Circulatory System The Body’s Transport System
The Circulatory System Consists of organs and tissues that transport essential materials to body cells and remove their waste products. This body system is also known as the CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM.
How the Circulatory System Works Hormones from glands help regulate cell activity. Oxygen from the lungs combines with nutrients to provide energy. Nutrients from the digestive system provide food for the cells.
How the Circulatory System Works Germ fighters (antibodies) from different parts of the body help to fight infection and disease. Wastes are carried to the liver and kidneys for removal from the body. Carbon Dioxide, a waste gas, is carried away and delivered to the lungs, which remove it from the body.
Parts of the Circulatory System Heart: your heart pumps blood through two major pathways. Blood Vessels Blood Pulmonary Circulation: the flow blood from the heart to the lungs and back to the heart. Systemic Circulation: is the flow of blood to all the body tissues except the lungs.
The Heart Consists of four chambers in which blood flows. Blood enters the R atrium and passes through the right ventricle. The R ventricle pumps the blood to the lungs where it becomes oxygenated. The oxygenated blood is brought back to the heart by the pulmonary veins which enter the L atrium. From the L atrium blood flows to the L ventricle. The L ventricle pumps blood to the aorta which distributes the oxygenated blood throughout the rest of the body.
Blood Vessels Over 80,000 miles of blood vessels transport your blood throughout your body. There are 3 types of blood vessels. Arteries: Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart to other parts of the body. Veins: Blood vessels that carry blood from the body back to the heart. Capillaries: Tiny tubes that carry blood from the arteries to the body’s cells, and then back to the veins.
Arteries, Veins, and Capillaries
Blood: a mixture of solids in a large amount of liquid called plasma. Plasma: is about 92% water. It transports blood solids, nutrients, hormones, and other materials. Red Blood Cells: carry oxygen to cells and carbon dioxide away from them.
Blood: a mixture of solids in a large amount of liquid called plasma. White Blood Cells: help fight disease and infection by attacking germs that enter the body. Platelets: help blood form a clot at the site of a wound. A clot seals a cut and prevents excessive blood loss.
Pulmonary Circulation Pulmonary circulation transports oxygen-poor blood from the right ventricle to the lungs where blood picks up a new oxygen supply. Then it returns oxygen rich blood to the left atrium.
Systemic Circulation Systemic circulation provides a functional blood supply to all body tissue. It carries oxygen and nutrients to the cells. It picks up carbon dioxide and waste products.
Blood Pressure As blood is moved through your body, it exerts pressure against the walls of blood vessels. Systolic Pressure: as your heart contracts to push blood into your arteries, your blood pressure is at its highest point. Diastolic Pressure: As your heart relaxes to refill, blood pressure is at its lowest point.
Problems of the Circulatory System Hypertension: is a condition in which blood pressure is consistently higher than normal, which can lead to heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure. Stroke usually results from blood clots that block vessels in the brain, or from the rupture of a blood vessel. Heart Attack is a blockage of the flow of blood to the heart.
Problems of the Circulatory System Anemia is an abnormally low level of hemoglobin, a protein that binds to oxygen in red blood cells. Leukemia is a disease in which extra white blood cells are produced. Hemophilia is a disease in which the blood plasma does not contain substances that help the blood to clot.
Care of the Circulatory System Limit fat in your foods. Get regular physical activity. Avoid tobacco. Manage stress.
Critical Thinking Compare and contrast. What are systemic circulation and pulmonary circulation? Which one carries newly oxygenated blood?