Cardiovascular system Flashcards
(250 cards)
what are the two main functions of the cardiovascular system?
transport and exchange
-delivers supplies to cells far removed from the site of uptake or manufacture
which 5 supplies are transported through the cardiovascular system?
1) oxygen (RBC’s pick up oxygen and give it to every cell in the body (almost)
2) water and nutrients (from digestive system - ex: glucose, fatty acids, etc = energy going to all cells picked up and carried by the blood)
3) hormones (chemical signals released from parts of the body - ex: hypothalamus - transported by cardiovascular system)
4) antibodies/ platelets/ leukocytes (antibodies play a key role in immune system (same with leukocytes) - platelets are fragments of cells which have a key role in blood clotting)
5) heat (transported - ex: when fingers and toes get cold - from core body heat to skin (helps us stay warm and cool off)
which 3 ‘wastes’ are transported through the cardiovascular system from the cells for elimination elsewhere?
1) carbon dioxide (CO2) - one of the major waste products through lungs and kidneys
2) urea, creatinine, bilirubin (urea break down of amino acids combined with CO2 - our bodies also harness this to create concentrated urine)
- creatinine - important in muscles - used for immediate energy secreted by kidneys
- bilirubin - cause of jaunice (malfunctioning liver = yellow skin) - secreted with bile
3) heat (excessive exercise)
what are the 3 primary components of the cardiovascular system?
1) blood
2) heart
3) vasculature
3 primary components of the cardiovascular system: blood
- medium for bulk transport of materials
- bulk transport is not diffusion, it’s like a river or the wind - everything is transported together
- blood does move down a gradient (pressure gradient)
2 primary components of the cardiovascular system: heart
- pressure gradient generator (pump)
- highest blood pressure is in your heart as well as lowest blood pressure
- dual pump: right side pump and left side pump
- has many endocrine functions - senses local environment, releases and responds to endocrine cues
3 primary components of the cardiovascular system: vasculature
closed, dual circuit for one way flow of blood (closed because tubes are continuous (there are exceptions - ex: leaky capillaries)
a) pulmonary circuit (low pressure, low resistance)
- blood is under higher pressure than atmosphere which is why we bleed out when cut, in lungs, not a lot of resistance to blood flow - “friction” - friction of blood against blood vessel walls
- smaller amount of pressure is needed
- minimum pressure = 25 mm (25 over 80)
b) systemic circuit (high pressure, high resistance)
- maximum pressure of 120 mm (120 over 80)
- this is five times greater than pulmonary circuit
- even though it’s the same amount of blood that goes through both*****
what are the components of blood?
1) plasma
2) erythrocytes
3) leukocytes
4) platelets
complex suspension of water, solutes, and formed elements
- mostly red blood cells, floating in plasma
- formed elements are mostly cells, but can be just fragments of cells
what makes up the bulk of the blood?
plasma
main components of blood: what is in our plasma?
composed of water (90%) and a variety of dissolved:
1) proteins (ex: albumins (most common (about 60%) - carrier protein), globulins (carrier protein), fibrinogens (key role in hemostasis (blood clotting), hormones)
2) electrolytes (ex: Na+, Cl-, K+, HCO3-)
3) nutrients (ex: glucose, amino acids, lipids, vitamins)
4) gases (ex: N2 (most dominant), O2 (only about 1%), CO2)
5) metabolic waste products (ex: urea, creatinine)
what is serum?
plasma from which fibrinogen and other clotting proteins have been removed
which is the most numerous of our blood cells?
erythrocytes (RBC’s)
-over 99%
how many RBC’s do we have per ml of blood?
5 billion (approx.)
how fast do RBCs reproduce?
5 trillion blood cells, 2 to 3 million blood cells per second are made
-15 million also die in that same time frame
why are RBCs flat cells?
to increase surface area which facilitates diffusion of oxygen (indirect transport of CO2)
all blood cells lack organelles (nucleus, mitochondria, etc) therefore, cannot do oxidative phosphorylation. This categorizes them as anaerobic cells since they do not use the oxygen they carry.
true or false?
false, this is ONLY true in mammals
what are RBCs main function?
to transport O2 directly and CO2 indirectly
How long do RBCs live?
short lived, approx 120 days - rapidly produced in the bone marrow
-they are short lived because they do not fix themselves, can be engulfed by macrophages
definition of hematocrit
the percentage of blood volume that is erythrocytes (fig 16-3)
-approx. 42 % (women) and 47% (men)
(because of body size, menstruation)
kidney cells release ______ in response to low blood O2 saturation, stimulating the production of _______
erythropoietin, RBCs
______ sense blood oxygen saturation, therefore, when red blood cells are under-saturated in this area, this stimulates RBC production
kidneys
if you lose a lot of blood, you’re said to be _____ - unless this is chronic, it corrects itself
anemic
if you produce too many RBCs, you’re said to be _______-this is beneficial at rest, more blood cells to carry oxygen, but can be a problem when it is too elevated and you’re exercising too much (heart attack) - optimal levels are key
polycythemic
leukocytes (WBCs)
- play a key role in the body’s immune response
- primarily act outside of the bloodstream (exit capillaries)
- “mobile units of the body’s protective system”