The cardiovascular system provides blood supply throughout the body. Responding to various stimuli can control the velocity and amount of blood carried through the vessels. The cardiovascular system comprises the heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries. The heart and vessels work intricately to provide adequate blood flow to all body parts. The regulation of the cardiovascular system occurs via a myriad of stimuli, including changing blood volume, hormones, electrolytes, osmolarity, medications, adrenal glands, kidneys, and much more.

Chaudhry, R., Miao, J. H., & Rehman, A. (2022, October 16). Physiology, Cardiovascular. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.

Mark the alternative that correctly fills in the blank:
The heart functions as a ______ that works intricately with blood vessels to provide adequate blood flow to all parts of the body.