Written Assignment Unit 5: Fluids and Transports: Cardiovascular, Lymphatic, and
Immune Systems
HS 2211: Anatomy & Physiology
Omar Tawfik, Instructor
Oct 3, 2022
The cardiovascular system is a system of organs that plays an important role in transporting
substances such as gases, water, hormones, and essential nutrients throughout the many organs of
the body. The cardiovascular system mainly consists of three parts: the blood, the heart, and the
blood vessels. Each of these components works harmoniously together to supply body organs
with the nutrients it needs to function correctly and efficiently. The heart, however, is one of the
most vital organs of the human body as it is solely responsible for pumping blood throughout the
body, sustaining the overall circulation or movement of the blood through a network of tiny
blood vessels.
According to Betts et al. (2018), the heart is a living, sophisticated muscle that is about the size
of an average human fist: 12 cm in length, 8 cm wide, and 6 cm in thickness, comprising of four
discrete chambers: right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium and left ventricle.
aorta pulmonary artery
superior vena cava
pulmonary vein
pulmonary vein
right atrium
left atrium
pulmonary valve
mitral valve
tricuspid valve
aortic valve
inferior vena cava
right ventricle
-left ventricle
Parts of the heart. ("Basic anatomy of the human heart," 2019).
These four chambers play a major role in blood circulation as they are responsible for pumping
and maintaining blood flow throughout all organs of the body. Blood circulation begins when
deoxygenated blood enters the right atrium through the superior and inferior vena cava Through
the tricuspid valve, the blood then enters the right ventricle where it is pumped into the
pulmonary artery, traveling to the lungs to receive oxygen. The oxygenated blood then travels
back into the heart through the pulmonary veins and into the left atrium. With the support of the
mitral valve, the blood then enters the left ventricle where it is pumped into the aorta to transport
oxygen and other essential nutrients throughout the rest of the body. The right and left atrium,
according to Betts et al. (2018), are the receiving chambers of blood while the right and left
ventricles to serve as the pumping chambers of the heart, transporting blood from one organ to
another.
Impacts of Exercise on Cardiovascular Structure and Function
Like all body muscles, the cardiac muscle, the heart, increases in size as a form of response to
the force exerted during physical activities such as exercising and intensive body training.
Physical activity has been proven to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and hypertension.
Moderate physical activity is good, however, athletes who exercise more than 10 to 20 hours a
week, according to Baumgartner et al. (2019), has caused their cardiovascular system to work
five to six time harder resulting in a pathological adaptation to their cardiovascular system.
exterior structure. Based on scientific research, athletes have a 10-15% increase in their left and
right ventricles as well as a 10-20%