Structure and function of the cardiovascular system

The cardiovascular system involves the Heart, Veins, Venules,

Arteries, Arterioles and Capillaries. This forms the major
transportation of blood in the body. Oxygen is moved from the
lungs around the body. Carbon dioxide is carried from the body
back to the lungs.

The heart

The main heart function is to circulate blood through the body

and lungs, in two separate circulations, the body and the lungs.
There are four chambers in the heart, the right atrium, left
atrium, right ventricle and left ventricle. The wall separating
the right and the left side of the heart is called the septum
and its main function is to stop the oxygenated blood and the
deoxygenated blood mixing. As well as the atria and ventricles
there are four valves the bicuspid (mitral) valve, the tricuspid
value, the aortic valve and the pulmonary valve. These valves
main aim is to either prevent backflow or allow blood flow
through to other parts of the heart.

This image shows the direction of the blood flow. The blood
comes from the body into the Vena cava and into the right
atrium, the blood then passes through the tricuspid valve into
the right ventricle.
The aorta is the main artery it carries oxygenated blood to all
parts of the body apart from the lungs. The superior vena cava
is a vein that receives deoxygenated blood from the upper
body and joins to the right atrium. The inferior vena cava is
also a vein, it carries deoxygenated blood back from the lower
body and joins to the right atrium.
The pulmonary vein carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to
the left atrium, the pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated
blood from the heart back to the lungs (only artery that
carries deoxygenated blood).
 Blood vessels

Arteries

These carry blood away from the heart. They carry

oxygenated blood (all apart from the pulmonary artery). They
have thick muscular wall to carry the blood at high speeds
under high pressure. They are extremely elastic and can return
to there shape easily, they can expand to accommodate extra
blood. The arteries branch into smaller arterioles that then
deliver blood to the capillaries.

Arterioles

The arterioles are smaller than the arteries, they can change
in diameter to control the distribution of blood. They lead on
to capillaries and have smaller walls that the arteries. They are
responsible for controlling blood flow. During exercise they
increase the diameter to accommodate the extra oxygen
needed by the muscles.
 Capillaries

Capillaries connects arteries and veins together, they are the

smallest of all the blood vessels, they are narrow and thin to
allow diffusion of oxygen and nutrients required by the bodies
cells. The capillaries are located along side the muscles, this
ensures that oxygen is available to be used to produce energy.
Capillary cells are only one cell thick for easy diffusion.
Capillaries have a higher pressure than in the veins but less
than in the arteries.

Venules

These are small vessels that link to the capillaries, they carry
deoxygenated blood back to the veins to then carry blood back
to the heart.
 Veins

These carry deoxygenated blood, they have thinner walls than

the arteries with a rather large diameter. They blood flow in
the veins is slow and has a low pressure, surrounding muscles
are then needed to push the blood back to the heart. These
muscles will squeeze the vein inwards. There are lots of valves
in the vein to prevent backflow when the muscles relax. The
veins branch from smaller vessels called venules which are
linked to the capillaries.