Blood is composed of plasma and cells. The human body contains approximately 5.5 litres of blood.

● Blood plasma: is liquid. It´s composed of approximately 90% water. The other 10% consists of minerals, nutrients (glucose, amino acids,
vitamins), waste products (urea, uric acids, carbon dioxide), proteins and hormones.
● Blood cells: the solid part of the blood. There are red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

Red blood cells or erythrocytes: transport oxygen from the lungs to all cells of the body, and carbon dioxide from
the cells back to the lungs so it can be removed from the body. They contain haemoglobin, a protein molecule
responsible for carrying oxygen. They´re disked shaped because they don´t have nucleus.

White blood cells or leukocytes: defend the body against disease and infection by destroying pathogens. They´re
spherical and have a nucleus.

Platelets or thrombocytes: cells that allow blood to clot or coagulate. This stops bleeding so the body doesn´t lose
too much blood, which could be fatal.

● Blood transports oxygen and nutrients to the organs.

● Blood transports waste products like urea, uric acids or carbon dioxide.

● Blood defends the body against infections and helps to control body temperature.
The heart is responsible of pumping blood around the body. It´s a muscular organ divided into two parts, left and right, which are completely
separate.

● Pericardium: a sac that surrounds and protects the heart. It´s a double membrane filled with liquid and it functions to protect the myocardium.

● Myocardium: a thick layer of muscle tissue that allows the heart to contract. It provides the force to transport blood round the body.

● Endocardium: a layer of tissue that lines the inside of the heart and also the blood vessels. It protects the heart´s valves and chambers.

The heart is divided into four chambers:

● Atria: these upper chambers receive blood from the body. The two vena cava veins connect with the
right atrium, and four pulmonary veins connect with the left atrium.

● Ventricle: these lower chambers are larger than the atria. Blood travels from the atria to the ventricles
through the valves. The tricuspid valve connect the right atria and the right ventricle. The bicuspid
valve connects the left atria and the left ventricle.
The pulmonary veins carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium. It then passes through the
bicuspid valve and into the left ventricle. Finally, the blood leaves the left ventricle through the aorta and
is delivered to other parts of the body.
The vena cavae carry deoxygenated blood from the body into the right atrium, and then it passes through
the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle. Finally, it leaves the right ventricle through the pulmonary
artery and is transported to the lungs to be oxygenated.
The aorta artery and the pulmonary artery have semilunar valves that stop blood from returning to the
heart once it´s been pumped out of the ventricles.
Our heart is like a pump. It collects blood, then contracts and pushes it around the body. This contraction is known as a heartbeat.

● Atrial systole: when the atria contract, they pump blood into the ventricles through the tricuspid and bicuspid valves.

● Ventricular systole: when the ventricles contract, the semilunar valves open and the blood exits through the pulmonary artery and the aorta artery.
At the same time, the bicuspid and tricuspid valves close.

● Diastole: the heart relaxes and blood from the vena cavae and pulmonary veins is sucked into the corresponding atria. The semilunar valves close
to prevent blood travelling back into the ventricles.
Blood vessels are tubes that carry blood. There are different types.
Arteries normally carry oxygenated blood,
there is one exception, the pulmonary artery
that carry deoxygenated blood.
They carry the blood from the heart to other
parts of the body.
They have thick, elastic, muscular walls.
As arteries reach the organs, they branch in
smaller vessels called arterioles.
Capillaries are microscopic vessels that are
found in all the tissues of the body.
They have thin, single-celled walls which allowed
oxygen, nutrients and waste to pass back and
forth.
Veins normally carry deoxygenated blood,
there is one exception, the pulmonary veins
that carry oxygenated blood.
They carry the blood from around the body to
the heart.
They have thin walls.
Their valves ensure blood only travels in one
direction.
Small branches of veins are called venules.
Blood is pumped into and out of the heart as its muscles contract and relax. Blood pressure refers to the force of the blood as it moves through the
blood vessels. There are two phases of the cardiac cycle: systole and diastole.
In systole, the muscles contract and the blood is pump out of the heart and into the large arteries. The pressure is sufficient to push the blood into
smaller arteries and finally into the capillaries.
In diastole, the muscles relax and the chambers fill or with blood. This mean that blood circulation is intermittent, with all the blood leaving the heart
during systole and returning during diastole. However, this doesn´t occur for two reasons:
● There are valves at the start of the large arteries that stop blood from returning into the heart.

● Arteries are elastic so they´re able to:

● dilate as they receive blood, which ensures that smaller capillaries don´t break.

● constrict back to their normal diameter after dilation, which helps to push the blood through the blood vessels.

Arterioles regulate the amount of blood the organs receive. Thanks to the contraction and relaxation of the muscles
in their walls they can increase or reduce the flow of blood.
When blood reaches the capillaries, its pressure is low and it moves slowly, allowing an exchange of substances
with the cells. Nutrients and oxygen leave the capillaries and waste substances, including carbon dioxide, enter
them.
Blood pressure is higher during systole, when the heart muscles contract, than during diastole, when the impulse to move the blood comes from the
arteries. For this reason, when you have your blood pressure taken, a maximum and minimum blood pressure is recorded. Blood is able to move
through the veins because:
● the heart sucks blood in during diastole, when it dilates, so the pressure decreases and blood in the veins moves towards the heart.

● the muscles around the veins contract, which squeezes the blood along them and helps circulation. The closing of the valves help blood circulate in
the right direction.
Systemic circuit
The systemic circuit transports blood between the heart and almost
all parts of the body. Blood leaves the left ventricle through the
aorta artery. This then branches into arterioles and capillaries,
where it reaches all the tissues and organs, except the lungs.
Finally, blood returns to the right atrium of the heart, passing
through venules, veins and the vena cava.
Pulmonary circuit
The pulmonary circuit transport blood between the heart and
lungs. Blood carrying carbon dioxide leaves the right ventricles
through the two pulmonary arteries and enters the lungs. Here, red
blood cells release carbon dioxide and pick up oxygen.
This newly oxygenated blood returns to the heart´s left atrium, and
then enters the systemic circuit.

The circulation system is double, complete and closed:

● Double: blood travels through the heart twice to complete its journey around the body.

● Complete: deoxygenated and oxygenated blood never mix as they enter and leave the lung separately.

● Closed: blood flows through closed blood vessels so it never leaves them.

The dilatation of the aorta, which occurs during systole, produces a wave that´s transmitted through the
entire arterial system. This dilatation is called the pulse.
The pulse is taken in two areas of the body.
All organs have an artery to carry blood to them and a vein to carry it away. Arteries and veins are
named according to the organ they´re connected to. For example, the stomach has the gastric artery and
gastric vein. Your heart rate, or pulse, is the number of times your heart beats in one minute.
Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death in Spain, and in many other countries around the world.

● High blood pressure: a condition where blood pressure is too high. It´s also known as hypertension. It’s a disease of the blood vessels.

● Arteriosclerosis: the arteries become hard and lose elasticity. This can cause high blood pressure. It´s a disease of the blood vessels.

● Atherosclerosis: plaque builds up inside the arteries, causing the arteries to become hard. This can restrict the blood flow to different parts of the
body. It´s a disease of the blood vessels.

● Aneurism: a weak spot in the wall of a blood vessel grows big, like a bubble. If it ruptures, it can cause a stroke. It´s a disease of the blood vessels.

● Myocardial infarction: commonly known as a heart attack. When the coronary arteries are obstructed, the heart doesn´t receive enough oxygen.
This causes the heart´s muscle cells to die. It´s a disease of the heart.

● Angina pectoris: a feeling of pressure or pain in the chest. This is caused by the heart not getting enough oxygen. Angina is a symptom of heart
disease. It´s a disease of the heart.

● Anaemia: when the amount of red blood cells or haemoglobin is too low. Signs of anaemia are pale skin, fatigue and dizziness. It´s a disease of the
blood.

● Leukaemia: a cancer of the white blood cells. These abnormal white blood cells can´t fight diseases and infections. It´s a disease of the blood.

● Thrombosis: formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel. It´s a disease of the blood.

● Tachycardia: it´s a heart rate of more than 100 beats per minute at rest.

● Bradycardia: the heart beats fewer than 60 times a minute.

● Avoid foods high in fat and cholesterol. When the cholesterol accumulates on the walls of arteries, they can become obstructed, causing heart
attacks and strokes.

● Don´t smoke. Tobacco increases the risk of arteriosclerosis and angina pectoris.

● Avoid being overweight. Obesity can lead to high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

● Avoid salty foods. Too much salt can cause fluid retention, making your heart work too hard.

● Avoid stress. It can affect your blood pressure.

● Avoid a sedentary lifestyle and exercise regularly. This increases cardiovascular capacity and decreases the chance of arteriosclerosis.