Circulatory Sytem Circulation circulation (of the blood) movement of blood around the body from the heart

t through the arteries to the capillaries and back to the heart through the veins. pulmonary circulation circulation of blood from the heart through the pulmonary arteries to the lungs for oxygenation and back to the heart through the pulmonary veins. systemic circulation circulation of blood around the whole body (except the lungs) starting with the aorta and returning through the vena cava. Blood circulates around the body, carrying oxygen from the lungs and nutrients from the liver through the arteries and capillaries to the tissues. The capillaries exchange the oxygen for waste matter such as carbon dioxide which is taken back to the lungs to be expelled. t the same time the blood obtains more oxygen in the lungs to be taken to the tissues. The circulation pattern is as follows! blood returns thought the veins to the right atrium of the heart" from there it is pumped thought the right ventricle into the pulmonary artery, and then into the lungs. #rom the lungs it returns through the pulmonary veins to the left atrium of the heart and is pumped from there through the left ventricle into the aorta and from the aorta into the other arteries. Blood Blood is a red fluid that continually flows through the blood vessels. Blood is pumped round the body by the heart. The blood transports food and oxygen to all living cells in the body, and takes away waste matter from them. Blood consists mainly of a watery li$uid called plasma. #loating in the plasma are red cells (erythrocytes), white cells (leukocytes) and platelets (thrombocytes). The disc%shaped red blood cells take oxygen form the lungs to the tissues. &hite blood cells are larger than red blood cells. There are '(( red cells to every white one. &hite blood cells help to fight infection by attacking harmful bacteria. )mall particles called platelets are important in blood clotting. Blood is made in the bone marrow. red blood cells lives for about *+( days after it enters the bloodstream. &hen blood cells die, they are disposed by the liver and the spleen. The bone marrow continuously makes new blood cells to replace dead cells. Heart The heart is an organ made of muscle. ,t is about the si-e of a clenched fist, and lies between the lungs. The heart is divided into four sections, or chambers. These are the left and right atrium, and the left and right ventricle. The heart pumps blood around the circulatory system. Blood carries essential oxygen and nutrients to each cell in the body. The body cannot live for more than about five minutes if the heart stops completely. Blood vessels Arteries an artery is a flexible tube inside the body. ,t has thick, strong walls. rteries carry blood mixed with oxygen from the heart to all parts of the body. Tiny muscles in the artery walls help the heart to push the blood along. This flow of blood along the arteries can be felt as the pulse. The walls of arteries may be become thicker and harder, and narrowed by fat deposits. This makes it more difficult for blood to flow through and can cause heart disease. Veins vein is a tube inside the body. There is a network of veins inside the body. They all carry blood from the body tissues back to the heart. Tiny veins called capillaries pass the blood to larger veins called venules. These .oins bigger veins which connect up to two huge veins that empty blood into the heart. The blood flow in a vein is helped by muscles which surround it. The blood can only flow one way because many of the veins are fitted with valves. Capillaries capillary is the smallest type of blood vessel. /apillaries connect the smallest arteries with the smallest veins. They can be so tine that only one blood cell at a time is able to pass along them. /apillaries carry blood rich in oxygen to the tissues, and carry away waste products.