Circulatory System Notes
Functions of the circulatory system…
-Carries nutrients, oxygen & other needed materials to cells
-Carries carbon dioxide & other wastes away from cells
-Blood helps fight disease & heal wounds.
-Helps maintain body temperature & homeostasis.
The circulatory system is made up of the -Heart -Blood -Blood vessels
muscular organ that pumps blood throughout the body. Heart… muscular organ that pumps blood throughout the body.
Hemoglobin- A protein that helps carry oxygen.
Blood Blood is a complex tissue. Blood has 4 components.
Red blood cells: Take up oxygen in the lungs and deliver it to cells throughout the body.
Plasma- pale yellow in color and helps carries nutrients and chemical messengers.
White blood cells- Body’s disease fighters.
Platelets- cell fragments that help form blood clots.
Blood vessels… Arteries Capillaries Veins
Arteries Muscular blood vessels that carry blood with oxygen away from the heart.
Capillaries smallest blood vessels where substances are exchanged by the process of diffusion
carry blood with carbon dioxide to the heart from the body. Veins… carry blood with carbon dioxide to the heart from the body.
muscle contractions that push blood through the blood vessels. Heartbeat muscle contractions that push blood through the blood vessels.
Pulse Throbbing of arteries as heart beats & pumps blood… used to determine heart rate.
force with which the ventricles contract. Blood pressure force with which the ventricles contract.
FYI: Hypertension (high blood pressure) occurs when the pressure in the blood vessels is too high… above 140/90.
The heart has to work harder.
Can cause damage to the heart, arteries and other organs.
FYI: Heart attacks occur when arteries get clogged and stop the flow of blood to the heart muscles.
FYI: Strokes occurs when the blood supply to the brain is cut off or when a blood vessel burst causing damage to brain cells.
FYI: Atherosclerosis is a condition where artery walls thicken and restrict the flow of blood in the arteries.
Caused by high cholesterol that deposits in the arteries causing them to narrow or harden.
Can lead to heart, disease or strokes.
occur when the heart rhythm is too fast or too slow. Irregular heartbeats occur when the heart rhythm is too fast or too slow.