Oxygenated Blood Circulatory This system has many functions. It fights foreign bacteria, works in partnership with the respiratory system for oxygen delivery to tissues, regulates the body’s temperature, balances fluids, and carries hormones to their place of work. There are two sub-systems within the circulatory system: blood/vascular (cardiovascular) system and the lymphatic (defense) system. Cardiovascular System This system consists of the heart and its vessels. For the body to live, blood needs the heart and the heart needs blood. Arterial blood is oxygenated; venous blood is not. Arteries take blood away from the heart, veins bring blood to the heart, and capillaries help regulate the body’s temperature control. The arterial pressure points are carotid (neck), brachial (armpit), femoral (hind legs), coronary (nourish the heart), and iliac (branch from the aorta and pelvis). The pulse is caused by the artery expanding when the heart pushes blood through the vessels. Take time to listen and feel what an animal’s heartbeat and pulses feel like during IPTouch. Feel for pulses at the brachial artery (between armpit and elbow), femoral artery (hind leg above the knee region), digital artery (behind fetlock joint), middle caudal artery (tail attachment area), and facial artery (under jaw/mandible bone)
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