Composed of heart and blood vessels In conjunction with the blood and lymphatic system, the CV system is responsible for the transportation of vital nutrients to cells in the body waste products from cells in the body

Cardio System Heart Hollow, muscular organ Divided into 4 chambers Located in mediastinum Vascular System 3 Types of Vessels Arteries Capillaries Veins

4 Chambers of the Heart Right atrium Right ventricle Left atrium Left ventricle

Valves of the Heart Tricuspid Mitral (Bicuspid) Semilunar Pulmonary Aortic Vessels of the Heart Vena Cava Superior Inferior Pulmonary Artery Right Left Pulmonary Vein Right Left Aorta

Conduction System Sinoatrial (SA) Node Atrioventricular (AV) Node Bundle of His (AV bundle) Purkinje fibers

Layers of the Heart Pericardium Epicardium Myocardium Endocardium

Arteries: carry blood away from the heart through pumping action hence our “pulse”; walls are muscular Capillaries: microscopic vessels that join arterial system with venous system; *exchange of nutrients and waste takes place at capillary level* Veins: return blood to the heart by one of four mechanisms (muscle contraction, gravity, respiratory activity, valves) Atria: Right and left; collect blood Ventricles: Right and left; pump blood from heart

Superior Vena Cava: carries deoxygenated blood back to heart from upper part of body and deposits in right atrium Inferior Vena Cava: carries deoxygenated blood back to heart from lower part of body and deposits in right atrium Pulmonary Arteries: Right and left; carries blood from right ventricle to the lungs Pulmonary Veins: Two right and two left; carry oxygenated blood from lungs back to heart Aorta: largest artery in body; carries oxygenated blood from heart out to the body

Tricuspid Valve: between right atrium and right ventricle Mitral Valve: between left atrium and left ventricle Pulmonary Semilunar Valve: located at opening to pulmonary artery to prevent backflow of blood into the right ventricle Aortic Semilunar Valve: located at opening to aorta to keep maintain blood flow in one direction: left ventricle to aorta

Sinoatrial (SA) Node: upper portion of right atrium; called the “pacemaker” of the heart as it has the ability to initiate the heartbeat without external nerve stimulation Atrioventricular (AV) Node: base of right atrium; receives impulse from SA node Bundle of His (AV bundle): tract of conduction fibers composed of right and left branch; carries impulse to Purkinje fibers Purkinje fibers: extend up ventricle walls and ultimately cause their contraction pushing blood out of the heart

Pericardium: “Sac” that contains the heart Endocardium: Serous membrane that lines the four chambers of the heart and its valves Myocardium: Muscular layer of the heart Epicardium: Outermost layer of the heart

Pulse Sites Temporal Facial Carotid Brachial Radial Femoral Popliteal Posterior Tibialis Dorsalis Pedis

Heart Disease: general term used to describe problems that occur due to atherosclerosis; number one cause of death in the U.S. Other Heart Diseases include: Heart failure: chronic, progressive condition in which the heart becomes inefficient at pumping enough blood through to meet the demands of the body; often manageable with medication and lifestyle changes Arrythmias: abnormal heart rhythm resulting from a change in the electrical impulses in the heart; often treatable with medications, internal defibrilaltors Valve Disorders: often picked up as a “murmur;” can be stenosis, regurgitation, prolapse and/or atresia; surgical intervention sometimes needed

Hypertension (HTN): excessive force of bloodflow that gradually damages the walls of the arteries; known as the “silent killer;” manageable with medications and lifestyle changes but non-compliance in patients is a big problem Atherosclerosis: build up of plaque in the arteries Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD): narrowing of peripheral arteries caused by atherosclerosis Myocardial Infarction (MI): “heart attack” occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA): “stroke” occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain occurs

Progression of disease in the CV system Hypertension>Atherosclerosis>PAD>Heart failure or MI or CVA Important to note that the above is not always the case in every individual that experiences a complication of the CV system, HOWEVER it is a likely scenario for someone who is sedentary and generally not in good health. _001087_SubHomePage.jsp