THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM

 It is the combined function of the heart, blood and blood vessels to transport oxygen and nutrients to organs
and tissues throughout the body and carry away waste products.

Types of circulatory system:

1. Open type
 System made up of well-developed blood vessels, which pass from the heart to the body tissues.
 The blood vessels open into spaces (lacunae) where the blood comes directly in contact with the cells, from
these intercellular spaces, blood returns to the heart.
2. Closed type
 Blood is confined in tubes throughout its course from the heart, to the tissues and back to the heart

Divisions of the Circulatory System

1. Cardiovascular System 2. Lymphatic System
Components: Components
a. heart – center of cardiovascular system a. lymphatic organs – tonsils, lymph nodes,
b. blood vessels – arteries, veins, arterioles, spleen, thymus
venules, capillaries b. lymphatic vessels – afferent, efferent
c. blood – circulating medium c. lymph – circulating medium

A. Heart
 A hollow muscular organ that weighs approximately 250-350gms in human

Types of heart:
1. two (2) chambered heart
 Consists of one atrium and one ventricle
 Only one type of blood, venous blood, passes the heart (single circulation or circuit)
 Ex. Fishes – blood from the veins goes into the (a.) sinus venosus, (b.) atrium, (c.) ventricle, (d.) conus
arteriosus, (e.) ventral aorta, (f.) gills, where oxygenation takes place, (g.) dorsal aorta to the different parts of
the body.
2. three (3) chambered heart
 Consists of two atria and one ventricle
 Both venous and arterial blood pass the heart (double circulation)
 No complete separation between ventricles so there is slight mixing of venous and arterial blood here
(incomplete circulation).
 Ex. Amphibians and reptiles except crocodilia
3. four (4) chambered heart
 Consists of two atria and two ventricles
 Two types of blood enter the heart (double circulation)
 Separation between ventricles is complete (complete circulation)
 Ex. Aves and mammals

Functions:
1. Generating blood pressure 5. Fights infection – related to natural immunity
2. Routing blood 6. Maintains acid-base balance through the
3. Ensuring one way of blood flow buffer system
4. Regulating blood supply 7. Transport of gases and nutrients

I. Location of the heart:

 Situated between the lungs along the body’s midline within the thoracic cavity in the area of mediastinum (a
midline partition formed by the heart, trachea, esophagus, and ass. Structures)
 About 2/3 of the mass of the heart lies to the left of the body’s midline.

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II. Size and form of the heart
 The heart is shaped like a blunt cone about the size of a closed fist about 5in long, 3 ½ in wide at the
broadest point, and 2 ½ thick.
 The apex is formed by the tip of the left ventricle and projects inferiorly, anteriorly and to the left.
 The base is formed by the atria and projects superiorly, posteriorly and to the right.

III. Heart covering

 Enclosed and held the heart in place by the “pericardium”, designed to confine the heart to its position in the
mediastinum, and allow freedom of movement.

Layers of pericardium:

1. Fibrous (outer) pericardium – resembles a bag and is attached to diaphragm

2. Serous (inner) pericardium – thinner and forms a double layer around the heart.
a. Parietal layer – outer, directly beneath the fibrous pericardium
b. Visceral layer – inner, also known as the Epicardium.

IV. Heart wall

1. Epicardium – a thin, transparent, outer layer of the wall
2. Myocardium – the cardiac muscle tissue and constitutes the bulk of the heart, responsible for the contraction
of the heart.
3. Endocardium – lines the inside of the myocardium and covers the heart valves.

V. External Anatomy
1. Atria – located at the base of the heart
2. Ventricles – extends from the base toward the apex
3. Coronary sulcus – extends around the heart, separating the atria and ventricles
4. Interventricular sulcus – separating the 2 ventricles

VI. Chambers of the heart; (Internal Anatomy)

1. Right and left Atria – superior chamber, reservoir/receiving chamber
2. Right and left Ventricles – inferior chamber, pumping/discharging chamber

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Atrium (court, hall)
 received blood from the veins
 separated by interatrial septum into right and left atrium
 each atrium has an appendage called an “auricle”
 The atria is separated from the ventricles by atrio-ventricular septum and guarded by a valve that prevents
the backflow of blood from ventricles to atria.

Features of the Atria:

Right atrium – larger than the left, received un-oxygenated blood from the vena cava and coronary sinus.

Left atrium – received oxygenated blood from the pulmonary veins, consists of pectinate muscles

Internal structures:
Fossa ovale – an oval depression present only in the wall of right interatrial septum
Crista terminalis – small ridges of muscles, found only in right atrium
Pectinate muscles – projecting muscle bundles that parallel to one another which give the wall of the atria
a rigid appearance

Ventricles
 the major pumping chamber of the heart
 eject blood into the arteries and force to flow into circulation
 separated by interventricular septum into right and left ventricles

Features of the Ventricles:

Right ventricle – ejects unoxygenated blood into pulmonary artery guarded by pulmonary valve

Left ventricle – ejects oxygenated blood into aorta and guarded by aortic valve, 3x more thicker than the right
ventricle due to the pressure produced.

Internal features of the Ventricles:

Pappilary muscles/ muscular columns – a nipple or pimple like from which the chordae tendinae are
attached.
Trabeculae carnae – it is an irregular fold of myocardium that forms ridges on the wall of the ventricle.

Valves of the Heart:

1. Atrio-ventricular valves
a. Tricuspid valve – between the right atrium and right ventricle, consists of 3 flaps
b. Bicuspid (mitral) valve – between the left atrium and left ventricle, consists of 2 flaps
2. Semilunar valves
a. Aortic valve – found in aorta
b. Pulmonary valve – found in pulmonary artery

Skeleton of the heart:

 consists of fibrous connective tissue rings that surrounds the heart valves

Route of blood flow through the heart:

Body – vena cava – right atrium – tricuspid valve – right ventricle – pulmonary valve – pulmonary artery – lungs –
pulmonary veins – left atrium – bicuspid valve – left ventricle – aortic valve – aorta – body.

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Cardiac Cycle/ Complete Heart Beat:
 Refers to the repetitive pumping process that begins with the onset of cardiac muscle contraction and ends
with the beginning of the next contraction.
 It consists of “systole and diastole” of both atria and ventricles
Systole – period of contraction
Diastole – period of relaxation

Heart Sounds:
1. lubb sound – the 1st sound, loud, and bit longer
 Due to the closure of atrioventricular valves, soon after ventricular contraction begins.
2. dupp sound – the 2nd sound, weaker, and shorter
 Due to the closure of Semilunar valves, at the beginning of atrial contraction.
3. Murmurs – an abnormal sound resulted from incompetent (leaky) valves, or stenosed (narrowed) valves.

B. Blood Vessels/Vascular system

Classifications:
1. Systemic vessels – transport blood to all parts of the body form left ventricle and back to right atrium.
2. Pulmonary vessels – transport blood from right ventricle to the lungs and back to the left atrium.
 Both the systemic and pulmonary vessels constitute the “peripheral circulation”.

Functions of Peripheral circulation

1. carry blood 3. transport
2. exchange of nutrients, gases, and waste 4. regulate blood pressure
products 5. direct blood flow

Types of blood vessels:

1. Arteries – carry blood away from the heart
2. Veins – carry blood towards the heart
3. Capillaries – tiny links between the arteries and veins, where oxygen and nutrients diffuse to body tissues,
found among organs. Actual site of gas exchange takes place.

Layers of the blood vessels

1. tunica intima – innermost layer, only layer present in capillaries
2. tunica media – thinner in veins, predominant in arteries
3. tunica externa/adventitia – outer layer, predominant in veins due to lack of pressure

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Bases of comparison Arteries Veins

Location deeply set superficial

Wall thicker thinner

Direction of blood flow away from the heart towards the heart

Valves absent present

Gas present in blood O2 CO2

Blood flow when injured spurts steady flow

Color of the blood bright red dark red

Great Vessels of the Heart:

1. Right Atrium 3. Right Ventricle

 Superior vena cava  Pulmonary trunk
 Inferior vena cava
2. Left Atrium 4. Left Ventricle
 Pulmonary veins  Aorta

C. BLOOD
 Type of connective tissue that consists of cells and cell fragments surrounded by a liquid matrix.
 The “essence of life”
 Total blood volume, male – 5-6L, female – 4-5L

Functions of Blood:
1. transports of gases, nutrients, and waste products
2. transport of processed molecules
3. transport of regulatory molecules
4. regulation of pH(7.35-7.45) and osmosis
5. maintenance of body temperature
6. protection against foreign substances
7. clot formation
8. to maintain homeostasis

Components:

1. formed elements 2. Plasma

 the cells and cell fragments  the fluid portion, liquid matrix
 constitutes 45% of total blood volume  constitutes 55% of total blood volume

Plasma
 a pale yellow fluid that contains 91% water, 7% proteins, 2% other substances

Plasma proteins
1. albumin (white egg) – constitutes 58% of plasma protein
2. globulins – constitutes 38% of plasma protein, forms part of the immune system
3. fibrinogen – constitutes 4% of plasma protein, responsible for blood clot

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Formed Elements
 Derived from a single population of cell – hemopoietic stem cell

1. RBC (erythrocytes)
 constitutes 95% of the total formed elements  primary function is for the transport of gases
 700x more than WBC and 17x more than
platelets
 a biconcave disc shaped, anucleated, with
edges that are thicker than the center.
 contain the oxygen-carrying protein,
hemoglobin (that gives the whole blood its
red color)
 life span is 120 days in males and 110 days
in females

2. WBC (leukocytes)
 constitutes less than 1% of total blood
volume
 larger than the RBC
 spherical in shaped and whitish in color due
to lack of hemoglobin
 Soldiers of the body: to protect the body
against invading microorganisms; and to
remove dead cells and debris from the
tissues by phagocytosis.

Classifications of WBC:

I. Granulocytes
A. Neutrophils
- most numerous type of WBC
- 1st line of defense, phagocytic in function
- Life span is 10-12 hrs
B. Basophils
- least common type
- release histamine and other chemicals that promote inflammation
- release heparin which prevents clot formation
C. Eosinophil
- Involved in allergic reaction and parasitism, & release chemicals that reduce inflammation.

II. Agranulocytes
A. Lymphocytes
- the smallest and 2nd most numerous type of WBC
- involved in body’s immune response
- Involved in the production of antibodies, allergic reactions, rejects grafts, control tumors and
regulate the immune system.

B. Monocytes
- the largest of the WBC
- ability to leave blood vessels and enter tissues to become “macrophages”
- phagocytic

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3. Platelets (thrombocytes)
 minute fragments of cells from megakaryocytes
 plays an important role in preventing blood loss:
a. formation of ‘platelet plug’, which seal holes in small vessels
b. formation of ‘clots’, which seal off larger wounds in vessels

Blood Groupings:
Transfusion – transfer of blood or blood component from one individual to another
Infusion – introduction of a fluid other than blood (saline or glucose sol’n) into blood
Transfusion reaction – clumping of blood cells, rupture of blood cells

ABO blood group

1. type A – A antigens, anti-B antibodies from plasma
2. type B – B antigens, anti-A antibodies from plasma
3. type AB (universal recipient) – has no anti A or B antibody
4. type O (universal donor) – plasma has both anti - A and anti -B antibodies

RH blood group
 was 1st studied in the rhesus monkey
 Rh(+) blood has Rh antigens
 Rh (–) blood has no Rh antigens
 Antibodies against Rh antigens are produced when an Rh (–) person is exposed to Rh (+) blood.
 Responsible for hemolytic disease of a newborn (erythroblastosis fetalis)

LYMPHATIC SYSTEM:
 Includes lymph, lymphocytes, lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, tonsils, spleen, thymus, lymphatic vessels.

Functions:
1. Fluid balance
2. Fat absorption
3. Defense

Lymphatic capillaries and vessels:

 the system carries fluid in one direction from tissues to circulatory system
 the lymphatic capillaries are tiny, closed ended vessels that joins to form larger lymphatic vessels which
resembles a small veins and have a beaded appearance due to one way valves similar to the valves of the
veins
 the lymphatic vessels converge and eventually empty into blood at 2 locations in the body:

A. Right lymphatic duct – drains lymph from the upper right limb, right half of the head, neck and chest and
empties into right subclavian vein.
B. Thoracic duct – largest and drains lymph from the rest of the body and empties into left subclavian vein.

Lymphatic Organs:
1. Tonsils 3. Spleen
2. Lymph nodes 4. Thymus

Tonsils – form a protective ring around the openings between the nasal and oral cavities and the pharynx.
 Provide protection against pathogens and harmful materials entering from the nose and mouth.

3 groups of tonsils:
1. Palatine tonsils – usually referred to as the tonsils
2. Pharyngeal tonsils – also known as the adenoid
3. Lingual tonsils – found at the base of the tongue

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Lymph Nodes – rounded structure, varying in size, found throughout the body, but there are 3 superficial aggregations
of lymph nodes on each side of the body.
1. Inguinal nodes – groin
2. Axillary nodes – armpit
3. Cervical nodes – neck
Lymph nodules – is an aggregation of tissues that consist of lymphocytes and other cells.

Thymus – a bi-lobed gland, triangular in shaped, located in the superior mediastinum the partition between the right
and left thoracic cavity.
 function – site for the production and maturation of lymphocytes

Spleen – has a sized of a closed fist organ, located in the left superior corner of the abdominal cavity
 Function – filters blood, instead of lymph; blood reservoir.

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altor