Chapter 3. Care of the Client with Cardiovascular Disorders

The cardiovascular system comprises the heart and blood vessels and is responsible for the transport of oxygen and nutrients to the organ systems of the body. The heart is a cone-shaped organ made up of four chambers. The right atrium receives blood from the venous system by way of the superior and inferior vena cavae. Most of the venous blood flows through the tricuspid valve and into the right ventricle during the filling phase of cardiac contraction. The blood then moves to the lungs where carbon dioxide is released and oxygen is taken on. The left side of the heart then pumps the oxygenated blood to the body. During systole, the pressure exerted on the ventricle closes the mitral valve to prevent blood from flowing backward into the left atrium and opens the aortic valve to assist the ventricle to pump adequate oxygenated blood out of the heart into the aorta and to the body. Arteries and veins are types of blood vessels. Arteries transport oxygenated blood, and veins transport deoxygenated blood. Figure 3.1 provides an illustration of the anatomy of the heart for reference throughout the chapter.

Figure 3.1. Anatomy of the human heart.