Of the blood circulation or that Cardiovascular system describes a network of blood vessels that starts from the heart and extends through the entire body. It has the vital task of keeping the organism's metabolism going and is thus involved in essential tasks such as breathing or digestion. For this reason, circulatory diseases can often be life-threatening.
What is the bloodstream?
Under the blood circulation Medical professionals understand the system of blood vessels that run through the human body. It is also abbreviated simply as Cycle, Cardiovascula or Bloodstream designated.
The blood circulation starts from the heart and extends through the entire organism by means of the blood vessels. It enables the blood to move through the body and perform various important tasks in this way. A distinction is made between vessels that lead away from the heart (arteries) and vessels that lead to the heart (veins).
The circulatory system is significantly involved in numerous vital functions of the body and can therefore lead to the death of the person affected in the event of disturbances or even failure.
Anatomy & structure
Roughly speaking, it exists blood circulation from the heart and blood vessels. The latter are divided into different groups depending on the task and nature. The arteries (blood vessels that transport blood away from the heart) have to withstand great pressure and therefore have a thick vessel wall.
If they are more finely branched, experts speak of so-called capillaries. These are equipped with a semi-permeable vessel wall and thus enable an exchange of nutrients between blood and tissue.
The veins (blood vessels that transport the blood to the heart) basically only have a thin vessel wall, because they take the blood from the capillaries again and store it or feed it back to the heart.
Functions & tasks
Of the blood circulation fulfills different tasks in the body. What they all have in common is the fact that these are vital processes that must run smoothly in order to keep the organism healthy and functional.
The blood circulation is responsible for breathing, among other things, by transporting oxygen into the lungs and also transporting the carbon dioxide produced back into the tissue. The nutrients obtained from the digestive tract, such as sugar, proteins or fats, are transported through the bloodstream into the tissue, where they can be further used or stored. In return, waste materials are passed on to organs such as the intestines or kidneys for disposal.
In addition, the circulation is significantly involved in the formation of the immune system, as well as in the transport of hormones through the organism. If blood coagulation is necessary somewhere in the body, it takes place with the help of the bloodstream. Last but not least, it is also significantly involved in thermoregulation: Depending on how well the skin is supplied with blood, heat is released through it to the outside.
Diseases
Since the blood circulation or that Cardiovascular system fulfills numerous essential functions in the human body, diseases should not be taken lightly.
According to statistics, almost 50% of all deaths in Germany can be traced back to a failure of the circulatory system. Such diseases increase particularly with increasing age. In children, adolescents and young adults, however, it is mostly congenital heart defects that lead to severe circulatory disorders. One of the most well-known diseases of the cardiovascular system is myocardial infarction, which usually occurs because the arteries are narrowed by deposits (arteriosclerosis) and the blood can no longer flow.
Long-term circulatory disorders can also cause strokes, which can lead to severe disorders in the brain and thus in the central nervous system, which under certain circumstances can fail permanently. Both diseases can be potentially fatal. Among other things, they are favored by chronically elevated blood pressure, which is now one of the most common diseases of civilization.
Many cardiovascular diseases often arise as a result of an unhealthy lifestyle with too much fatty food and too little exercise. Smoking and alcohol consumption can also lead to circulatory disorders. In order to prevent them from occurring with increasing age, a healthy lifestyle is advisable.
Typical & common cardiovascular diseases
- high blood pressure
- Heart attack
- thrombosis
- Coronary heart disease
- Heart failure
- Valvular heart disease
- Myocarditis
- Cardiac arrhythmias
- Racing heart
- Atrial fibrillation
