The cardiovascular system, the most important of the human body system, consists of organs that are responsible for carrying out many of the important functions. The system consists of organs like the heart, the spleen and the blood vessels that are spread throughout the body. The cardiovascular system is a complex system and understanding its functions will help understand the overall human physiology better.
Functions of the Cardiovascular System
Its functions can be categorized into three main domains: transport, regulation and protection. The organs of the system carry out these functions in coordination with the functions of the other systems for the proper functioning of the body. These are the main functions of the cardiovascular system and they are explained in detail below.
Transport : It transports oxygen from the lungs to the various cells of the body. Its primary function is to transport nutrients from the intestines to the lungs and other parts of the body, and carbon dioxide from the cells to the lungs. Hormones from the various endocrine glands and heat from the cells are also transported by this system. Removal of waste products like carbon dioxide and nitrogen from the body is also performed by this system. This function of transport is mainly carried out by the blood and the network of blood vessels present in the system.
Protection : It performs the function of protecting the body and its organs from infection and diseases by providing white blood cells that have the ability to fight against them. Proteins and antibodies required for destroying viruses, bacteria and disease causing germs are also provided by this system to the various parts of the body. Another important function of this system is to protect the body from excessive blood loss through the process of blood clotting during an injury.
Regulation : Another important function is the regulation of the concentration of hydrogen ions (pH) in the body, the body temperature and body heat, and the regulation of the salt and water content of the cells in the body.
Structure
It is important to know and understand the structure of the cardiovascular system to understand its functions better. As mentioned before, it is made up of the heart, the blood vessels, the spleen and blood. Each of these perform individual functions to make the overall functioning of the system possible.
The Heart : The human heart is situated at the center of the chest and is approximately the size of a clenched fist. It performs the function of a muscular pump, wherein it expands and contracts to pump blood into the blood vessels and the rest of your body. it consists of four chambers, the upper two are known as the left and the right atria and the lower two are known as the left and right ventricles. The deoxygenated blood is carried to the right side of the heart which pumps it into the lungs where blood absorbs more oxygen. This oxygenated blood moves to the left side of the heart which pumps it into the blood stream and is carried to the various body parts.
Blood Vessels : There are three different types of blood vessels in the human body, the arteries, the capillaries and the veins. The arteries are of three types, the pulmonary artery, the aorta and the coronary arteries. They perform the function of carrying oxygenated blood from the heart to the other parts of the body, but the pulmonary artery carried deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs. The capillaries carry oxygen and nutrients to the tissues and cells of the body and the veins carry deoxygenated blood from the various organs of the body to the heart.
The Spleen : The spleen is a large organ situated below the diaphragm and performs an important function of storing blood.
By now you must have got an idea of how the cardiovascular system functions. To sum it up, De-oxygenated blood is carried by the veins to the right side of the heart which pumps it into the lungs for oxygen absorption. Once the oxygen has been absorbed, the blood is pumped into the left side of the heart and from here the arteries carry it to the other parts of the body. The capillaries distribute the oxygen and nutrients supplied to them by the arteries and remove waste products from the blood stream.
Now that you know about the functions of the cardiovascular system, it will be easier for you to understand its importance and how essential it is to protect this system from damage. To keep it healthy, it is essential to eat right, exercise and follow a healthy lifestyle.
Its functions can be categorized into three main domains: transport, regulation and protection. The organs of the system carry out these functions in coordination with the functions of the other systems for the proper functioning of the body. These are the main functions of the cardiovascular system and they are explained in detail below.
Transport : It transports oxygen from the lungs to the various cells of the body. Its primary function is to transport nutrients from the intestines to the lungs and other parts of the body, and carbon dioxide from the cells to the lungs. Hormones from the various endocrine glands and heat from the cells are also transported by this system. Removal of waste products like carbon dioxide and nitrogen from the body is also performed by this system. This function of transport is mainly carried out by the blood and the network of blood vessels present in the system.
Protection : It performs the function of protecting the body and its organs from infection and diseases by providing white blood cells that have the ability to fight against them. Proteins and antibodies required for destroying viruses, bacteria and disease causing germs are also provided by this system to the various parts of the body. Another important function of this system is to protect the body from excessive blood loss through the process of blood clotting during an injury.
Regulation : Another important function is the regulation of the concentration of hydrogen ions (pH) in the body, the body temperature and body heat, and the regulation of the salt and water content of the cells in the body.
Structure
It is important to know and understand the structure of the cardiovascular system to understand its functions better. As mentioned before, it is made up of the heart, the blood vessels, the spleen and blood. Each of these perform individual functions to make the overall functioning of the system possible.
The Heart : The human heart is situated at the center of the chest and is approximately the size of a clenched fist. It performs the function of a muscular pump, wherein it expands and contracts to pump blood into the blood vessels and the rest of your body. it consists of four chambers, the upper two are known as the left and the right atria and the lower two are known as the left and right ventricles. The deoxygenated blood is carried to the right side of the heart which pumps it into the lungs where blood absorbs more oxygen. This oxygenated blood moves to the left side of the heart which pumps it into the blood stream and is carried to the various body parts.
Blood Vessels : There are three different types of blood vessels in the human body, the arteries, the capillaries and the veins. The arteries are of three types, the pulmonary artery, the aorta and the coronary arteries. They perform the function of carrying oxygenated blood from the heart to the other parts of the body, but the pulmonary artery carried deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs. The capillaries carry oxygen and nutrients to the tissues and cells of the body and the veins carry deoxygenated blood from the various organs of the body to the heart.
The Spleen : The spleen is a large organ situated below the diaphragm and performs an important function of storing blood.
By now you must have got an idea of how the cardiovascular system functions. To sum it up, De-oxygenated blood is carried by the veins to the right side of the heart which pumps it into the lungs for oxygen absorption. Once the oxygen has been absorbed, the blood is pumped into the left side of the heart and from here the arteries carry it to the other parts of the body. The capillaries distribute the oxygen and nutrients supplied to them by the arteries and remove waste products from the blood stream.
Now that you know about the functions of the cardiovascular system, it will be easier for you to understand its importance and how essential it is to protect this system from damage. To keep it healthy, it is essential to eat right, exercise and follow a healthy lifestyle.
No comments:
Post a Comment