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The Cardiovascular System

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KS4 Physical Education

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Functions of the cardiovascular system

The cardiovascular system has three functions:

1. Transporting substances around the body. These include oxygen, glucose, carbon dioxide, nutrients, water and waste products.

The circulatory system is described as a double system because it has two loops.

3. Protecting the body. Blood contains cells and antibodies that fight infection and clotting agents to stop bleeding.

2. Controlling body temperature.

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The heart

The heart is a muscular organ located between the lungs in the centre of the chest (thorax), and is about the size of a fist.

It pumps blood continuously around the body. A person can lose consciousness within just a few seconds if the brain is deprived of blood.

The heart mainly consists of cardiac muscle tissue which contracts involuntarily.

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Structures of the heart

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What are the stages in the cardiac cycle?

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Blood

Blood is the body’s means of transporting substances around. It transports:

oxygen from the lungs to the heart and then to the body’s tissues

carbon dioxide from the tissues to the heart and then to the lungs to be expired

materials like hormones from one organ to another

nutrients (especially glucose) and minerals from the intestines to the tissues

waste products to the kidneys.

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Blood flow around the body

When blood passes through the lungs it becomes oxygenated – red blood cells absorb oxygen.

As the blood moves around the body it becomes deoxygenated – oxygen is released into body cells.

Blood cells absorb the waste product carbon dioxide from body cells. It is carried back to the lungs where it is removed.

Can you name the type of blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood around the body?

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Double circulatory system