERE

ALLPPT.com _ Free PowerPoint Templates, Diagrams and Charts

Blood Vessels

Blood vessels contribute to homeostasis by providing the

structures for the flow of blood to and from the heart
and the exchange of nutrients and wastes in tissues. They
also play an important role in adjusting the velocity and
volume of blood flow. Blood circulates inside the blood vessels, which
form a closed transport system, the so-called vascular system.
Blood Vessels
Five Main Types of Blood Vessels
1. Arteries carry blood away from the heart to other organs.
2. Arterioles are products of smaller medium-sized arteries. As the arterioles
enter a tissue, they branch into numerous tiny vessels called
3. Capillaries numerous tiny vessels branched on the arterioles. The thin
walls of capillaries allow the exchange of substances between the
blood and body tissues.
4. Venules small veins formed from group of capillaries within a tissue.
5. Veins larger blood vessels that convey blood from the tissues back to
the heart.
 Blood Vessels
Basic Structure of a Blood Vessel
The wall of a blood vessel consists of three layers, or tunics, of different
tissues: an epithelial inner lining, a middle layer consisting of smooth muscle
and elastic connective tissue, and a connective tissue outer covering. The three
structural layers of a generalized blood vessel from innermost to outermost are the;

1. Tunica interna (intima)

2. Tunica media
3. Tunica externa (adventia)
 Blood Vessels: Structure
Tunica interna (intima) (tunic garment or coat; interna or intima innermost) forms the inner
lining of a blood vessel and is in direct contact with the blood as it flows through the lumen.

Lumen interior opening of the vessel.

Endothelium innermost layer a thin layer of flattened cells that lines the inner surface of the
entire cardiovascular system (heart and blood vessels).

Basement Membrane second component of tunica interna. It provides a physical support

base for the epithelial layer and anchors the endothelium to the underlying connective tissue
while also regulating molecular movement.

Internal elastic lamina (lamina thin plate) the outermost part of the tunica interna, which
forms the boundary between the tunica interna and tunica media, it is a thin sheet of elastic
fibers with a variable number of window-like openings that give it the look of Swiss cheese.
 Blood Vessel: Structure
Tunica Media
The tunica media (media middle) is a muscular and connective tissue layer that displays
the greatest variation among the different vessel types. The tunica media is the most
variable of the tunics.

The primary role of the smooth muscle cells, which extend circularly around the lumen like
a ring encircles your finger, is to regulate the diameter of the lumen. An increase in
sympathetic stimulation typically stimulates the smooth muscle to contract, squeezing the
vessel wall and narrowing the lumen.

Such a decrease in the diameter of the lumen of a blood vessel is called vasoconstriction.
The resulting increase in lumen diameter is called vasodilation.
Blood Vessels: Structure
Tunica Externa
Tunica externa (externa outermost), the outer covering of a blood vessel, consists of elastic
and collagen fibers. The tunica externa contains numerous nerves and, especially in larger
vessels.

Vasa vasorum (vessels to the vessels) small vessels that supply blood to the tissues of the
vessel. They are easily seen on large vessels such as the aorta.

In addition to the important role of supplying the vessel wall with nerves and self-vessels,
the tunica externa helps anchor the vessels to surrounding tissues.
Blood Vessels: Arteries
Arteries
The wall of an artery has the three layers of a typical blood vessel, but has a thick
muscular-to-elastic tunica media. Due to their plentiful elastic fibers, arteries normally
have high compliance, which means that their walls stretch easily or expand without
tearing in response to a small increase in pressure.

Elastic arteries are the largest arteries in the body, ranging from the garden hose–sized
aorta and pulmonary trunk to the finger-sized branches of the
aorta. These vessels are characterized by well-defined internal and external
elastic laminae, along with a thick tunica media that is dominated by elastic fibers,
called the elastic lamellae

Muscular arteries are medium-sized arteries because their tunica media contains more
smooth muscle and fewer elastic fibers than elastic arteries. Because the muscular
arteries continue to branch and ultimately distribute blood to each of the various organs,
they are called distributing arteries. Examples include the brachial artery in the arm and
radial artery in the forearm
Anastomoses
Most tissues of the body receive blood from more than one artery.
The union of the branches of two or more arteries supplying the
same body region is called an anastomosis. Anastomoses may
also occur between veins and between arterioles and venules.

The alternative route of blood flow to a body part through an

anastomosis is known as collateral circulation.

Arteries that do not anastomose are known as end arteries.

Blood Vessels: Arterioles
Arterioles
Literally meaning small arteries, arterioles are abundant microscopic
vessels that regulate the flow of blood into the capillary networks of
the body’s tissues. The terminal end of the arteriole, the region called
the metarteriole.

Arterioles play a key role in regulating blood flow from arteries into
capillaries by regulating resistance, the opposition to blood flow.
Because of this they are known as resistance vessels.
Blood Vessels: Capillaries
Capillaries
Capillaries (capillus little hair), the smallest of blood vessels, have diameters of 5–10 m,
and form the U-turns that connect the arterial outflow to the venous return.

The primary function of capillaries is the exchange of substances between the blood
and interstitial fluid. Because of this, these thin-walled vessels are referred to as
exchange vessels.

The flow of blood from a metarteriole through capillaries and into a postcapillary
venule (venule that receives blood from a capillary) is called the micro- circulation
(micro small) of the body.
Blood Vessels: Capillary
The body contains three different types of capillaries:

1. Continuous capillaries- Most capillaries belong to this type, in which the plasma membranes of
endothelial cells form a continuous tube that is interrupted only by intercellular clefts,
gaps between neighboring endothelial cells. They are found in the central nervous system,
lungs, skin, muscle tissue, and the skin.

2. Fenestrated capillaries- The plasma membranes of the endothelial cells in these capillaries
have many fenestrations, small pores (holes) ranging from 70 to 100 nm in diameter They are
found in the kidneys, villi of the small intestine, choroid plexuses of the ventricles in the brain,
ciliary processes of the eyes, and most endocrine glands.

3. Sinusoids- are wider and more winding than other capillaries.

Blood Vessels: Venules
Venules
Unlike their thick-walled arterial counterparts, venules ( little vein) and veins have thin walls that do not
readily maintain their shape. Venules drain the capillary blood and begin the return flow of blood back
toward the heart.

Postcapillary Venules- venules that initially receive blood from capillaries. They are the smallest venules
and function as significant sites of exchange of nutrients and wastes and white blood cell emigration.

As the postcapillary venules move away from capillaries, they acquire one or two layers of circularly
arranged smooth muscle cells. These muscular venules have thicker walls across which
exchanges with the interstitial fluid can no longer occur.
 Blood Vessels: Vein
Veins lack the internal or external elastic laminae found in arteries. They are distensible enough to adapt
to variations in the volume and pressure of blood passing through them, but are not designed to
withstand high pressure. The lumen of a vein is larger than that of a comparable artery, and veins often
appear collapsed (flattened) when sectioned.

Vascular (venous) sinus is a vein with a thin endothelial wall that has no smooth muscle to alter its
diameter.

Some veins are paired and accompany medium- to small-sized muscular arteries. These double sets of
veins escort the arteries and connect with one another via venous channels called anastomotic veins.

The subcutaneous layer deep to the skin is another source of veins. These veins, called superficial veins,
course through the subcutaneous layer unaccompanied by parallel arteries. Along their course, the
superficial veins form small connections (anastomoses) with the deep veins that travel between the
skeletal muscles. These connections allow communication between the deep and superficial flow of blood.
Capillary Exchange
Capillary exchange-the movement of substances between blood and
interstitial fluid.
Diffusion -most important method of capillary exchange. Many substances, such as oxygen (O),
carbon dioxide (CO2), glucose, amino acids, and hormones, enter and leave capillaries by
simple diffusion.
Transcytosis-A small quantity of material crosses capillary walls.This method of transport is
important mainly for large, lipid-insoluble molecules that cannot cross capillary walls in any
other way.
Bulk Flow: Filtration and Reabsorption
Bulk Flow -passive process in which large numbers of ions,
molecules, or particles in a fluid move together in the same direction.
Filtration - Pressure-driven movement of fluid and solutes from blood capillaries into interstitial
fluid
Reabsorption- Pressure-driven movement from interstitial fluid into blood capillaries
Hemodynamics: Factors
Affecting Blood Flow
Blood flow is the volume of blood that flows through any tissue
in a given time period (in mL/min).
Blood Pressure-the hydrostatic pressure exerted by blood on the walls of a blood vessel.
BP is determined by cardiac output ,blood volume, and vascular resistance
Systolic blood pressure (SBP) -is the highest pressure attained in arteries during systole.
Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) - is the lowest arterial pressure during diastole.

Mean arterial pressure (MAP)-the average blood pressure in arteries, is roughly one-third
of the way between the diastolic and systolic pressures.
Hemodynamics: Factors
Affecting Blood Flow
Vascular resistance is the opposition to blood
flow due to friction between blood and the walls of blood vessels.
Vascular resistance depends on :
(1) size of the blood vessel lumen,
(2) blood viscosity
(3) total blood vessel length
 Hemodynamics: Factors
Affecting Blood Flow

1.Size of the lumen. The smaller the lumen of a blood vessel,

the greater its resistance to blood flow.
2. Blood viscosity. The viscosity of blood depends mostly on the ratio of red blood
cells to plasma (fluid) volume, and to a smaller extent on the concentration of
proteins in plasma.The higher the blood’s viscosity, the higher the resistance.
3. Total blood vessel length. Resistance to blood flow through a vessel is directly
proportional to the length of the blood vessel. The longer a blood vessel, the
greater the resistance.

Systemic vascular resistance (SVR), also known as total peripheral resistance

(TPR)refers to all of the vascular resistances offered by systemic blood vessels.
Pulmonary Vascular Resistance (PVR) – vascular resistances offered by pulmonary
blood vessels.
Hemodynamics: Factors
Affecting Blood Flow

Venous return, the volume of blood flowing back to the heart

through the systemic veins, occurs due to the pressure generated
by contractions of the heart’s left ventricle.
Hemodynamics: Factors
Affecting Blood Flow
Velocity of Blood Flow
blood flow is the volume of blood that flows through any tissue in a given time
period (in mL/min). The speed or velocity of blood flow (in cm/sec) is inversely
related to the cross-sectional area. Velocity is slowest where the total cross-
sectional area is greatest

Circulation time is the time required for a drop of blood to

pass from the right atrium, through the pulmonary circulation,
back to the left atrium, through the systemic circulation down to
the foot, and back again to the right atrium.
Checking Circulation
Pulse
The alternate expansion and recoil of elastic arteries after each
systole of the left ventricle creates a traveling pressure wave.
The pulse rate normally is the same as the heart rate, about 70
to 80 beats per minute at rest.
Tachycardia is a rapid resting heart or pulse rate over 100
beats/min.
Bradycardia is a slow resting heart or pulse rate under 50
beats/min. Endurance-trained athletes normally exhibit bradycardia.
Checking Circulation
Measuring Blood Pressure
Blood pressure usually refers to the pressure in arteries generated by the
left ventricle during systole and the pressure remaining in the arteries when
the ventricle is in diastole.
Sphygmomanometer- device used to measure blood pressure
Systolic blood pressure (SBP), the force of blood pressure on arterial walls
just after ventricular contraction.
Diastolic blood pressure (DBP), force exerted by the blood remaining in
arteries during ventricular relaxation.
Korotkoff sounds-various sounds that are heard while taking blood
pressure .
Pulse pressure-difference between systolic and diastolic pressure.
Shock and Homeostasis
Shock is a failure of the cardiovascular system to deliver enough O2
and nutrients to meet cellular metabolic needs. The causes of shock
are many and varied, but all are characterized by inadequate blood
flow to body tissues.
Types of Shock
Shock can be of four different types:
(1) hypovolemic shock due to decreased blood volume
(2) cardiogenic shock due to poor heart function
(3) vascular shock due to inappropriate Vasodilation.
(4) obstructive shock due to obstruction of blood flow.
Shock and Homeostasis
Homeostatic Responses to Shock
Activation of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system.
Decreased blood flow to the kidneys causes the kidneys to
secrete renin and initiates the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone
system
Secretion of antidiuretic hormone. In response to decreased
blood pressure, the posterior pituitary releases more antidiuretic
hormone (ADH)
Activation of the sympathetic division of the ANS. As blood
pressure decreases, aortic and carotid baroreceptors initiate
powerful sympathetic responses throughout the body.
Release of local vasodilators. In response to hypoxia, cells liberate
vasodilators—including K, H, lactic acid, adenosine, and
nitric oxide—that dilate arterioles and relax precapillary sphincters.
Circulatory Routes

There are two basic postnatal (after birth) routes for blood
flow;
Pulmonary circulation -when blood returns to the heart from
the systemic route, it is pumped out of the right ventricle through the
pulmonary circulation to the lungs.
Systemic circulation- carries oxygen and nutrients to body
tissues and removes carbon dioxide and other wastes and heat
from the tissues.
Pulmonary Circulation

The pulmonary circulation carries deoxygenated

blood from the right ventricle to the air sacs
(alveoli) within the lungs and returns oxygenated
blood from the air sacs to the left atrium
Systemic Circulation

The systemic circulation carries oxygen and nutrients to body

tissues and removes carbon dioxide and other wastes and heat
from the tissues.

All systemic arteries branch from the aorta. Deoxygenated

blood returns to the heart through the systemic veins.

All veins of the systemic circulation drain into the superior vena
cava, inferior vena cava, or coronary sinus, which in turn empty
into the right atrium.
Pathway of Systemic Circulation

❑ Oxygen-rich blood from the lungs leaves the pulmonary circulation when it enters the left
atrium through the pulmonary vein.
❑ The blood is then pumped through the mitral valve into the left ventricle.
❑ From the left ventricle, blood is pumped through the aortic valve and into the aorta.
❑ The aorta arches and branches into major arteries to the upper body before passing through
the diaphragm, where it branches further into arteries which supply the lower parts of the body.
❑ The arteries branch into smaller arteries, arterioles, and finally capillaries.
The Hepatic Portal Circulation
Hepatic portal circulation -carries venous blood from the
gastrointestinal organs and spleen to the liver.
Portal vein - vein that carries blood from one capillary network to
another
Hepatic portal vein- receives blood from capillaries of gastrointestinal
organs and the spleen and delivers it to the sinusoids of the liver.
Superior mesenteric vein -drains blood from the small intestine and
portions of the large intestine, stomach, and pancreas through the
jejunal, ileal, ileocolic,right colic, middle colic, pancreaticoduodenal ,
and right gastro-omental
Veins.
Splenic vein -drains blood from the stomach, pancreas, and portions
of the large intestine through the short gastric, left gastro-omental,
pancreatic, and inferiormesenteric veins.
The Hepatic Portal Circulation
Inferior mesenteric vein- which passes into the splenic vein, drains portions
of the large intestine through the
superior rectal, sigmoidal, and left colic veins.
Right and left gastric veins- which open directly into the hepatic portal vein,
drain the stomach.
Cystic vein-which also opens into the hepatic portal vein, drains the
gallbladder.
Hepatic portal vein -the liver is receiving nutrient-rich but deoxygenated
blood .
hepatic artery, the liver also receiving oxygenated blood ,a branch of the
celiac trunk.
Sinusoids- the oxygenated blood mixes with the deoxygenated blood
Eventually, blood leaves the sinusoids of the liver through the
hepatic veins, which drain into the inferior vena cava.
The Fetal Circulation

Fetal circulation-exists only in the fetus and contains special

structures that allow the developing fetus to exchange
materials with its mother .It differs from the postnatal (after
birth) circulation because the lungs, kidneys, and
gastrointestinal organs
do not begin to function until birth.