 Cardio- means heart  Vascular- means blood vessels  Aka Circulatory System because its job is to circulate blood throughout the body.  Blood carries many materials including: › Nutrients from food › Oxygen from the lungs › Wastes from cells › Hormones (chemical messages)

 Heart- main organ of the cardiovascular system › made mostly of cardiac muscle tissue › Right side pumps oxygen poor blood to the lungs (left side in pictures) › Left side pumps oxygen rich blood to the body (right side in pictures) › 4 chambers: atrium = upper, ventricle = lower › One-way valves separate the chambers so blood can’t flow backwards

 Atrium - receives blood  Ventricle - sends blood (thick muscle)  Arteries - carry blood away from the heart  Veins - carry blood towards the heart  Valves - prevent backwards flow of blood

 Arteries - bring blood away from heart › Thick, muscular walls to help pump and withstand pressure. › Typically carry oxygenated blood. › EXCEPTION: Pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood away from heart to the lungs.

 Capillaries - exchange materials with cells › Extremely thin-walled blood vessels. › Exchange O 2 and nutrients for CO 2 and wastes.

 Veins - bring blood towards the heart › One-way valves to prevent blood from flowing backwards › Typically carry deoxygenated blood. › EXCEPTION: Pulmonary vein carries oxygenated blood towards the heart from the lungs.

 Systemic Circulation- blood flow between the heart and the body. › Left ventricle (larger to pump to entire body)  Pulmonary Circulation- blood flow between the heart and the lungs. › Right ventricle

 Cardiovascular problems affect your entire body. › Atherosclerosis (narrowing of blood vessels) › Hypertension (high blood pressure) › Heart attack & stroke- blood flow to heart or brain is blocked  Causes: smoking, high cholesterol, stress, physical inactivity, heredity  Eat healthy and get plenty of exercise to keep cardiovascular system healthy