The Cardiovascular System & Coronary Heart Disease

Authors Avatar

The Cardiovascular System

& Coronary Heart Disease

December 2007

Joanna Matthews-Bashford 07097688

Health Studies, Anatomy & Physiology, HEA1183

Abstract

The cardiovascular system consists of the blood, the heart, the circulation systems.  The blood feeds the body with the nutrients it needs and fight infections and removes waste products.  The heart pumps the blood around the body and through the lungs where oxygen is replaced with carbon dioxide.  The heart has its own conductive system which makes it contract automatically.  Malfunction of the heart and its vessels is called coronary heart disease.  This is the hardening or narrowing of the arteries.  This causes pain called angina and can cause a cardiac arrest.  The main cause is a build up of a fatty substance called atheroma.  Bad diet, smoking, stress and being overweight are some of the main contributors to coronary heart disease.   Prevention of coronary heart disease is mainly to adjust lifestyle and eat healthily.

Table of Contents

1.         Introduction

2.         The Blood 

2.1        Composition of blood

3.         The heart 

3.1        External Structure of the heart

3.2        Internal structure of the heart

3.3        Blood flow through the heart

4.        The Blood vessels

5.         The Conducting mechanism of the heart

6.         Circulation 

6.1        Systematic circulation

6.2        Pulmonary circulation

6.3        Portal circulation

6.4        Coronary circulation

7.         Coronary Heart Disease        

8.         References

List of Tables & Illustrations

Figure 1        Normal heart

Figure 2        Circulation

1.        Introduction

The Cardio Vascular System consists of the blood, the blood vessels, the heart, and the circulation systems.  In this report the anatomy and physiology of all these components will be explained.  Coronary heart disease is a malfunction of the cardiovascular system; this report will explore the causes, symptoms and treatments of this disease.

2.        The Blood

The blood is a fluid connective tissue.  An adult body has around 4-5 litres of blood in their body.  Its main functions are to transport Oxygen, nutrients, hormones and enzymes around the body to where ever they are needed and to transport waste products to the secretion sites.  The blood is also responsible for fighting infection, regulating temperature and preventing the loss of body fluids.

2.1        Composition of blood

The blood is made up of around 55% plasma and 45% blood cells.  

Plasma is a yellowish fluid consisting of approximately 92% water and the rest a combination of plasma proteins.  The plasma helps to transport mineral salts, nutrients, waste, hormones, enzymes, gases, antibodies and antitoxins. (Tucker 2000:54)

Join now!

There are 3 types of blood cells known as erythrocytes, leucocytes and thrombocytes.

Erythrocytes transport oxygen around the body.  It is carried as oxyhemoglobin.    Hemoglobin is the protein that absorbs the oxygen.  Erythrocytes are produced in the bone marrow, they last around 120 days and they are broken down in the spleen and liver. (Tucker 2000:55)

Leucocytes protect the body.  They increase very quickly when the body has an infection.  They defend the system against viruses and bacteria, produce antibodies, eat bacteria and other micro organisms. (Tucker 2000:55)

Thrombocytes also called platelets are the ...

This is a preview of the whole essay