Abstract
The purpose of this chapter is to provide a general overview of the cardiovascular system, to serve as a quick reference on the underlying physiological composition of this system. The rapid transport of molecules over long distances between internal cells, the body surface, and/or various specialized tissues and organs is the primary function of the cardiovascular system. This body-wide transport system is composed of several major components: blood, blood vessels, the heart, and the lymphatic system. When functioning normally, this system adequately provides for the wide-ranging activities that a human can accomplish. Failure in any of these components can lead to grave consequence. Subsequent chapters will cover, in greater detail, the anatomical, physiological, and/or pathophysiological features of the cardiovascular system.
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General References and Suggested Reading
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© 2009 Humana Press, a part of Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
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Iaizzo, P.A. (2009). General Features of the Cardiovascular System. In: Iaizzo, P. (eds) Handbook of Cardiac Anatomy, Physiology, and Devices. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-372-5_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-372-5_1
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