Vascular Physiology

Abstract

The major role of the vascular system is the circulation of blood for the transport of nutrients, oxygen, and hormones to cells throughout the body and removal of metabolic wastes (carbon dioxide, nitrogenous wastes). The vascular system can be divided into a series of functional units each of which carries out important distinct physiological roles. This chapter defines these functional units and clarifies their physiological roles and how they are regulated.