circulation & health I | Page 6

The heart is a hollow muscular organ that pumps blood throughout the blood vessels to various parts of the body by repeated, rhythmic contractions. It is found in all animals with a circulatory system, which includes the vertebrates.

The superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava are collectively called the venae cavae (from the Latin for "hollow veins", feminine plural). They are the large veins (venous trunks) that return deoxygenated blood from the body, into the heart. They both empty into the right atrium.

The aorta is the largest artery in the human body, originating from the left ventricle of the heart and extending down to the abdomen, where it bifurcates into two smaller arteries (the common iliac arteries). The aorta distributes oxygenated blood to all parts of the body through the systemic circulation.

The renal veins are veins that drain the kidney. They connect the kidney to the inferior vena cava. They carry the blood purified by the kidney.It is usually singular to each kidney, except in the condition "multiple renal veins".

It also divides into 2 divisions upon entering the kidney.

Heart and

body blood

flow is most

important.