The body system consisting of the heart and blood vessels that circulates blood throughout the body.
The cardiovascular system delivers oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and other substances to tissues and carries carbon dioxide and metabolic waste away. It includes the heart, arteries, veins, capillaries, and blood.
It works closely with other systems, particularly the respiratory system, to deliver oxygen to tissues and remove carbon dioxide.
QUICK FACT
The cardiovascular system is a closed circulation system in which blood normally remains within blood vessels as it travels through the body.
COMMONLY CONFUSED WITH
Circulation: the movement of blood through the cardiovascular system; the cardiovascular system refers to the anatomical structures responsible for that circulation.
SEE ALSO