What Are the Organs of the Cardiovascular System?

The human cardiovascular system consists of the heart (cardio) and the blood veins (vascular) that transport nutrients and oxygen through the body, and remove toxins and waste away from the body's organs. The proper care and maintenance of the cardiovascular system is arguably the most important factor in disease-free living and long term health.
  1. The Heart

    • The heart is the main organ of the cardiovascular system; it pumps fresh, oxygen-rich blood through the body and out through the veins to the rest of the body's organs.The heart also sends the depleted blood back to the lungs to become filled with oxygen again.

    The Lungs

    • The lungs bring oxygen into the body and send it to the heart via pulmonary circulation.

    Veins and Arteries

    • While the lungs and the heart are busy oxygenating and pumping the blood, it's the arteries, veins and capillaries that bring that blood to and from the farthest reaches of the body.

    Fun Fact

    • Your heart is about the size of your fist.

    Warning

    • A sedentary lifestyle, alcoholism and cigarette smoke are detrimental to the cardiovascular system. Tar from cigarettes builds up inside the lungs, making it difficult for oxygen to get to the blood. A sedentary lifestyle can result in shallow breathing, meaning that the lower parts of the lungs never fully expand.

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