Body System Research

Body System Research Paper

The cardiovascular (circulatory) system consists of the heart, blood vessels (arteries, capillaries, and veins) and the blood. It’s primary function is to pump oxygenated blood to the tissues throughout the body and reabsorb waste carbon dioxide for its removal. This function is carried out by the pulmonary and systemic circulation. The pulmonary circulation controls all of the blood that flows between the heart and lung for gaseous exchanges. The heart consists of the aorta, pulmonary artery, superior vena cava, left atrium, right atrium, left ventricle, right ventricle, heart muscle, and inferior vena cava. The right ventricle of the heart pumps blood to the lungs where oxygen then enters the bloodstream. Blood enters the systemic circulation from the left side of the heart. The left ventricle circulates the oxygenated blood throughout the body in the arteries and oxygen is then released at the capillaries of individual tissues. The tissues then excrete carbon dioxide which is then absorbed into the blood and returned to the veins to the right ventricle of the heart, returning to the pulmonary circulation and thus completing the pulmonary circuit. This system also maintains your internal body temperature, cellular salt and water content and the transporting of hormones and nutrients throughout the body.

One major disease of this system is atherosclerosis also known as the hardening of your arteries. This occurs when a buildup of cholesterol, fatty substances, cellular waste products, calcium and a clotting material in the blood that creates what's known as plaque. In result to having atherosclerosis you can also develop coronary heart disease, angina, carotid artery disease, peripheral artery disease and chronic kidney disease.

Another disease, affecting the heart is known as arrhythmia. An arrhythmia is caused by multiple factors such as coronary artery disease, electrolyte imbalances in the blood, changes in the heart muscle,...