What structures make up the cardiovascular system, and how does blood flow through the system?

List the three components of the cardiovascular system.

Blood enters the systemic circuit from
a. the lungs.

b. the left side of the heart.

c. the right side of the heart.

d. the body.

e. both b and c

Which of the following is the correct order of structures that blood flows through as it passes through the cardiovascular system?
a. right side of heart→body→left side of heart→lungs

b. left side of heart→body→right side of heart→lungs

c. left side of heart→right side of heart→body→lungs

d. right side of heart→left side of heart→lungs→body

In which circuit (pulmonary or systemic) does blood pick up nutrients, such as sugar?

Are the coronary arteries part of the pulmonary or the systemic circuit? Explain your answer.

During heart surgery, patients are often placed on a heart–lung machine (known as a cardiopulmonary bypass). This machine circulates and oxygenates blood during the operation, taking over for the patient's heart and lungs. At what points would the patient's blood have to be diverted into the machine and back into the body in order to properly bypass the flow of blood through the heart and lungs?

What is the structure of the heart and of the different types of blood vessel?

Blood returning to the heart from the lungs enters the _________.
a. right atrium

b. right ventricle

c. left atrium

d. left ventricle

e. coronary arteries

Which chamber of the heart pumps oxygen-rich blood to the body?
a. the right atrium

b. the right ventricle

c. the left atrium

d. the left ventricle

e. both the right atrium and the left atrium (to the right and left sides of the body, respectively)

How does the heart obtain oxygen?
a. from the blood in its chambers

b. from the coronary arteries

c. from the systemic arteries

d. from the coronary veins

e. from the systemic veins

What is the defining feature of an artery?
a. It carries blood away from the heart.

b. It has very thin walls.

c. It has valves.

d. It carries oxygenated blood.

e. both a and d

Atrial fibrillation is a condition in which the atria contract very rapidly and irregularly. The ventricles also contract faster than normally, but their contraction is not coordinated with the atrial contraction. Explain how this can disrupt blood supply to the body.

Which of the following is most likely to be associated with left-side heart failure?
a. fluid backing up in the feet and legs, causing swelling

b. increased systolic pressure in the aorta

c. reduced oxygenation of the blood leaving the left ventricle

d. fluid backing up in the lungs, causing shortness of breath

e. increased oxygenation of the blood returning to the right atrium

24

Some babies are born with a congenital heart defect in which the septum, or wall, between the left and right ventricles has an opening in it, and the aorta therefore can accept blood from both the left and right ventricles. These babies are known as “blue babies.” Why?

What is the composition of blood, and what does blood do?

Describe the function of each of the following cellular components of blood: white blood cells; red blood cells; platelets.

Which of the following is not true of capillaries?
a. Blood moves through them slowly.

b. They have a very small diameter.

c. They have very thin walls.

d. They occur between arteries and veins.

e. They have valves.

What is happening in a capillary in your big toe?
a. Oxygen is diffusing from the blood into your toe tissue.

b. Carbon dioxide is diffusing from your toe tissue into the blood.

c. Nutrients are diffusing from the blood into your toe tissue.

d. all of the above

e. a and c

TV crime dramas often analyze arterial spray patterns of blood at crime scenes. Why do you never hear about venous spray patterns?

Why are soldiers standing at attention for long periods of time advised to contract their calf muscles to avoid becoming light-headed?

What is cardiovascular disease, and what are some of the risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease?

Match the disease (left column) with the letter corresponding to its underlying cause (right column).

List at least four risk factors for cardiovascular disease. For each, state whether or not it is modifiable.

Why does atherosclerosis increase the risk of stroke?

Which type of cholesterol is dangerous with respect to cardiovascular disease?
a. HDL

b. LDL

c. both

d. neither—cholesterol is a healthy lipid

e. HDL is a risk for hypertension and LDL is a risk for atherosclerosis.

The data generated from the Bogalusa study show a correlation between atherosclerosis and risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Does this mean that everyone with a risk factor (e.g., high BMI) will develop atherosclerosis? Explain your answer.

25