Pediatrics and Pediatric Cardiology

Cardiovascular Physiology

The cardiovascular system is made up of the heart, blood vessels, and blood itself. Its primary function is to move materials to and from various parts of the body. The heart pressurises the blood and acts as a driving force in its circulation through the blood vessels. Blood is pushed away from the heart by the arteries and returned to it by the veins. Substances transported throughout the cardiovascular system can be divided into three categories: (1) materials entering the body from the outside environment); (2) materials moving between cells within the body (3) waste products produced by cells that must be eliminated. The microcirculation involves the exchange of materials between blood and interstitial fluid across capillaries.

Anatomic Organization of the Cardiovascular System

The heart is made up of four chambers. The two atria act as storage areas for blood returning to the heart. The two ventricles function as pumps that move blood through the circulatory system. A septum separates the right and left sides of the heart. The right atrium functions as a reservoir for the right ventricle, which sends blood to the pulmonary circulation via the pulmonary artery. The pulmonary veins carry blood from the lungs to the left atrium. Through the systemic circulation, the left ventricle propels blood to all other organs in the body via the aorta.