Cardio

The Cardio Vascular system is made up of the heart, blood vessels and blood. It is the major transport system in the body. It carries food, oxygen and all other product to tissue cells. It also takes waste products and carbon dioxide away. Oxygen is sent around the body to the bodies tissues while carbon dioxide is carried from cells to the lungs for excretion.

Functions of each structure

Right Atrium: The Right Atrium is larger than the Left Atrium but has thinner walls. The Right Atrium has two major veins. These return blood to the heart from all parts of the body. The ‘Superior Vena Cava’ returns the de-oxygenated blood from the upper part of the body and the ‘Inferior Vena Cava’ returns the de-oxygenated blood from the lower part of the body.

Left Atrium: The Left Atrium receives blood from our Veins. The blood received from the lungs has been oxygenated. The oxygenated blood that is collected in the Left Atrium is then pumped into the Left Ventricle through the Bicuspid Valve and is sent out around the body.

Right Ventricle: The Right Ventricle receives blood from the Right Atrium. When the heart contracts, blood is forced through the valves into the ‘Pulmonary Artery’. The Pulmonary Semi lunar Valve is a three flap valve that stops the backflow of blood. The walls of the Right Ventricle are a little thicker than the Right Atrium.

Left Ventricle: The chamber of the Left Ventricle has walls that are three times the thickness of the Right Ventricle. This is important because the oxygenated blood that it receives from the Left Atrium has to be pump throughout the body. The Bicuspid Valve closes and the blood is collected in the Left Ventricle.

Aorta: The Aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body. The inner diameter of the Aorta is about one inch. The Aorta carries oxygenated blood to every other part of the body. The Aorta receives its blood from the Left Ventricle.

Septum: The Septum is a partition that separates the right and left sides...