What is the cardiovascular system?
- The cardiovascular system is the major body system that is responsible in making sure that the muscles and bones of the body are supplied with the proper amount of oxygen and blood along with other vitamins and minerals that are necessary for life.
- The Cardiovascular system is made of the heart and blood vessels (arteries, veins and microcirculation). The heart is a muscle, and is absolutely necessary for life. It pumps blood throughout all body vessels in order to supply the body with oxygen. Blood vessels are like pipes which carry blood to every part of the body. Arteries transport oxygenated blood from lungs to tissues; veins transport non- oxygenated blood back to the heart where it will be exchanged for oxygenated blood. Finally, microcirculation is made of very thin capillary vessels that connect to tissues, which is where the actual gas exchange occurs.
- There are two main circulations in the cardiovascular system: the small circulation, which is the blood flow from the heart to the lungs and then back again, and great circulation, which is the blood flow from the heart to all body tissues and then back to the heart again. The small circulation has the job of oxygenating venous or non-oxygenated blood of which returns to the heart. The great circulation has the task of leading oxygenated blood through arteries to all body tissues to ensure that blood reaches every part of the body. Both the small and great circulation depend on one another.