to transport nutrients to the tissues

to transport waste products away

transport hormones from one part of the body to another
in general, to maintain an appropriate environment in all the tissue fluids for
survival and optimal function of the cells.

The circulation 1.) systemic circulation 2.) pulmonary circulation.

systemic circulation: supplies blood flow to all the tissues of the body except the lungs,
also called the greater circulation or peripheral circulation

Functional Parts of the Circulation

.arteries: to transport blood under
high pressure to the tissues.
have strong vascular walls; blood flows at a high
velocity in the arteries

Arterioles: are the last small branches of the arterial

System.
act as control conduits through which blood is
released into the capillaries
have strong muscular
walls that can close the arterioles completely or, by relax
ing, can dilate the vessels severalfold

Capillaries: functions to exchange fluid, nutri

ents, electrolytes, hormones, and other substances between
the blood and interstitial fluid.
are thin and have numerous minute capillary pores
permeable to water and other small molecular substances
venules collect blood from the capillaries and
gradually coalesce into progressively larger veins

Veins: function as conduits for transport of blood from

the venules back to the heart.
serve as a major reservoir of extra blood.
pressure in the venous system is low, the venous walls are thin

Volumes of Blood in the Different Parts of the

Circulation
systemic circulation: 84%
Of the 84% in the systemic circulation,
Veins: 64%
Arteries: 13% a
systemic arterioles and capillaries: 7%
Heart:7% of the blood
pulmonary vessels: 9%.

Cross-Sectional Areas and Velocities of Blood Flow

cross-sectional areas of the veins are much larger than those of the arteries
This difference explains the large blood storage capacity of the venous system in comparison with the
arterial system

the velocity of blood flow (v) is inversely proportional to the

vascular cross-sectional area (A):
V=F/A
under resting conditions, the velocity averages
about 33 cm/sec in the aorta but is only 1/1000 as rapid
in the capillaries
Pressures in the Various Portions of the Circula
tion.
mean pressure in the aorta is high, averaging about 100 mm Hg.
heart pumping is pulsatile, the arterial pressure normally alternates
between an average systolic pressure level of 120 mmHg and a diastolic pressure level of 80 mm Hg
under resting conditions

 mean pressure falls progressively to about 0 mm Hg

by the time it reaches the termination of the superior
and inferior venae cavae
 systemic capillaries varies from as high as 35 mm Hg near the arteriolar ends to as low as 10 mm
Hg near the venous ends
 average functional pressure in most vascular beds is about 17mm Hg
glomerular capillaries of the kidneys: higher pressure (60 mmHg)=higher rates of fluid filtration
 pulmonary arteries, the pressure is pulsatile,just as in the aorta,

 pulmonary artery SP (A: 25 mm Hg), DP (A:8 mm Hg)

 mean pulmonary arterial pressure: 16 mm Hg.
 mean pulmonary capillary pressure A: 7 mmHg
 total blood flow through the lungs each minute is the same as through the systemic circulation.
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF CIRCULATORY FUNCTION
1.) Blood flow to most tissues is controlled according to
the tissue needs.
2. Cardiac output is the sum of all the local tissue
Flows
3.) Arterial pressure regulation is generally independent
of either local blood flow control or cardiac output
control.
if at any time the pressure falls significantly below the normal level of about
100 mm Hg, a barrage of nervous reflexes elicits a
series of circulatory changes to raise the pressure
back toward normal within seconds.
The nervous signals especially do the following:
(a) increase the force of heart pumping
(b) cause contraction of the large venous reservoirs to provide more blood
to the heart
(c) cause generalized constriction of the arterioles in many tissues so that more
blood accumulates in the large arteries.
the kidneys play an additional major role in pressure control by secreting pressure-controlling
hormones and regulating blood volume.

INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF PRESSURE,
FLOW, AND RESISTANCE