The Circulatory System

The Circulatory System Anatomy

The Heart • The Pump • As it beats, it forces blood through one-way valves to the entire body.

Arteries • Muscled tubes carrying oxygenated blood away from the heart. • Become smaller the further away they get from the heart. • Most are deep in muscles or protected by bones.

Veins • Muscled tubes carrying blood toward the heart. • Have a series of one-way valves that let blood flow through them. • Become larger as they get closer to the heart.

Capillaries • Microscopic, thin-walled vessels. • Situated between the veins & arteries throughout the body. • Exchange of body nourishment & oxygen occurs here.

Blood • Plasma is the fluid part of blood & consists of nutrients, carbon dioxide, hormones & water. • Plasma equals to 50% of an adult’s total blood supply.

Plasma contains: • Red cells: carry oxygen • White cells: fight disease • Platelets: break down & aid clotting; also repair damaged vessels.

The Determining Criteria in ALL CBD Categories: • Level of consciousness (LOC) • Respiratory distress • Shock- inability to perfuse

Levels of Consciousness • ALERT: Person is awake & aware of surroundings. • VERBAL: Person responds to verbal stimulus only. • PAIN: Patient responds to painful stimulus only. • UNRESPONSIVE: Patient is not arouseable.

Suggested Questions to Ask • “Is the person awake?” • “Have you tried to wake him/her?” • “Does he/she respond to you?”

Respiratory Distress • Not speaking normally - WOB • Working hard to get air. • Pale • Sweaty • Sometimes cyanotic • These people are very sick!

Critical Signs & Symptoms • Anxiety, restlessness • Decreased LOC • Cyanosis • Rapid breathing, tachypnea • Noisy respirations • Labored appearance • Diaphoresis

Non-Critical Signs & Symptoms • Stuffy nose

SHOCK • Inadequate tissue perfusion, or lack of oxygen delivery to body , mainly the major organs.

Symptoms of Shock: • Unable to sit/stand without feeling like they will pass out • What is the physiology behind this sign/symptom?

Signs of Shock: • Decreased LOC, leading to unconsciousness • Pale, moist & cool skin • Shallow, rapid breathing • Obvious fluid loss, bleeding, vomiting, diarrhea

Types of Shock: • Hemorrhagic = blood loss • Hypovolemic = large loss of fluids • Anaphylactic = life-threatening allergic reaction to substances • SepticShock = shock caused by severe infection • Cardiogenic = cardiovascular system failure • Neurogenic = resulting from spinal cord injury

Respiratory System Oxygenates blood and expels waste gasses (carbon dioxide) from the body.

Pharynx • Has 2 passages through which air flows in & out of the body: • Oral pharynx • Nasal pharynx

Epiglottis • Leaf-shaped mass of cartilage suspended over the larynx • It opens when you breathe, closes when you swallow.

Larynx • The narrowest portion of the adult respiratory passage. • Referred to as the “voice box” because it contains the vocal cords.

Trachea • An air passage, about 4.5” long • Round in shape with cartilage rings around diameter to keep it open • Lining secretes mucous

Bronchi • Trachea divides into the right & left main stem bronchus, one to each lung

Bronchioles • a narrow tube inside the lungs that branches off the main air passages (bronchi) • contribute to the cleansing function of the respiratory system, for they, too, are lined with mucous membranes and ciliated cells that move mucus upward to the pharynx.

Lungs • Where exchange of oxygen & carbon dioxide occurs. • Right lung is divided into 3 lobes. • Left lung is divided into 2 lobes.

Alveoli • Microscopic, thin-walled air sacs. • Exchange of gases between air & blood occurs here.

Diaphragm & Rib Muscles • Diaphragm is the major muscle of breathing. • wide muscular partition separating the thoracic, or chest cavity, from the abdominal cavity.

Pleura • The 2 linings on the inside of the chest wall = partial pleura • The lining that covers the outside of the lungs = visceral pleura • In contact with each other • Lubricated by fluid

Identify The Numbered images

Questions?

The Circulatory System