This leaflet gives a brief overview of the heart and blood
vessels and how they work. What are the heart and blood vessels?
The heart is a muscular pump that pushes blood through blood
vessels around the body. Essential to life, the heart beats
continuously, pumping the equivalent of more than 14,000 litres
of blood every day. Blood vessels form the living system of
tubes that carry blood both to and from the heart. All cells in
the body need oxygen and the vital nutrients found in blood.
Without oxygen and these nutrients, the cells will die. The
heart helps to provide oxygen and nutrients to the body’s
tissues and organs by ensuring a rich supply of blood. Not only
do blood vessels carry oxygen and nutrients, but they also
transport carbon dioxide and waste products away from our cells.
Carbon dioxide is passed out of the body by the lungs, and most
of the other waste products are disposed of by the kidneys.
Where are the heart and blood vessels found? The heart is a
fist-sized organ which lies within the c