INTRODUCTION The cardiovascular system, also known as the circulatory system, is an essential organ system that provides all cells with the necessary materials for fundamental processes to take place. Often referred to as the cardiovascular system, this network is made up of the blood itself, which is used to carry various substances throughout the body, blood arteries that carry blood throughout the body, and the heart, which acts as a centralized pump (OpenStax, 2018). As we age, the cardiovascular system experiences a multitude of changes, many of which are either brought on by or made worse by disease. Some of these changes happen even when there isn't a visible illness present. An older, normally healthy person's heart is a little bit stiffer and larger than a younger person's. With aging, the conduction system of the heart has more collagenous and elastic tissue in every area. The primary job of the circulatory (or cardiovascular) system is to transport oxygen to the body's tissues and eliminate carbon dioxide that is created during metabolism. On the surface of red blood cells in the blood, chemicals known as hemoglobin bind oxygen. One example of a structural anatomic change in the cardiovascular system is arteriosclerosis, which is the hardening and thickening of the arterial walls due to the accumulation of fatty deposits, cholesterol, and calcium. This reduces the elasticity and diameter of the arteries, which affects the blood flow and pressure (Gorman, 2023) Some of the functional (physiologic) changes that are likely to occur from arteriosclerosis are: - Hypertension: the increased resistance and pressure in the arteries due to arteriosclerosis can cause the heart to work harder and increase the blood pressure. In addition to raising the risk of heart attack, stroke, and renal failure, this can harm the heart and other organs (Gorman, 2023) - Ischemia: Insufficient blood supply to an organ or portion of the body might result from arteriosclerosis's decreased blood flow and oxygen delivery to the tissues. Necrosis and tissue damage may result from this, particularly in critical organs including the heart, brain, and kidneys. - Angina: When the blood that flows to the heart muscles reduces due to arteriosclerosis, it can cause angina which is a chest pain or discomfort that occurs when the heart does not get enough oxygen (Gorman, 2023) - Arrhythmia: An irregular heart rhythm that can be excessively rapid, too slow, or irregular is brought on by arteriosclerosis's poor electrical conduction and contraction of the heart. Arrhythmias can impair the heart's ability to pump blood efficiently and result in symptoms including palpitations, fainting, vertigo, or cardiac arrest. Chapter 19 described the anatomy of the heart and its function. The heart resides within the pericardial sac and is in the mediastinal space within the thoracic cavity. The pericardial sac consists of two fused layers: an outer fibrous capsule and an inner parietal pericardium lined with
a serous membrane. The heart, through the artery and vein, pumps out blood and returns blood to the heart to complete its