The Circulatory System

This organ system is mainly composed of heart and blood vessels which main
function is to provide oxygen, nutrients and hormones to muscles, tissues and organs
throughout your body. Also, to remove waste from cells and organs so your body can
dispose of it.

Circulatory systems do?

The circulatory system’s function is to move blood throughout the body. This blood
circulation keeps organs, muscles and tissues healthy and working to keep you alive.
The circulatory system also helps your body get rid of waste products. This waste
includes:
 Carbon dioxide from respiration (breathing).
 Other chemical by products from your organs.
 Waste from things you eat and drink.
How does the Circulatory System work?

Your circulatory system functions with the help of blood vessels that include arteries,
veins and capillaries. These blood vessels work with your heart and lungs to
continuously circulate blood through your body. Here’s how:
1. The heart’s bottom right pumping chamber (right ventricle) sends blood that’s low
in oxygen (oxygen-poor blood) to the lungs. Blood travels through the pulmonary
trunk (the main pulmonary artery).
2. Blood cells pick up oxygen in the lungs.
3. Pulmonary veins carry the oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart’s left
atrium (upper heart chamber).
4. The left atrium sends the oxygenated blood into the left ventricle (lower
chamber). This muscular part of the heart pumps blood out to the body through
the arteries.
5. As it moves through your body and organs, blood collects and drops off nutrients,
hormones and waste products.
6. The veins carry deoxygenated blood and carbon dioxide back to the heart, which
sends the blood to the lungs.
7. Your lungs get rid of the carbon dioxide when you exhale.

Parts of the Circulatory System

1. Heart, a muscular organ that pumps blood throughout your body.

2. Blood vessels, which include your arteries, veins and capillaries.
3. Blood, made up of red and white blood cells, plasma and platelets.

1. The heart and its function

 About the size of two adult hands held together
 the heart rests near the center of the chest.
  Thanks to consistent pumping, the heart keeps the circulatory system working at
all times.

A. Heart wall
There are three layers of the heart wall.
1.The epicardium is the heart wall’s outer layer
2. the myocardium is the middle — and muscular layer and
3. the endocardium is the heart’s innermost layer.

Chambers of the Heart

 The heart has four chambers: the right and left atria, and

the right and left ventricles. Together, they make up the heart’s internal cavity.
 The four chambers play an important role in circulation.
 The atria receive blood from the veins, while the ventricles push blood out of the
heart. Because the ventricles have to be much stronger to perform this pumping
activity, their myocardial layers are thicker than those of the atria.

Image of the Heart Anatomy: Nationalcprfoundation.com

Circulatory Circuits:
  The circulatory system has three circuits. Blood circulates through your heart and
through these circuits in a continuous pattern:

1. The pulmonary circuit: This circuit carries blood without oxygen from the heart to
the lungs. The pulmonary veins return oxygenated blood to the heart.

2. The systemic circuit: In this circuit, blood with oxygen, nutrients and hormones
travel from the heart to the rest of the body. In the veins, the blood picks up waste
products as the body uses up the oxygen, nutrients and hormones.

3. The coronary circuit: Coronary refers to your heart’s arteries. This circuit provides

the heart muscle with oxygenated blood. The coronary circuit then returns oxygen-poor
blood to the heart’s right upper chamber (atrium) to send to the lungs for oxygen.

2. Blood Vessels- another component of the circulatory system that allows to transport
blood and oxygen within the different body parts.

Types of blood vessels

1. Arteries: Arteries are thin, muscular tubes that carry oxygenated blood away from
the heart and to every part of your body. The aorta is the body’s largest artery. It starts
at the heart and travels up the chest (ascending aorta) and then down into the stomach
(descending aorta). The coronary arteries branch off the aorta, which then branch into
smaller arteries (arterioles) as they get farther from your heart.
2. Veins: These blood vessels return oxygen-depleted blood to the heart. Veins start
small (venules) and get larger as they approach your heart. Two central veins deliver
blood to your heart. The superior vena cava carries blood from the upper body (head
and arms) to the heart. The inferior vena cava brings blood up from the lower body
(stomach, pelvis and legs) to the heart. Veins in the legs have valves to keep blood
from flowing backward.
 Image of the differences in artery and veins: differencebetweenz.com

3. Capillaries: These blood vessels connect very small arteries (arterioles) and veins
(venules). Capillaries have thin walls that allow oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients and
waste products to pass into and out of cells.

Image of capillaries: Weebly

Your heart is the only circulatory system organ. Blood goes from the heart to the lungs
to get oxygen. The lungs are part of the respiratory system. Your heart then pumps
oxygenated blood through arteries to the rest of the body.

3. Blood- Blood is a combination of plasma and cells that circulate through the body. It
supplies essential substances, such as sugars, oxygen, and hormones, to cells and
organs, and removes waste from cells.

Components of Blood
1.Plasma
 Plasma accounts for around 55% of blood fluid in humans. Plasma is 92% water,
and the contents of the remaining 8% include:
 glucose
 hormones
 proteins
 mineral salts
 fats
 vitamins
 The remaining 45% of blood mainly consists of red and white blood cells and
platelets. Each of these has a vital role to play in keeping the blood functioning
effectively.
 Image of Blood Plasma: longlonglife.org

2. Red blood cells, or erythrocytes

 Red blood cells have a slightly indented, flattened disk shape.
 They transport oxygen to and from the lungs.
 Hemoglobin is a protein that contains iron and carries oxygen to its destination.
 The life span of a red blood cell is 4 months, and the body replaces them
regularly.
 The human body produces around 2 million blood cells every second.
 The expected number of red blood cells in a single drop (microliter) of blood is
4.5–6.2 million in males and 4.0–5.2 million in females.
 Image of Red blood cells: fi.edu
3. White blood cells, or leukocytes
 White blood cells make up less than 1% of blood content, forming vital defenses
against disease and infection.
 The number of white blood cells in a microliter of blood usually ranges from
3,700–10,500.
 Higher or lower levels of white blood cells can indicate disease.
 The expected number of red blood cells in a single drop (microliter) of blood is
4.5–6.2 million in males and 4.0–5.2 million in females.
 Image of Human White Blood Cell: Pulpbits.net

4. Platelets, or thrombocytes
 Platelets interact with clotting proteins to prevent or stop bleeding. There should
be between 150,000 and 400,000 platelets per microliter of blood.

 Bone marrow produces red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, and from
there they enter the bloodstream. Plasma is mostly water that is absorbed from
ingested food and fluid by the intestines. The heart pumps them around the body
as blood by way of the blood vessels.
 Image of Platelets: www.viagogo.com
Functions of Blood
Blood has various functions that are central to survival. They include:
 supplying oxygen to cells and tissues
 providing essential nutrients to cells, such as amino acids, fatty acids, and
glucose
 removing waste materials, such as carbon dioxide, urea, and lactic acid
 protecting the body from diseases, infections, and foreign bodies through the
action of white blood cells
 regulating body temperature
 The platelets in blood enable the clotting, or coagulation, of blood. When
bleeding occurs, the platelets group together to create a clot. The clot forms a
scab, which stops the bleeding and helps protect the wound from infection.
Conditions that affect the Circulatory System

Many conditions can affect the health of your circulatory system, including:
 Aneurysms: Aneurysms occur when an artery wall weakens and enlarges. The
weak spot can bulge as blood moves through the artery. The weak spot may
tear, causing a life-threatening rupture. Aneurysms can affect any artery,
but aortic aneurysms, abdominal aortic aneurysms and brain aneurysms are the
most common.
 High blood pressure: Your arteries work hard to circulate blood throughout the
body. When the pressure (force of blood against the blood vessel walls) gets too
high, you develop high blood pressure. When the arteries become less elastic
(stretchy), less blood and oxygen reaches organs like the heart. High blood
pressure puts you at risk for cardiovascular disease, heart attacks and strokes.
  Plaque deposits: High cholesterol and diabetes can lead to fat and other
substances collecting in the blood. These substances form deposits called
plaques on artery walls. This condition is atherosclerosis, or narrowed or
hardened arteries. Atherosclerosis increases the risk of blood clots and
strokes, coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease (and other artery
diseases), heart attacks and kidney disease.
 Venous disease: Venous diseases tend to affect veins in the lower body.
Problems like chronic venous insufficiency and varicose veins occur when blood
can’t flow back to the heart and pools in leg veins. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT),
a blood clot in the legs, can lead to a life-threatening pulmonary embolism.

How can I prevent circulatory system problems?

These steps can protect the health of your circulatory system:
 Aim for at least 150 minutes of physical activity every week.
 Eat a heart-healthy diet rich in vegetables and fiber and low in saturated fats and
processed foods. Consider a Mediterranean-style diets or plant-based diet, as
they appear to be the most heart healthy.
 Find healthy ways to ease stress.
 Maintain a healthy weight.
 Manage conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
 Get help to quit smoking.