The cardiovascular system is responsible for transporting nutrients and removing waste from the body. This system is comprised of the heart and the circulatory system. Structures of the cardiovascular system include the heart, blood vessels, and blood. A single drop of blood contains millions of red blood cells. The cardiovascular system is responsible for getting oxygen to the cells in need in the body. The heart is the main source of why all of this happens. It creates an electrical pulse called cardiac conduction. This impulse causes the heart to contract the relax causing a heart beat. This process pumps the blood cells to the body.The blood that runs through the veins, arteries, and capillaries is known as whole blood, a mixture of about 55 percent plasma and 45 percent blood cells. About 7 to 8 percent of your total body weight is blood. An average-sized man has about 12 pints of blood in his body, and an average-sized woman has about 9 pints.
Plasma is the liquid portion of blood . It is 92 percent water, constitutes 55 percent of blood volume. Plasma contains albumin (the chief protein constituent), fibrinogen (responsible, in part, for the clotting of blood) and globulins (including antibodies). Plasma serves a variety of functions, from maintaining a satisfactory blood pressure and volume to supplying critical proteins for blood clotting and immunity. It also serves as the medium for exchange of vital minerals such as sodium and potassium and helps to maintain a proper pH (acid-base) balance in the body, which is critical to cell function. Plasma is obtained by separating the liquid portion of blood from the cells.
Platelets, also called "thrombocytes", are blood cells whose function (along with the coagulation factors) is to stop bleeding. Platelets have no nucleus: they are fragments of cytoplasm which are derived from the megakaryocytes of the bone marrow, and then enter the circulation. These unactivated platelets are biconvex discoid structures shaped like a lens.The main function of platelets is to contribute to hemostasis: the process of stopping bleeding at the site of interrupted endothelium. They gather at the site and unless the interruption is physically too large, they plug the hole.
Red blood cells (RBCs) ,or erythrocytes are the most common type of blood cell. They are the reason why our blood is red. They have a circular structure with a divot in the center that creates something almost like a doughnut. White blood cells are the immune system of our bodies.
There are 7 different types of white blood cells in the human body:
Blood Vessels
Blood vessels are networks of hollow tubes that transport blood throughout the entire body. This is an essential function as blood delivers valuable nutrients to and removes wastes from our cells. Blood vessels are constructed of layers of connective tissue and muscle. The inner blood vessel layer is formed of endothelium. In capillaries and sinusoids, endothelium comprises the majority of the vessel. Blood vessel endothelium is continuous with the inner tissue lining of organs such as the brain, lungs, skin, and heart. In the heart, this inner layer is called the endocardium.
Arteries
Arteries are elastic vessels that transport blood away from the heart. Pulmonary arteries carry blood from the heart to the lungs where oxygen is picked up by red blood cells. Systemic arteries deliver blood to the rest of the body. The arteries carry blood away from the heart.
Veins
Veins are elastic vessels that transport blood to the heart. Veins can be categorized into four main types: pulmonary, systemic, superficial, and deep veins. The veins have valves to get the blood back toward heart that arteries do not.
Capillaries
Capillaries are extremely small vessels located within the tissues of the body that transport blood from the arteries to the veins. Fluid exchange between capillaries and body tissues takes place at capillary beds.
Sources
Article Title: Anatomy of the Heart
- Diagram View -
Date Accessed: March 20, 2015
Author: Regina Bailey
Article Title: Blood Vessels
Date Accessed: March 20, 2015
Author: Regina Bailey
Website Title: More energy, more life, clean your arteries with Angioprim
Article Title: More energy, more life, clean your arteries with Angioprim
Date Accessed: March 20, 2015
Website Title: Wikipedia
Article Title: Platelet
Publisher: Wikimedia Foundation
Date Accessed: March 20, 2015
Plasma is the liquid portion of blood . It is 92 percent water, constitutes 55 percent of blood volume. Plasma contains albumin (the chief protein constituent), fibrinogen (responsible, in part, for the clotting of blood) and globulins (including antibodies). Plasma serves a variety of functions, from maintaining a satisfactory blood pressure and volume to supplying critical proteins for blood clotting and immunity. It also serves as the medium for exchange of vital minerals such as sodium and potassium and helps to maintain a proper pH (acid-base) balance in the body, which is critical to cell function. Plasma is obtained by separating the liquid portion of blood from the cells.
Platelets, also called "thrombocytes", are blood cells whose function (along with the coagulation factors) is to stop bleeding. Platelets have no nucleus: they are fragments of cytoplasm which are derived from the megakaryocytes of the bone marrow, and then enter the circulation. These unactivated platelets are biconvex discoid structures shaped like a lens.The main function of platelets is to contribute to hemostasis: the process of stopping bleeding at the site of interrupted endothelium. They gather at the site and unless the interruption is physically too large, they plug the hole.
Red blood cells (RBCs) ,or erythrocytes are the most common type of blood cell. They are the reason why our blood is red. They have a circular structure with a divot in the center that creates something almost like a doughnut. White blood cells are the immune system of our bodies.
There are 7 different types of white blood cells in the human body:
- Neutrophil- kills bacteria
- Eosinophil- deal with parasites
- Basophiles- allergic reactions
- Lymphocyte-immune responses
- Monocyte- share the phagocytosis function of neutrophils
- Macrophage- Monocytes stay in the blood for 10-20 hours then become macrophages
- Dendritic cells
Blood Vessels
Blood vessels are networks of hollow tubes that transport blood throughout the entire body. This is an essential function as blood delivers valuable nutrients to and removes wastes from our cells. Blood vessels are constructed of layers of connective tissue and muscle. The inner blood vessel layer is formed of endothelium. In capillaries and sinusoids, endothelium comprises the majority of the vessel. Blood vessel endothelium is continuous with the inner tissue lining of organs such as the brain, lungs, skin, and heart. In the heart, this inner layer is called the endocardium.
Arteries
Arteries are elastic vessels that transport blood away from the heart. Pulmonary arteries carry blood from the heart to the lungs where oxygen is picked up by red blood cells. Systemic arteries deliver blood to the rest of the body. The arteries carry blood away from the heart.
Veins
Veins are elastic vessels that transport blood to the heart. Veins can be categorized into four main types: pulmonary, systemic, superficial, and deep veins. The veins have valves to get the blood back toward heart that arteries do not.
Capillaries
Capillaries are extremely small vessels located within the tissues of the body that transport blood from the arteries to the veins. Fluid exchange between capillaries and body tissues takes place at capillary beds.
Sources
Article Title: Anatomy of the Heart
- Diagram View -
Date Accessed: March 20, 2015
Author: Regina Bailey
Article Title: Blood Vessels
Date Accessed: March 20, 2015
Author: Regina Bailey
Website Title: More energy, more life, clean your arteries with Angioprim
Article Title: More energy, more life, clean your arteries with Angioprim
Date Accessed: March 20, 2015
Website Title: Wikipedia
Article Title: Platelet
Publisher: Wikimedia Foundation
Date Accessed: March 20, 2015