Anooshka's Blog

How do cells in different regions of the body acquire the nutrients you digest from your sandwich? The answer lies in a long network of blood vessels approximately 62,000 miles long, nearly 2.5 times the circumference of Earth! Blood vessels are integral components of the circulatory system, which serves as a group of "highways" for oxygen and nutrients to travel to various organs of the body. Arteries transport oxygen and nutrients to bodily organs , whereas veins transport deoxygenated blood from cells back to the heart . Blood that contains metabolic wastes from cells is filtered by the renal arteries, and these metabolic wastes leave the body through urine. Anatomy and Physiology of Blood Vessels All blood vessels, except the smallest arterioles, capillaries, and venules, contain three main layers referred to as  tunics .  Figure 2: Anatomy of Blood Vessels Tunica Externa  The outermost layer of a blood vessel is known as the tunica externa  and is formall...

On a hot summer day, you go jogging outside and notice that your cheeks are gradually turning red. What causes them to become red? It is the arteries in your cheeks dilating in an attempt to release the heat in your body. Not only do arteries help regulate body temperature, but they also play a crucial role in delivering blood to organs, keeping you alive. Damage to arteries can have life-threatening consequences. For instance, cerebral arteries that are ruptured or obstructed in a stroke can block blood supply to the brain, resulting in death if immediate action to restore blood supply is not taken. To recap, arteries transport blood (rich in oxygen and nutrients) from the heart to bodily organs. As arteries carry blood away from the heart, they branch into smaller vessels. Arteries are classified into three types based on their size and proximity to the heart: elastic, muscular, and arterioles. Elastic Arteries Elastic arteries are closest to the heart and have the largest diamet...

Homeostatic Imbalances with the Heart Heart disease refers to diseases that interfere with the proper functioning or supply of blood to the heart. Genetic predispositions, lack of physical activity, and certain foods are few of the many factors that can lead to heart disease. However,  lifestyle changes can reduce  its risk. Exercise improves blood circulation to cells, tissues, and organs, enhancing their function. If organs are deprived of blood, they do not receive an ample supp ly of oxygen, which could have severe consequences including death.  A blood clot, known as a thrombus, and a cholesterol deposit, known as a plaque, can obstruct arteries, which prevents blood flow. If a thrombus and a plaque obstruct the coronary arteries, the myocardium of the heart will not receive enough blood to contract, resulting in a heart attack . During physical activity, the high velocity by which blood moves through arteries removes thrombi and plaques, lowering the risk ...

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart"   - Hellen Keller            We often treat the heart as an emotional object inside us, but there's way more to the heart than that! It is one of the primary organs in the body that keeps us alive. The heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood to the other organs of the body every nanosecond of your life. This allows every cell, tissue and organ to get a fresh supply of blood and oxygen. It enhances their respective functions, keeping you alive.              The heart pumps oxygenated blood in the body. The organs of the body use the oxygen from the blood.  There are two ways in which blood circulates throughout the body - p ulmonary circulation   and systematic circulation . Pulmonary circulation refers to blood going from the heart to the lungs to get oxygenated be...