1. Circulatory System
Adapted from S. MORRIS 2006

2. What is the circulatory system?
The circulatory system carries blood and dissolved
substances to and from different places in the body.
The Heart has the job of pumping these things around
the body.
The Heart pumps blood around the body in tubes called blood vessels.
The Heart, blood vessels, and the blood together make up the Circulatory System.

3. Non cellular components:
Plasma
Cellular components:
Red blood cell
White blood cell
Platelets

4. What substances are in the non-cellular components of the blood?
PLASMA – This is the yellowish liquid portion of blood that contains electrolytes, nutrients and vitamins, hormones, clotting factors, and proteins such as antibodies to fight infection.
Urea, CO2, Glucose, Amino acids, proteins, minerals, vitamines, hormones

5. Cellular Components of the Blood
RED BLOOD CELLS (Erythrocytes) – The most abundant cells in our blood
WHITE BLOOD CELLS (Leukocytes) – They are part of the immune system and destroy infectious agents called pathogens.
PLATELETS (Thrombocytes) – The clotting factors that are carried in the plasma

6. The Blood

7. Red Blood Cells
a biconcave disc shaped cell that is round, flat, and has no nucleus
contain hemoglobin, a molecule specially designed to hold oxygen and carry it to cells that need it.
they are produced in the bone marrow
can change shape to an amazing extent, without breaking, as it squeezes single file through the capillaries
Life span of 120 days

8. White Blood Cells Life span of 10 days Made in the spleen
There are about 8000 cells in a small drop of blood
The main function of the white blood cells is to defend our body against both infectious disease and foreign materials
there are many different types of white blood cells and all contain a big nucleus.

9. White Blood Cells
the two main ones are the macrophages and the lymphocytes.
macrophages ‘eat’ and digest harmful micro-organisms and dead cells, move like amoebas
some lymphocytes fight disease by making antibodies to help destroy invaders.

10. Platelets Life span of 5 days
Platelets are small cell fragments which function in clotting broken blood vessels (e.g. cuts) to stop bleeding
Platelets contain proteins on their surface that allow them to stick to breaks in the blood vessel wall and also stick to each other