Why is it important? Your body’s cells depend on the blood vessels to bring nutrients & remove wastes.

 Just like water moving through pipes, materials are moved throughout the body by the cardiovascular system.  Cardiovascular system includes your heart, kilometers of blood vessels, and blood.

 Your heart is an organ made up of __________ muscle tissue.  Four Compartments called chambers  Two upper chambers are called atriums  Two lower chambers are called right and left ventricles

 Coronary circulation: the flow of blood to and from the tissues of the heart.  When coronary circulation is blocked, oxygen and nutrients cannot reach the cells of the heart and a heart attack occurs!

 Pulmonary circulation: the flow of blood through the heart to the lungs and back.

 Systemic circulation: the flow of blood to the rest of the body (NOT the lungs or heart)

 Carry blood to every part of your body  Blood moves oxygen and nutrients to cells.  Blood moves waste and carbon dioxide away from cells.

 Blood only flows one direction in each vein.  A valve prevents blood from flowing in the wrong direction through a vein.