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Medicine LibreTexts

9.4: Age Related Changes to the Circulatory System

  • Page ID
    84845
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    Blood

    There is no major changes to blood with age, but there is a reduction of red bone marrow. This means that there is a diminished capacity for blood cell formation in the elderly.

    Heart

    In the absence of heart disease the heart remains essentially the same size, or diminishes slightly in size. The is a reduction in the number and size of cardiac muscle cells with aging and an increase in fibrous tissue.

    Blood Vessels

    Blood vessels reduce in elasticity with age. This is due to a reduced elastic fiber content in the wall of the arteries.

    Contributors and Attributions

    CC licensed content, Original
    • Age Related Changes to the Circulatory System. Authored by: Kelly, Jessica. Provided by: Herkimer College. Located at: NA. License: CC BY: Attribution

    This page titled 9.4: Age Related Changes to the Circulatory System is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Lumen Learning.

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