1. Cardiovascular System
SC.912.L Describe the factors affecting blood flow through the cardiovascular system.
To the Teacher:

2. What do I need to know?
the factors that affect blood flow through the cardiovascular system:
blood pressure,
blood volume,
resistance,
disease,
viscosity, and
exercise.
how these factors affect blood flow
To the Teacher:

3. The Cardiovascular System
The human cardiovascular system is made up of blood vessels, blood, and the heart
Together they function to:
transport materials
remove waste, and
distribute waste

4. The Heart
The heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood throughout the body.
The heart functions as two separate pumps.
In systemic circulation the left side of the heart pumps oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body.
In pulmonary circulation the right side pumps oxygen-poor blood from the heart to the lungs.

5. Blood vessels
As blood flows through the circulatory system, it moves through three types of blood vessels:
Arteries
Capillaries
Veins
To the Teacher:
Have students use the figures and their notes to learn about the ways in which veins, arteries, and capillaries are similar and different.
Focus students' attention on the artery, and work with them to describe its structure. Then, point out the vein, and have students describe its structure. Finally have students examine the capillary to learn about way capillaries are similar to and different from arteries and veins.
How are the structures of veins and arteries similar? Veins and arteries have an inner layer of endothelium, a middle layer of smooth muscle, and an outer layer of connective tissue.
How do the functions of arteries and veins differ? Most arteries carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the tissues of the body. Most veins carry oxygen-poor blood from the body back to the heart.
How are capillaries similar to veins and arteries? Capillaries, veins and arteries all carry blood in the body.
Why does diffusion of materials between blood and body cells occur across capillary walls but not veins or arteries? Because of capillaries' extremely thin walls.
Uncovering Misconceptions:
Arteries carry only oxygenated blood and vein carry only deoxygenated blood.
Ask students how arteries and veins are defined. Point out that arteries and veins are defined by the direction blood is flowing in them, not the type of blood they are carrying.
Have students look a model of the circulatory system. Point out the pulmonary artery, which is leaving the heart, thus called an artery. The diagram shows this blood as deoxygenated because it is going to the lungs in order to receive oxygen. Point out the pulmonary vein, which are returning blood to the heart. The blood in these veins is oxygenated.

6. Resistance
For blood flowing through a vessel, resistance is influenced by 4 parameters:
the radius or thickness of the blood vessel
the length of the blood vessel
the viscosity or thickness of the blood
the presence of an obstruction in a vessel
If the tube length increases, resistance increases
If the viscosity increases, resistance increases
If the tube’s radius increases, resistance decreases
If there is any obstructions, resistance increases
To the Teacher:

7. Show What You Know
The rate at which blood flows through the human body changes in response to many factors. Which statement describes one of these factors and its effect on blood flow?
A high viscosity of blood causes an increased resistance in the blood vessels and leads to slow blood flow.
A low blood pH decreases the rate of diffusion through the blood vessels and leads to slow blood flow.
The changing of the shape of red blood cells to a crescent shape decreases resistance and lead to a faster blood flow.
The narrowing of blood vessels increases pressure and leads to a faster blood flow.
To the Teacher:

8. Show What You Know
Which of the following best describes the connection between cardiovascular disease and age?
As people age, their blood vessels become more elastic leading to less cardiovascular disease.
As people age, the heart becomes more efficient with each pump, increasing cardiac output.
As people age, blood pressure decreases leading to more cardiovascular disease.
As people age, plaque builds up in the arteries increasing vessel resistance, which leads to disease.
To the Teacher:

9. Show What You Know
After a man suffered a stroke, he was unable to use his left arm. What happened inside his body during the stroke that led to his losing the ability to use his left arm?
A blood clot blocked an artery leading into his left arm during the stroke.
Aging capillaries in his left arm collapsed and shut down during the stroke.
A surge of blood into his brain rearranged some neuron connections during the stroke.
Blood flow to a portion of the right side of his brain was cut off during the stroke.
To the Teacher:

10. Show What You Know
A doctor examines a patient who has high blood pressure and atherosclerosis in the coronary artery. What medical condition connected to blood flow is most likely to affect this patient in the future?
The patient may develop headaches and confusion due to cancer in the brain caused by years of low levels of oxygen supplied to the brain.
The patient may develop stiff joints and chest pains from the high blood pressure applied to the muscle and joint tissues of the body.
The patient may show signs of confusion, weakness, and partial paralysis due to high blood pressure when the plaque dislodges and blocks blood flow to the brain.
The patient may suffer a heart attack because of the reduction in blood flow to the heart muscles due to severe plaque build-up in the coronary artery.
To the Teacher: