ABSTRACT
T he cardiovascular system, composed of the heart and the blood vessels, moves blood to and from the various tissues of the body. The primary function of the heart is to pump the blood to the lungs and to the systemic circulation. The blood vessels serve as a dynamic pipeline for carrying the blood to and from the tissues. Tissues require the oxygen, nutrients, and hormones that blood carries. Blood also transports carbon dioxide and other waste products away from the tissues.
