Cardiovascular System Project!
Tracing flow of blood through the body!
The blood is pumped away from the heart. Then it travels through the aorta to arteries, arterioles, and the capillary beds.
Identification of types of blood vessels
There are 3 types of blood vessels. And the 3 types of blood vessels are arteries, capillaries and veins.
- Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.
- Capillaries are the smallest and thinnest of the blood vessels in the body and also the most common. They can be found running throughout almost every tissue of the body and border the edges of the body's avascular tissues.
- Veins are the large return vessels of the body and act as the blood return counterparts of arteries. Because the arteries, arterioles, and capillaries absorb most of the force of the heart's contractions , veins and venules are subjected to very low blood pressures.
Describing blood cell formation
Red blood cells, most white blood cells, and platelets are produced in the bone marrow, the soft fatty tissue inside bone cavities. Two types of white blood cells, T and B cells (lymphocytes), are also produced in the lymph nodes and spleen, and T cells are produced and mature in the thymus gland.
Within the bone marrow, all blood cells originate from a single type of unspecialized cell called a stem cell. When a stem cell divides, it first becomes an immature red blood cell, white blood cell, or platelet-producing cell. The immature cell then divides, matures further, and ultimately becomes a mature red blood cell, white blood cell, or platelet.
Distinguishing among human blood groups
The ABO system is used to determine the different types of antigens in the red blood cells and antibodies in the plasma. These differences mean that there are four ABO groups, these are:
- Group A - red blood cells contain A antigens and the plasma has anti-B antibodies
- Group B - B antigens are found in the red blood cells and anti-A antibodies in the plasma
- Group AB - the red blood cells have both A and B antigens, however there are no antibodies.
- Group O - this time the plasma contains both types of antibodies but neither type of antigen.
Describing common cardiovascular diseases and disorders
- Coronary artery disease is the build-up of plaque in the arteries supplying blood to the heart.
- Peripheral artery disease is the build-up of plaque in the arteries supplying blood to the arms and legs.
- Carotid artery disease is the build-up of plaque in the arteries that supply blood to the brain.