IndexThe cardiovascular systemThe heartBlood vesselsBlood circulationThe cardiovascular systemThe cardiovascular system is an important part of the body and is not appreciated as much as it should be. The movement of blood is known as the cardiovascular system. The main components of the system are the heart, blood vessels and blood. It consists of a cardiac cycle known as the movement of blood between heartbeats. However, there are 3 types of blood vessels: arteries, veins and capillaries. These components help deliver oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Blood flows from the heart to the arteries. As the blood travels, it delivers all the nutrients and oxygen to different parts of the body. While it emits all this, it also absorbs all the harmful toxins and carbon dioxide. The blood then returns through the veins to the lungs so that more air is carried in the blood before it returns to the heart. This process repeats continuously without errors. The heart The heart is the size of an adult's fist and is made up of cardiac muscle. The heart muscle is used to control the heart's contractions. The heart is the main function that helps the cardiovascular system function successfully. The heart is a muscular pump that pumps blood throughout the body. Contains 4 chambers; the two atria collect blood and the two ventricles pump blood away from the heart. The septum separates the right side from the left. The heart is made up of an electric pacemaker that helps maintain a regular heartbeat. Blood VesselsArteries move oxygenated blood away from the heart and carry it to organs and cells. There are 3 main arteries, known as the left artery, right artery and circumflex artery. They have a thick elastic muscle wall, which stretches when blood is pumped. The left artery supplies blood to the left side of the heart chambers. The right artery supplies blood to the upper and lower right parts of the heart. The circumflex artery distributes blood to the back of the heart. They have thick muscular walls that contain small passages through which blood can travel to the arterioles. Arterioles control blood supply by altering their size. They consist of a thick layer and have a high percentage of smooth muscle. They help control blood flow to the capillaries. Capillaries are known as the smallest blood vessels, they are narrow and thin to allow the red blood cells to move down in single file, having narrow and thin walls helps the capillaries to perform their function. Oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients and waste are exchanged across the walls of the capillaries. The vein has one main function which is to return deoxygenated blood to the heart. When muscles move, they compress the veins that run through them. Veins contain a series of one-way valves, and when they are squeezed, blood is forced through the valves, which then close to prevent backflow. The vein has 3 different layers, the outer layer is labeled as the Tunica externa (connective tissue) and is known as the thickest layer. The middle layer is known as the Tunica Media, which is a thin layer of smooth muscle sandwiched between layers of loose connective tissue. The last layer is the Tunica intima, this layer is made up of one-way valves that allow blood to flow back towards the heart. Please note: this is just a sample. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Blood Circulation Carbon Il..