Chapter 9 Cardiovascular System
Chapter Objectives
Upon completion of this chapter the participant will be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
List the major structures of the cardiovascular system.
Discuss the functions of the cardiovascular system.
Name the three layers of the heart wall.
Label the major structures of the heart on a diagram.
Describe the system that allows contraction of the heart and circulation of blood.
Describe the flow of blood through the body.
Differentiate between the three types of blood vessels.
Define the components of blood pressure.
List the common components of blood.
Describe the functions of the blood components.
Analyze, define and spell the terms related to the cardiovascular system.
Successfully complete the exercises at the end of the chapter.
In order for the trillions of cells in the body to remain healthy they need to have a
continuous supply of oxygen and nutrients. This is achieved because of the
cardiovascular system. The parts of the cardiovascular system work together to deliver
the needed oxygen and nutrients to the body tissues. A second function of the system
is to then carry the waste products produced by the body tissues to the areas of the
body where they can be eliminated. Blood cells contained in the circulating blood also
play an important role in the immune system of the body.
When defined the term cardiovascular means pertaining to the heart and blood
vessels. The components of this system include:
 Heart
 blood vessels
 blood
Types of Blood Vessels
 arteries to carry blood away from the heart
 veins to carry blood toward the heart
 capillaries which are tiny vessels that join the arteries to the veins and they
carry blood to the body organs.
Structures of the Heart
The heart is a hollow muscular organ, which is about the size of your fist, and weights
about eleven ounces. It is the contraction of this organ that provides the power to move
blood through the vascular system of the body. The root word for heart is cardi/o.
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The heart is located in the middle of the chest behind the breastbone (sternum) and
between the lungs. It is in the thoracic cavity and slightly more on the left side than the
right. The heart lies within a fluid filled sac called the pericardium. There are three
layers to the walls of the heart: epicardium, myocardium and the endocardium. The
major structures of the heart are labeled in the diagram below.
Superior Vena Cava
Aorta
Pulmonary Artery
Pulmonary Veins
Left Atrium
Pulmonary Valve
Right Atrium
Mitral Valve
Tricuspid Valve
Left Ventricle
Right Ventricle
Septum
Inferior Vena Cava
Structures of the Heart
 Atria: There are two atria .... the left atrium and the right atrium. They are the
two receiving chambers for blood and all blood vessels coming into the heart
enters here. The root for artium is atri/o. Blood from the body circulates back
into the heart through the right atrium while the left atrium receives blood from
the lungs.
 Ventricles: There are two ventricles .... the right ventricle and the left ventricle.
Blood moves from the right atrium into the right ventricle and is then pumped to
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the lungs where CO2 (carbon dioxide) is eliminated and O2 (oxygen) is absorbed.
When the blood arrives back at the heart it enters the left atrium and then
passes into the left ventricle. Once there the ventricle will contract and send the
blood to all parts of the body. The root for ventricle is ventricul/o.
 Septum: The tissue that separates the left side of the heart from the right.
 Valves: The flow of blood through the heart is controlled by a series of one-way
valves (valv/o, valvul/o). These valves are:
o Tricuspid valve: Separates the right atrium from the right ventricle.
o Pulmonary valve: Between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery.
o Mitral valve: Separates the left atrium from the left ventricle.
o Aortic valve: Between the left ventricle and the aorta.
 Vessels: There are a series of veins (ven/o, phleb/o) and arteries (arteri/o)
which enter and leave the heart. These vessels are the:
o Superior vena cava: Large vein that carries blood from the upper part of
the body to the right atrium.
o Inferior vena cava: Large vein that carries blood from the lower part of
the body to the right atrium.
o Pulmonary artery: Carries blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.
o Pulmonary veins: Carries blood from the lungs to the left atrium.
o Aorta: Large artery that carries blood from the left ventricle to all the body
parts (aort/o)
 Coronary arteries: The heart muscle like all other body muscles requires
oxygen and nutrients to live. To carry blood to the heart muscle itself there is a
series of coronary arteries (coron/o) that encircle the heart.
Heart Function
The heart normally contracts and relaxes about 70 to 80 times per minute. With each
beat it is delivering oxygen rich blood to the cells of the body and at the same time picks
up any waste products produced by the cells. At the end of the day the heart has
pumped about 4300 gallons of blood.
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Blood Circulation
Lung
s
Pulmonary Artery
Pulmonary Vein
Aorta
Vena Cava
Heart
Body Tissue
Blood Flow Through the Heart

The right atrium receives blood from all tissues, except the lungs, through
the superior and inferior vena cava. Blood flows from here through the
tricuspid valve into the right ventricle.

The right ventricle pumps the blood through the pulmonary valve and into
the pulmonary artery, which carries it to the lungs.

The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs through the
pulmonary veins. The blood flows through the mitral valve into the left
ventricle.

The left ventricle receives blood from the left atrium. From the left ventricle
blood goes out through the aortic valve and into the aorta and is pumped to
all parts of the body, except the lungs.

Blood is returned by the vena cava to the right atrium and the cycle begins
again.
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Conduction System
The heart beats because of an ongoing electrical system called the conduction
system. This system consists of a network of muscle cells that transmit an electrical
current that causes the various parts of the heart muscle to contract. The rate and
regularity of the heart contracting/beating is the result of this conduction system, which
consists of:
 sinoatrial node (SA node): Starts the electrical impulse which sets the rhythm of
the heart beat. Because of this it is referred to as the “pacemaker” of the heart.
It usually stimulates 60 - 95 beats per minute.
 atrioventricular node (AV node): Impulse from SA node is transmitted to the AV
node in the walls of the right atrium. This causes both the right and left atria to
contract at the same time.
 AV bundle: Impulse moves from the AV node to the AV bundle.
 Purkinje fibers: Impulse moves from the AV bundle to the Purkinje fibers.
These fibers then stimulate both ventricles to contract at the same time.
The electrical activity of the heart can be monitored using an electrocardiogram (ECG,
EKG). This machine will produce a graphic picture of the electrical activity of the heart
and allows the physician to diagnose problems in the heart.
The functioning of the heart can also be assessed by taking the blood pressure,
listening to the sounds of the heart, and counting the heart beats. Measuring blood
pressure is measuring the amount of pressure the blood exerts on the walls of the
arteries. When your blood pressure is taken you receive a reading that is recorded as
one number over another: e.g. 100/60 to 120/80 (normal blood pressure range). The
top number is referred to as the systolic pressure, and is the amount of pressure on
the arteries when the ventricles are contracting. The bottom number is the diastolic
pressure, and is the amount of pressure on the walls when the ventricles are relaxed.
High blood pressure is referred to as hypertension while low blood pressure is termed
hypotension. The machine which you use to take blood pressure is called a
sphygmomanometer (sfig-moh-man-om-eh-ter)
When a stethoscope is placed over the heart the sounds made by the heart are
magnified and can be heard. It sounds like “lupp” “dub”. These sounds are
produced by the closing of the valves in the heart.
The Blood
The blood that circulates in the blood vessels is referred to as “whole blood” and is
about 55% liquid and 45% solid. The liquid part is referred to as plasma. The solid, or
cellular portion consists of red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells
(leukocytes) and platelets (thrombocytes). The plasma portion of the blood is made
up of 90% water and results in the blood being liquid.
In addition to carrying the blood cells throughout the body the blood also transports fats,
proteins, gases, salts and the hormones of the endocrine system.
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Blood cells start as cells called hemocytoblasts. As they mature through a process
called hematopoiesis the cells will become red cells, white cells or platelets.
Erythrocytes contain a protein called hemoglobin that makes it possible for the cells
to absorb oxygen and carry it through the blood to the body cells that need it to sustain
life.
Leukocytes are the blood cells that fight infections. They have the ability to move from
the blood stream into the tissue that is infected, and fight the disease process.
The types of white blood cells are:

esinophils

basophils

neutrophils

monocytes

lymphocyes
Thrombocytes, or platelets are the third type of cell. These cells start blood clotting
when bleeding occurs. The platelet acts by releasing prothrombin and fibrinogen which
creates a plug or mesh network that stops the area from bleeding.
Blood Type and Blood Donation
Blood Type
Can Donate Blood To
Can Receive Blood From
A
A or AB only
A or O only
B
B or AB only
B or O only
AB
(Universal recipient)
AB only
A, B, AB, O
O
(Universal donor)
A, B, AB, O
O only
When a blood transfusion is being considered, as well as the blood type a second
factor must be assessed. The Rh factor is a component of the red blood cell of most
people (85%). If you have the factor you are Rh positive and if not you are Rh
negative. Knowing whether or not you have the factor is also of importance in women
who are pregnant.
Word Parts for the Cardiovascular System
Roots







angi/o, vascul/o, vas/o
aort/o
arteri/o
ather/o
atri/o
cardi/o
coron/o
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vessel
aorta
artery
fatty debris, fatty plaque
atrium
heart
crown (coronary arteries)
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

















ech/o
erythr/o
fibrin/o
hem/o, hemat/o
isch/o
leuk/o
lip/o
macr/o
micr/o
my/o
phag/o
phleb/o, ven/o
rhythm/o
ser/o
tensi/o
thromb/o
valvul/o, valv/o
ventricul/o
sound
red
fibrin
blood
hold back
white
fat
large
small
muscle
eating, swallowing
vein
rhythm
serum
tension
clot
valve
ventricle
Prefixes






bradyendoepiperprotachy-
slow
within
upper
through
before
fast
Sufixes











-blast
-crit
-cyte
-cytosis
-ectasis
-emia
-penia
-phage
-poiesis, -poietin
-spasm
-stasis
immature
separate
cell
condition of cells
dilation
blood
deficiency
cell that destroys
formation
spasm or contraction
stoppage
Term Analysis and Definition
Word Part
Term
angi/o
vascul/o
angiectasis
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Analysis
angi = vessel
-ectasis = dilation
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Definition
Dilation of a vessel.
Word Part
Term
Analysis
Definition
angiography
-graphy = create a
graphic picture
Process of recording blood
vessels using X-Ray.
vasculoplasty
vascul = vessel
-plasty = surgical
repair
Surgical repair of a vessel.
vascular
-ar = pertaining to
Pertaining to a vessel.
aort/o
aortostenosis
aort = aorta
-stenosis =
narrowing
Narrowing of the aorta.
arteri/o
arteriole
arteri = artery
-ole = small
-sclerosis
= hardening
Small arteries.
endo = within
-ectomy
Surgical removal of the inner
lining of the artery.
arteriosclerosis
endarterectomy
Hardening of the arteries.
= surgical removal
ather/o
atherosclerosis
ather = fatty
plaque
-sclerosis =
hardening
Hardening of the arteries by
an accumulation of fatty
plaque on the inner arterial
walls.
atri/o
interatrial
inter = between
-al = pertaining to
atri = atrium
Pertaining to the area
between the atrium.
cardi/o
cardiology
cardi = heart
-logy = study of
Study of the heart including
diseases and treatment.
cardiologist
-logist = specialist
Specialist in the study of the
heart.
cardiomegaly
-megaly =
enlargement
Enlargement of the heart
cardiomyopathy
my = muscle
-pathy = condition
Disease of the heart muscle
myocardial
my = muscle
-al = pertaining to
Pertaining to the heart muscle
pericarditis
peri = around
-itis =
inflammation
Inflammation around the
heart.
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Word Part
Term
Analysis
Definition
chrom/o
hyperchromia
hyper = excessive
chrom = color
-ia = condition
Excessive pigmentation of the
blood cells
coron/o
coronary arteries
coron = crown
-ary = pertaining to
Pertaining to the arteries that
supply the heart with blood.
(The coronary arteries sit on
top of the heart like a crown).
eryth/o
erythrocyte
eryth = red
-cyte = cell
Red blood cell
hemat/o,
hem/o
hemolysis
hem = blood
-lysis = breakdown
Breakdown of blood
hematologist
hemat = blood
-logist = specialist
Specialist in diseases of the
blood.
hematology
-logy = study of
Study of the blood and blood
disorders
leuk/o
leukocyte
leuk = white
-cyte = cell
White blood cell
myel/o
myelogenous
myel = bone
marrow
-genous =
produced by
Produced by the bone
marrow.
rhythm/o
arrhythmia
a = no, not
rhythm = rhythm
-ia = state of
Deviation from the normal
heart rhythm
thromb/o
thrombocyte
thromb = clot
-cyte = cell
Clotting cell
thrombolysis
-lysis = breakdown
Breakdown of a clot
thrombosis
-osis = abnormal
condition
Abnormal condition of clot
formation
valvul/o
valvuloplasty
valvul = valve
-plasty = surgical
repair
Surgical repair of a valve
ventricul/o
interventricular
inter = between
-ar = pertaining to
ventricul =
ventricle
Pertaining to the area
between the ventricles
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Word Part
Term
-blast
hemocytoblast
hem = blood
cyt = cell
-blast = immature
Immature blood cell
lymphoblast
lymph = lymph
Immature lymphocyte
-brady
bradycardia
brady = slow
cardi = heart
-ia = condition
Condition of slow heart rate
-crit
hematocrit
hemat = blood
-crit = separate
Lab test that separates the
blood into its parts.
-cytosis
leukocytosis
leuk = white
-cytosis = increase
in the number of
cells
Marked increase in the
number of white blood cells
-emia
anemia
a = no, not, lack of
-emia = blood
Lack of red blood cells
erythremia
erythr = red
Abnormal increase in the
number of red cells
leukemia
leuk = white
Increase in the number of
white blood cells in the blood.
Considered a form of cancer.
erythrocytopenia
erythr = red
cyt = cell
-penia = decrease,
deficiency
Decrease in the number of red
cells
leukocytopenia
leuk = white
Decrease in the number of
white blood cells
thrombocytopenia
thromb = clot
Decrease in the number of
clotting cells
pancytopenia
pan = all
Decrease in the number of all
blood cells
erythropoiesis
erythr = red
-poiesis =
production,
formation
Production of red blood cells
-penia
-poiesis,
-poietin
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Analysis
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Definition
Word Part
Term
Analysis
Definition
hematopoiesis
hemat = blood
Production of blood cells
-stasis
hemostasis
hemo = blood
-stasis = stopping,
controlling
Stoppage of blood
-tachy
tachycardia
tachy = fast
cardi = heart
-ia = condition
Condition of fast heart rate
Vocabulary Words:
Aneurysm
A sac formed by a local widening of the wall of an artery or a vein;
usually caused by injury or disease
Bruit
a sound of venous or arterial origin heard on auscultation
Claudication
The process of lameness, limping; may result from inadequate
blood supply to the muscles in the leg
Diastole
The relaxation phase of the heart cycle during which the heart
muscle relaxes and the heart chambers fill with blood
Embolism
a moving blood clot
Fibrillation
Quivering of muscle fiber; may be atrial or ventricular
Hypertension
high blood pressure
Infarction
Process of development of an infarct, which is necrosis of tissue
resulting from obstruction of blood flow
Murmur
A soft blowing sound heard on auscultation of various parts of the
body, especially the region of the heart
Palpitation
Rapid throbbing or fluttering of the heart
Systole
The contractive phase of the heart cycle during which blood is
forced in the the aorta and the pulmonary artery
Thrombosis
a stationary blood clot
Abbreviations:
AMI
acute myocardial infarction
ASD
atrial septal defect
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ASHD
arteriosclerotic heart disease
BP
blood pressure
CAD
coronary artery disease
CHF
congestive heart failure
CPR
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
DVTs
deep vein thromboses
ECG
electrocardiogram
MI
myocardial infarction
PVCs
premature ventricular contractions
RA
right atrium
RV
right ventricle
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