Cardiovascular (Heart and Blood Vessels)

The heart and blood vessels (arteries, capillaries, and veins) are called the cardiovascular system. The cardiovascular system carries blood throughout the body. The heart pumps blood through blood vessels called "arteries" and then through smaller blood vessels called "capillaries" to each organ and tissue in the body. The blood feeds each organ and tissue. Blood adds or removes gases, nutrients, hormones, and wastes as it passes through each organ to carry out metabolic processes (to keep the body alive). The capillaries then drain used blood into veins that flow back to the heart to be recirculated.

Click on a substance to go to the health effects chapter in the toxicological profile. Then, search on any target organ system to find the health effects information on that system.