How does cardiopulmonary system work

The blood then returns to the heart through the pulmonary veins. In systemic circulation: Next, blood that returns to the heart has picked up lots of oxygen from the lungs. So it can now go out to the body. The aorta is a big artery that leaves the heart carrying this oxygenated blood.

Branches off of the aorta send blood to the muscles of the heart itself, as well as all other parts of the body. Like a tree, the branches gets smaller and smaller as they get farther from the aorta. At each body part, a network of tiny blood vessels called capillaries connects the very small artery branches to very small veins.

The capillaries have very thin walls, and through them, nutrients and oxygen are delivered to the cells. Waste products are brought into the capillaries. Capillaries then lead into small veins. Small veins lead to larger and larger veins as the blood approaches the heart. Valves in the veins keep blood flowing in the correct direction. Two large veins that lead into the heart are the superior vena cava and inferior vena cava. The terms superior and inferior don't mean that one vein is better than the other, but that they're located above and below the heart.

Once the blood is back in the heart, it needs to re-enter the pulmonary circulation and go back to the lungs to drop off the carbon dioxide and pick up more oxygen.

How Does the Heart Beat? One complete heartbeat is made up of two phases: The first phase is called systole pronounced: SISS-tuh-lee. This is when the ventricles contract and pump blood into the aorta and pulmonary artery.

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. A person with amyloidosis produces aggregates of insoluble protein that cannot be eliminated from the body. When a person is anaemic, the red blood cells have to work harder to get oxygen around the body. An aneurysm may have no symptoms until it is either very large or it ruptures. Aortic stenosis may be congenital present from before birth , but is often diagnosed during teenage years.

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The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Skip to main content. Blood and blood vessels. Home Blood and blood vessels. Error: Not a valid value. Your circulatory system, also called the cardiovascular system or vascular system, transports oxygen, nutrients and hormones to your body's cells to use for energy, growth and repair.

Your circulatory system also removes carbon dioxide and other wastes your cells do not need. It moves into the right ventricle, which pumps this blood to your lungs where your red blood cells pick up oxygen and get rid of carbon dioxide. You exhale the carbon dioxide. The oxygen-rich blood returns to your heart's left atrium, then into your left ventricle.

The left ventricle pumps oxygen-rich blood through your aorta, into your arteries, then to all parts of your body. Along the way, the blood gathers food nutrients from your small intestine.

As it enters the capillaries , your blood makes close contact with tissues and cells. It delivers oxygen and nutrients and removes carbon dioxide and wastes. Now low in oxygen, the blood travels through the veins to return to your heart's right atrium, where the circuit starts all over again. Cardiovascular disease CVD refers to all diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Most CVD occurs when fatty substances, called plaque or atheroma, build up in the lining of blood vessels, causing them to narrow and allow less blood to pass through.

This process is called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis causes coronary heart disease , also known as ischaemic heart disease. The slowing of the blood flow reduces the oxygen and nutrients available to the heart muscles.

This can cause angina or a heart attack , which will require emergency medical attention. The most common symptom of heart attack or angina is chest pain. When the supply of blood to part of the brain is interrupted because of a blocked or burst artery, a person will have a stroke. A stroke is also an emergency and will require urgent medical treatment.

Many of these conditions involve some type of blood vessel blockage, which can lower oxygen delivery to vital organs. There are steps you can take to keep your circulatory system as healthy as possible. Some key steps include getting regular exercise, eating heart-healthy foods, not smoking, and maintaining a moderate weight.

Regular visits to your doctor can also help identify and treat any potential problems before they become more serious issues. Read this article in Spanish.

Experts say there are a number of ways to make it easier to go to bed at a proper time, including when you exercise and when you eat. Left bundle branch block is a condition in which there's slowing along the electrical pathway to your heart's left ventricle. Ejection fraction is a test that's used to determine the percentage of blood that leaves your left ventricle each time your heart beats.

A new study of over 2. Experts say middle-aged people with iron deficiency have a higher risk of heart disease later. You can increase iron levels with diet and supplements. Pulse oximetry can estimate the levels of oxygen in your blood. Find out how a pulse oximetry test works, what it's used for, and what the readings….

Experts say some screenings can miss non-calcified deposits in blood vessels that can lead to hardening of the arteries. Experts say a study in China on salt substitutes doesn't really apply to the United States due to different diets and processed foods. Researchers say better risk assessment tools should be developed, and more research needs to be done on heart attacks and strokes in South Asians.

Experts say scheduling a medical checkup is an important step in a post-pandemic world, especially if you delayed appointments during this past year. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect.