Applied Science Level 3 BTEC
Title: Human Response and Regulation
Purpose: To create a report of the cardiovascular and respiratory system
Unit 9: Human Response and Regulation
Introduction
The cardiovascular system circulates blood throughout the body, delivering oxygen and
nutrients while removing waste like carbon dioxide. The respiratory system facilitates gas
exchange by delivering oxygen to the body and removing carbon dioxide. The nervous
system controls and coordinates body functions, including regulating heart rate, breathing,
and blood pressure [1].
These systems are closely linked: the respiratory system supplies oxygen to the blood,
which the cardiovascular system circulates, and the nervous system controls both, ensuring
they work together to maintain oxygen levels and overall body function [1].
In this report, I am going to cover the different systems that work in the body and how they
link with each other.
The Cardiovascular System
The cardiovascular system is made up of the heart, blood vessels (arteries, veins, and
capillaries), and blood. Its primary role is to transport blood throughout the body, delivering
oxygen, nutrients, and hormones to cells while removing waste products like carbon dioxide
and toxins. The heart pumps oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the body's tissues and
returns oxygen-poor blood back to the lungs for oxygenation. Additionally, the cardiovascular
system helps regulate body temperature, maintain pH balance, and protect the body through
immune responses in the blood [1].
,Figure 1: A labelled diagram of the heart with the veins, arteries, chambers, and valves [2]
The structure and function of the heart
The heart is a muscular, four-chambered organ that pumps blood throughout the body,
ensuring oxygen and nutrients are delivered to tissues while waste products like carbon
dioxide are removed. Its structure consists of four chambers which include the right atrium,
right ventricle, left atrium, and left ventricle. The right atrium collects deoxygenated blood
from the body through two large veins called the superior and inferior vena cava.The right
ventricle transports blood low in oxygen to the lungs using the pulmonary artery. The left
atrium collects oxygen-rich blood from the lungs through the pulmonary veins. The left
ventricle then distributes this oxygenated blood to the entire body through the aorta, the
largest artery in the body.
The main blood vessels in the heart include; the pulmonary artery, pulmonary veins, aorta,
superior and inferior vena cava, and the coronary arteries. Deoxygenated blood is carried
from the right ventricle to the lungs through the pulmonary artery, where it becomes
oxygenated. The pulmonary veins then transport the oxygenated blood from the lungs to the
left atrium.The aorta distributes oxygen-rich blood from the left ventricle to the rest of the
body. The superior and inferior vena cava return deoxygenated blood from the upper and
lower parts of the body, respectively, to the right atrium. The coronary arteries supply
oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle itself, ensuring it functions properly.
The three valves in the heart include; the tricuspid valve, the bicuspid valve, and the
semilunar valves. The tricuspid valve is located between the right atrium and left ventricle,
and it prevents backflow of blood into the atrium during ventricular contraction. The bicuspid
valve is positioned between the left atrium and the left ventricle. It stops backflow into the
atrium during contraction of the left ventricle. The semilunar valves include the pulmonary
valve, which is between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery, and the aortic valve,
,which is between the left ventricle and the aorta. The semilunar valves prevent backflow into
the ventricles after blood has been pumped out.
The heart's main function is to pump blood efficiently, ensuring deoxygenated blood flows to
the lungs for oxygenation and oxygenated blood circulates to the body's tissues. The
coordinated function of the chambers, valves, and blood vessels ensures a continuous, one-
way flow of blood, maintaining life and bodily function [3].
Blood Vessels
Blood vessels are tube-shaped structures that circulate blood throughout the body as part of
the circulatory system. The main types are arteries, veins, and capillaries, each uniquely
structured to carry out its specific function.
Arteries transport oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the tissues of the body. The largest
artery is the aorta, which distributes oxygen-rich blood from the left ventricle. Arteries are
equipped with thick, elastic walls that enable them to handle the high pressure of blood
pumped out by the heart.
Veins return deoxygenated blood to the heart, with the exception of the pulmonary veins,
which transport oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart. Veins have thinner walls than
arteries and contain valves that prevent the backflow of blood as it moves at lower pressure.
Capillaries are small, thin-walled vessels that link arteries and veins. Their delicate walls
enable the exchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and waste materials between the
blood and surrounding tissues. Capillaries play a key role in delivering oxygen to cells and
collecting waste for removal [4].
Figure 2: Labelled diagram of the three types of blood vessels [5]
Feature Artery Vein Capillary
Function Transports blood Transports blood Allows exchange of
away from the heart back to the heart materials between
, blood & cells
Thickness of wall Very thick Less thick than Very thin - one cell
artery thick
Diameter of lumen Narrow Wide Very narrow
Components of wall Outer layer of Thinner outer and One layer of
collagen, middle middle layer, Inner endothelium
layer of smooth layer of endothelium
muscle and elastic
fibres, inner layer of
endothelium
Blood pressure High & fluctuating Low Low
Presence of valves No Yes No
Cause of flow Blood pressure and Blood pressure and Blood pressure
recoil of elastic fibres squeezing action of
skeletal muscles
Figure 3: Table with information about the blood vessels [4]
Double circulatory system
Mammals, including humans, have a double circulatory system where blood passes through
the heart twice during one complete circulation. In pulmonary circulation, deoxygenated
blood is pumped from the right side of the heart to the lungs via the pulmonary artery, where
it picks up oxygen and releases carbon dioxide. This oxygenated blood then returns to the
left side of the heart through the pulmonary veins. In systemic circulation, the left side of the
heart pumps the oxygen-rich blood through the aorta to the rest of the body. After delivering
oxygen and nutrients to the tissues, the deoxygenated blood returns to the right side of the
heart through the vena cava. This dual-loop system ensures efficient oxygenation of the
blood and maintains high pressure for effective distribution throughout the body.
The mammalian circulatory system is called a double circulatory system because blood
travels through the heart twice - once for oxygenation in the lungs and once for distribution to
the body [6].
Title: Human Response and Regulation
Purpose: To create a report of the cardiovascular and respiratory system
Unit 9: Human Response and Regulation
Introduction
The cardiovascular system circulates blood throughout the body, delivering oxygen and
nutrients while removing waste like carbon dioxide. The respiratory system facilitates gas
exchange by delivering oxygen to the body and removing carbon dioxide. The nervous
system controls and coordinates body functions, including regulating heart rate, breathing,
and blood pressure [1].
These systems are closely linked: the respiratory system supplies oxygen to the blood,
which the cardiovascular system circulates, and the nervous system controls both, ensuring
they work together to maintain oxygen levels and overall body function [1].
In this report, I am going to cover the different systems that work in the body and how they
link with each other.
The Cardiovascular System
The cardiovascular system is made up of the heart, blood vessels (arteries, veins, and
capillaries), and blood. Its primary role is to transport blood throughout the body, delivering
oxygen, nutrients, and hormones to cells while removing waste products like carbon dioxide
and toxins. The heart pumps oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the body's tissues and
returns oxygen-poor blood back to the lungs for oxygenation. Additionally, the cardiovascular
system helps regulate body temperature, maintain pH balance, and protect the body through
immune responses in the blood [1].
,Figure 1: A labelled diagram of the heart with the veins, arteries, chambers, and valves [2]
The structure and function of the heart
The heart is a muscular, four-chambered organ that pumps blood throughout the body,
ensuring oxygen and nutrients are delivered to tissues while waste products like carbon
dioxide are removed. Its structure consists of four chambers which include the right atrium,
right ventricle, left atrium, and left ventricle. The right atrium collects deoxygenated blood
from the body through two large veins called the superior and inferior vena cava.The right
ventricle transports blood low in oxygen to the lungs using the pulmonary artery. The left
atrium collects oxygen-rich blood from the lungs through the pulmonary veins. The left
ventricle then distributes this oxygenated blood to the entire body through the aorta, the
largest artery in the body.
The main blood vessels in the heart include; the pulmonary artery, pulmonary veins, aorta,
superior and inferior vena cava, and the coronary arteries. Deoxygenated blood is carried
from the right ventricle to the lungs through the pulmonary artery, where it becomes
oxygenated. The pulmonary veins then transport the oxygenated blood from the lungs to the
left atrium.The aorta distributes oxygen-rich blood from the left ventricle to the rest of the
body. The superior and inferior vena cava return deoxygenated blood from the upper and
lower parts of the body, respectively, to the right atrium. The coronary arteries supply
oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle itself, ensuring it functions properly.
The three valves in the heart include; the tricuspid valve, the bicuspid valve, and the
semilunar valves. The tricuspid valve is located between the right atrium and left ventricle,
and it prevents backflow of blood into the atrium during ventricular contraction. The bicuspid
valve is positioned between the left atrium and the left ventricle. It stops backflow into the
atrium during contraction of the left ventricle. The semilunar valves include the pulmonary
valve, which is between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery, and the aortic valve,
,which is between the left ventricle and the aorta. The semilunar valves prevent backflow into
the ventricles after blood has been pumped out.
The heart's main function is to pump blood efficiently, ensuring deoxygenated blood flows to
the lungs for oxygenation and oxygenated blood circulates to the body's tissues. The
coordinated function of the chambers, valves, and blood vessels ensures a continuous, one-
way flow of blood, maintaining life and bodily function [3].
Blood Vessels
Blood vessels are tube-shaped structures that circulate blood throughout the body as part of
the circulatory system. The main types are arteries, veins, and capillaries, each uniquely
structured to carry out its specific function.
Arteries transport oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the tissues of the body. The largest
artery is the aorta, which distributes oxygen-rich blood from the left ventricle. Arteries are
equipped with thick, elastic walls that enable them to handle the high pressure of blood
pumped out by the heart.
Veins return deoxygenated blood to the heart, with the exception of the pulmonary veins,
which transport oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart. Veins have thinner walls than
arteries and contain valves that prevent the backflow of blood as it moves at lower pressure.
Capillaries are small, thin-walled vessels that link arteries and veins. Their delicate walls
enable the exchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and waste materials between the
blood and surrounding tissues. Capillaries play a key role in delivering oxygen to cells and
collecting waste for removal [4].
Figure 2: Labelled diagram of the three types of blood vessels [5]
Feature Artery Vein Capillary
Function Transports blood Transports blood Allows exchange of
away from the heart back to the heart materials between
, blood & cells
Thickness of wall Very thick Less thick than Very thin - one cell
artery thick
Diameter of lumen Narrow Wide Very narrow
Components of wall Outer layer of Thinner outer and One layer of
collagen, middle middle layer, Inner endothelium
layer of smooth layer of endothelium
muscle and elastic
fibres, inner layer of
endothelium
Blood pressure High & fluctuating Low Low
Presence of valves No Yes No
Cause of flow Blood pressure and Blood pressure and Blood pressure
recoil of elastic fibres squeezing action of
skeletal muscles
Figure 3: Table with information about the blood vessels [4]
Double circulatory system
Mammals, including humans, have a double circulatory system where blood passes through
the heart twice during one complete circulation. In pulmonary circulation, deoxygenated
blood is pumped from the right side of the heart to the lungs via the pulmonary artery, where
it picks up oxygen and releases carbon dioxide. This oxygenated blood then returns to the
left side of the heart through the pulmonary veins. In systemic circulation, the left side of the
heart pumps the oxygen-rich blood through the aorta to the rest of the body. After delivering
oxygen and nutrients to the tissues, the deoxygenated blood returns to the right side of the
heart through the vena cava. This dual-loop system ensures efficient oxygenation of the
blood and maintains high pressure for effective distribution throughout the body.
The mammalian circulatory system is called a double circulatory system because blood
travels through the heart twice - once for oxygenation in the lungs and once for distribution to
the body [6].
