The Human Circulatory System

Introduction
Humans

and other vertebrates have a closed

circulatory system:

This means that circulating blood is pumped

through a system of vessels

This system consists of the heart (pump), series

of blood vessels and the blood that flows through
them.

The Heart

Located near the center of

your chest

Hollow structure

Composed almost entirely of

muscle

About the size of your

clenched fist

The Heart

The

heart contracts about 72 times per

minute

Pumps

about 70mL of blood with each

contraction.

The Heart

The heart has a total of

4 chambers:

2 atriums
2 ventricles

Pathway of Blood

Deoxygenated blood passes

from the right atrium into the
right ventricle and then goes
to the lungs.

From the lungs, blood

moves back toward the
heart into the left atrium to
the left ventricle and then
passes into the aorta to go
to the rest of the body

Heart Beat

Heart muscles are

composed of individual
fibers

Each atrium and ventricle

contracts as a unit.

Blood Vessels

As blood moves
through the circulatory
system it moves
through 3 types of
blood vessels:

Arteries
Capillaries
Veins

Arteries

Large vessels

Carry blood from heart to tissues of body

Carry oxygen rich blood, with the exception of

pulmonary arteries.

Thick walls-need to withstand pressure produced

when heart pushes blood into them.

Capillaries
Smallest
Walls

blood vessels

are only one cell thick and very narrow.

Important

for bringing nutrients and oxygen

to tissues and absorbing CO2 and other
waste products.

Veins

Once blood has passed through the capillary systems it must

be returned to the heart.

Done by veins

Walls contains connective tissue and smooth muscle.

Largest veins contain one way valves that keep blood flowing
toward heart.

Many found near skeletal muscles. When muscles contract,

blood is forced through veins.

Blood Pressure
The

heart produces pressure

The

force of blood on the wall of the arteries

is known as blood pressure.

Blood

pressure decreases as the heart

relaxes, but the rest of the circulatory system
is still under pressure.

Blood
Composed

of plasma and blood cells

Types of Cells are:

Red Blood Cells

White Blood Cells
Platelets

Blood
Plasma

Straw colored

90% water

10% dissolved gases, salts, nutrients, enzymes,

hormones, wastes, and proteins.

Blood

Red Blood Cells

Most numerous type

Transport oxygen
Get color from
hemoglobin
Disk shaped
Made in red bone
marrow
Circulate for 120 days

Blood

White Blood Cells

Guard against infection,

fight parasites, and attack
bacteria

Blood
Platelets

Aid the body in clotting

Small fragments

Stick to edges of broken blood cell and secrete

clotting factor to help form clot.