1. The Circulatory System
The body’s high way system

2. What is the circulatory system?
Circulatory system is the heart, a series of blood vessels and the blood that flows through the heart and vessels.

3. The Heart
The heart is a hollow organ made mostly of muscle located just to the left of center in the chest.
Tissues:
Pericardium – Protective sac around outer heart
Myocardium – Thick muscular wall of the heart that contracts to pump blood

4. Heart Parts and Circulation
Right Atria – collects blood from body
Right Ventricle – takes blood from right atria and pumps it to the lungs
Pulmonary Arteries – takes blood from heart to lungs
Pulmonary Veins – takes blood back to heart from lungs.

5. Heart Parts and Circulation
Left Atria – collects blood from pulmonary veins.
Left Ventricle- takes blood from left atria and pumps it to the body
Aorta- returns blood to the body.
Vena Cava – takes blood from the body to the heart

6. Two Circulation Systems
Pulmonary circulation
Carries blood from heart to the lungs and back to the heart
Allows the blood to pick up oxygen and get rid of carbon dioxide
Systemic circulation
Carries oxygen rich blood to the body and returns oxygen poor blood to the heart.

7. Heart Valves Valves prevent blood from flowing in the wrong direction
Tricuspid – between right atrium and right ventricle
Pulmonary – between right ventricle and pulmonary arteries

8. Heart Valves
Mitral – between left atria and left ventricle
Aortic – between left ventricle and aorta.
If the valves are badly damaged, surgery is needed to repair the valves.
Many people have minor damage or abnormalities to valves. This is usually not a problem.

10. How the Heart Beats
Sinoatrial node (SA node) – set of cardiac cells that set the pace for the entire heart to beat.
Heart muscle contracts from the bottom – by the ventricles- to the top- the artria so that the blood moves in the right direction

11. Types of Blood Vessels
Arteries – thick, muscular vessels that carry blood away from the heart
Muscles in the walls of the arteries let them expand under the pressure of the blood being pushed from the heart.
Usually carry oxygen-rich blood – except when carrying blood from the heart to the lungs

12. Types of Blood Vessels
Capillaries – tiny blood vessels with very thin walls that connect arteries and veins.
Releases oxygen and nutrients to the cells and removes carbon dioxide and wastes.

13. Types of Blood Vessels
Veins –Thin walled vessels that carry blood to the heart with valves to keep blood flowing in the correct direction.
Skeletal muscles help push blood through the veins back to the heart
Sitting still for long periods of time can increase the risk of blood clots in the legs from blood pooling in the veins.

14. Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the pressure that blood exerts as it flows through the body.
Systolic Pressure-pressure when the ventricles force blood into the arteries
120 is healthy
Diastolic Pressure – pressure when the ventricles are relaxed
80 is healthy

15. Problems with Blood Pressure
Low blood pressure- Less than 90/60
If there are no symptoms, it’s not a problem
Can be a sign of a serious medical problem if it comes on after or during an illness or accident.

16. Problems with Blood Pressure
High Blood Pressure – consistent reading above 140/90.
BIG PROBLEM EVEN IF THERE IS NO SYMPTOMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Leads to:
Heart Disease
Stroke
Kidney Failure
Worsening Diabetes

17. Problems with Blood Pressure
Get checked regularly and encourage family to do so also.
Follow recommendations for exercise and dietary rules.