Analysis of the Cardiovascular SystemThe cardiovascular system consists of the heart and a closed system of vessels called arteries, veins, and capillaries. The heart is the pump responsible for maintaining adequate circulation of oxygenated blood around the vascular system. body network. The heart provides the force needed to circulate blood to all tissues in the body. Its function is to provide a continuous supply of oxygen and nutrients and to eliminate all waste. While the blood ensures the transport of oxygen, the heart is the organ which ensures the circulation of blood in the vessels. The average adult heart pumps about 5 liters of blood per minute throughout life. It is about the size of an adult male's closed fist. It is made up of three layers of fabric. The outer layer of the heart wall is the epicardium, the middle layer is the myocardium, and the inner layer is the endocardium. [IMAGE] The heart works like two pumps, one on the right and one on the left, operating simultaneously. Blood flows from the right atrium to the right ventricle, then is pumped to the lungs to receive oxygen. Blood then flows to the left atrium, then to the left ventricle. From there, it is pumped through the circulatory system of veins and arteries to deliver oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. The heart is divided into four chambers: the right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, and left ventricle. Both atria are thin-walled chambers that receive blood from veins, with the right atrium receiving deoxygenated blood from systemic veins; and the left atrium receiving oxygenated blood from the pulmonary veins. Both ventricles have thicker walls; they drive blood from the heart and body. The chambers have different wall thicknesses due to the certain force each chamber must generate..[IMAGE]Deoxygenated blood passes through the upper vein and the lower vein.