TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Cardiovascular Anatomy and Physiology A1 - Hall, Stanley M. A1 - McDonough, Kathleen H. A2 - Levitzky, Michael A2 - McDonough, Kathleen A2 - Kaye, Alan David A2 - Hall, Stanley PY - 2021 T2 - Clinical Physiology in Anesthetic Practice AB - The main function of the cardiovascular system is to transport materials such as hormones and nutrients to the cells of the body and to remove secretions and waste products. The energy of the heart’s contractions propels the blood through the blood vessels to all of the tissues of the body. The arteries carry blood away from the heart and branch into progressively smaller vessels. The smallest vessels are the capillaries, with walls consisting of only one cell layer of simple squamous endothelium. The systemic capillaries are the site of exchange of materials between the blood and body tissues. The pulmonary capillaries are the site of exchange between the blood and the alveolar gas. The capillaries are so numerous and well distributed that almost no cell in the body is greater than 70 μ away from a capillary. SN - PB - McGraw Hill CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/04/24 UR - accessanesthesiology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1175533993 ER -