Journey Through the Heart: Exploring the Functions of the Circulatory System

The circulatory system! It may seem like a complex topic, but it's actually quite fascinating. Did you know that your
heart beats about 100,000 times a day? That's right, your heart is working hard to pump blood throughout your
body, delivering oxygen and nutrients to your cells and organs. The circulatory system plays a crucial role in
keeping us alive and healthy. Without it, our bodies wouldn't be able to function properly.
Red Blood = Oxygenated Blood
Blue Blood = Deoxygenated Blood
MAIN FUNCTIONS OF THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
The circulatory system is the “TRANSPORT SYSTEM” and it plays a crucial role in maintaining the overall health and
well-being of the human body. Its primary function is to transport oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body,
while also removing waste products that can be harmful if left to accumulate.
In addition to its transportation duties, the circulatory system also helps to regulate body temperature. This is
achieved through the dilation or constriction of blood vessels, which can increase or decrease blood flow to
specific areas of the body as needed.
PARTS OF THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
The Heart: is a muscular organ about the size of your fist that pumps blood through your body. It is made up of
multiple layers of tissue. Your heart is at the center of your circulatory system. Your heart is located between
your lungs in the middle of your chest, behind and slightly to the left of your breastbone (sternum).
STRUCTURE OF THE HEART (FORMED BY 3 DIFFERENT LAYERS OF HEART MUSCLES)
Endocardium: “ENDO” means “inside or within” lines the inside of your heart, making sure the blood flows
smoothly without any leaks or problems. Inside your heart, there's a special inner layer.
Myocardium: It is the THICKEST LAYER of the Heart muscle. Think of your heart as a pump, and the myocardium is
like the strong muscles that make the pump work. It's what helps your heart squeeze and pump blood to all parts
of your body.
Just like your arm muscles help you lift things, the myocardium helps your heart push blood around your body. It's
the part of your heart that works really hard to keep you alive and healthy.
Epicardium: It is the thin outermost layer of the heart wall. think of the epicardium as your heart's outer skin,
ensuring your heart stays safe and healthy while it works to keep you alive.
Pulmonary Circuit
Job: The pulmonary circuit is like a "lung loop." Its main job is to carry blood between your heart and your lungs.
Purpose: It takes oxygen-poor blood from the right side of your heart and pumps it to your lungs. In the lungs,
the blood picks up oxygen and gets rid of carbon dioxide, which is like the waste from your body.
Pathway: The blood travels from the heart to the lungs and then back to the heart's left side. This oxygen-rich
blood is then ready to go to the rest of your body.
Systemic Circuit
Job: The systemic circuit is like a "body loop." It's in charge of moving blood between your heart and the rest of
your body.
Purpose: After the blood gets oxygen in the lungs (thanks to the pulmonary circuit), the systemic circuit takes over.
It pumps this oxygen-rich blood out to all your body parts, like your brain, muscles, and organs, so they can do
their jobs.
Pathway: The blood travels from the heart's left side to every part of your body, delivering oxygen and nutrients.
Then, it comes back to the heart's right side with carbon dioxide and waste to be sent to the lungs again.
OTHER PARTS OF THE HEART
THE SEPTUM
Imagine a wall: The septum is like a wall inside your heart. It separates the left side of your heart from the right
side.
Job: It makes sure the oxygen rich blood on the left doesn't mix with the oxygen-poor blood on the right. It keeps
things organized!
THE LEFT ATRIUM
Think of it as a waiting room: The left atrium is like a waiting room in your heart. It's where oxygen-rich blood
from your lungs gathers before it moves on.
Job: It collects the fresh oxygen from the lungs so your heart can send it to the rest of your body.
THE RIGHT ATRIUM
Another waiting room: The right atrium is like a waiting room too, but for oxygen-poor blood from your body.
Job: It gathers the blood that's done its job in your body and is ready to go to the lungs for more oxygen.
THE RIGHT AND LEFT VENTRICLES
The ventricles are the main pumping chambers of the heart. They contract forcefully to push the blood received
from the atria to its destination.
Ventricles have much thicker and more muscular walls than the atria. This muscular structure enables them to
generate stronger contractions necessary for pumping blood.
ATRIOVENTRICULAR VALVES OR THE TRICUSPID VALVES (TRI means THREE)
Works like a door: The AV valve is like a door between the atrium (the waiting room) and the ventricle (the
pumping room).
Job: It opens to let blood flow from the atrium into the ventricle and then closes to keep it from going back.
BICUSPID (“BI” MEANS “TWO”) VALVES OR MITRAL VALVES
Location: The mitral valve, also known as the bicuspid valve, is located on the left side of your heart between the
left atrium and the left ventricle.
Action: Think of the mitral valve as a swinging door. It opens and closes to control the flow of blood between the
left atrium (the waiting room for oxygen-rich blood) and the left ventricle (the powerful pumping chamber).

These semilunar valves open and close to ensure that blood flows in one direction, preventing backflow. When the
ventricles contract and pump blood, these valves open to allow blood to be ejected into either the pulmonary
artery or the aorta. Afterward, they quickly close to prevent blood from returning to the ventricles, ensuring
efficient circulation.

Respiratory System
WHAT IS THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM?
THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM is your body's breathing system. It's made up of organs and tissues that help you
breathe and get the oxygen your body needs.
It also plays a role in carrying away waste products from your body, specifically carbon dioxide (CO2).
Why Understanding the Respiratory System is Important?
Well, without it, we wouldn't be able to survive! The respiratory system plays a crucial role in maintaining our
overall health and wellbeing.
But its importance goes beyond just breathing! By understanding how the respiratory system works, we can learn
how to better protect it from harm and prevent.
FUN FACT : Lungs Can Float on Water
This is because the lungs are made up of mostly air-filled sacs called alveoli, which contain a protein called
surfactant that helps to reduce surface tension and keep the lungs inflated. This allows them to float when placed
in water!
WHAT IS RESPIRATION
MOST PEOPLE DESCRIBE RESPIRATION IS SAME AS “breathing”, THE PROCESS BY WHICH AIR IS TAKEN IN AND OUT
OF THE BODY. However, Respiration is a far more complex process.
Respiration is the process by which the body takes in oxygen and releases carbon dioxide. There are three main
events that occur during respiration: pulmonary ventilation, external respiration, and internal respiration
Pulmonary Ventilation
is also commonly referred to as "breathing." Pulmonary ventilation specifically refers to the process of moving air
in and out of the lungs. It involves the inhalation of fresh air (containing oxygen) into the lungs and the
exhalation of air (containing carbon dioxide) out of the lungs.
So, when people say they are "breathing," they are usually referring to the act of pulmonary ventilation.
External Respiration
1. Inhalation (Breathing In): When you breathe in, you take in fresh air that contains oxygen. This fresh air
goes into your lungs.
2. Gas Exchange: In your lungs, there are tiny air sacs called alveoli. Oxygen from the air in the alveoli
moves into your bloodstream, while carbon dioxide from your bloodstream moves into the alveoli.
3. Transport: Your blood carries the oxygen to all the cells in your body, providing them with the oxygen
they need for energy.
4. Exhalation (Breathing Out): After your body uses the oxygen, it produces carbon dioxide as a waste
product. This carbon dioxide is carried back to your lungs in your bloodstream and then exhaled when you
breathe out.
Internal Respiration
1. Oxygen Delivery: Your blood carries oxygen from your lungs to all the cells in your body. This oxygen is
like the "fuel" your cells need to produce energy.
2. Cellular Respiration: Inside your cells, oxygen is used to create energy through a process called cellular
respiration. During this process, the cells produce carbon dioxide as a waste product.
3. Carbon Dioxide Removal: The carbon dioxide produced in your cells needs to be removed because it can
be harmful in excess. It's picked up by your blood from the cells.
4. Transport Back to Lungs: Your bloodstream carries the carbon dioxide away from your cells and back to
your lungs.
5. Exhalation: In your lungs, you exhale (breathe out), getting rid of the carbon dioxide. This happens when
you breathe out, and you release the waste gas into the air.
External Respiration VS Internal Respiration
So, External respiration is all about taking in oxygen from the air, transferring it to your blood, and releasing
carbon dioxide from your blood into the air. It's how your body gets the oxygen it needs and gets rid of the
waste carbon dioxide.
Vs
So, Internal respiration is all about your cells using oxygen to create energy and producing carbon dioxide as a
waste product. Your bloodstream helps transport oxygen to the cells and carry away carbon dioxide so that your
body can function properly.
FUN FACT : We Breathe More Than 20,000 Times a Day
That's equivalent to taking about 14 breaths every minute!
This may seem like a lot, but it's important to remember that breathing is essential to our survival. Our bodies
need oxygen to function properly, and breathing helps to deliver that oxygen to all of our organs and tissues.
Our bodies need oxygen to function properly, and breathing helps to deliver that oxygen to all of our organs and
tissues.
Breathing Cycle
is the process of breathing in and breathing out. It's the rhythmic pattern of air going into and out of your lungs to
keep your body supplied with oxygen and remove waste gases like carbon dioxide.
Here's how the breathing cycle works:
 1. Inhalation (Breathing In): This is when you take a breath. Your diaphragm (a muscle below your lungs)
contracts and moves downward, and your ribcage expands. This creates more space in your chest, and air
rushes into your lungs.
2. Holding Your Breath: At the end of inhalation, there's a brief pause as your body prepares to exhale.
3. Exhalation (Breathing Out): Now, you breathe out. Your diaphragm relaxes and moves upward, and your
ribcage contracts. This decreases the space in your chest, and air is pushed out of your lung.
4. Holding Your Breath Again: At the end of exhalation, there's another brief pause before the next
inhalation.
Fun Fact: The Diaphragm is the Primary Muscle Used for Breathing.
This dome-shaped muscle sits at the bottom of the chest and contracts and relaxes to help move air in and out of
the lungs.
FUN FACT : The Left Lung is Smaller Than the Right Lung
The left lung is smaller than the right lung because it shares space in the chest with the heart. Here's a bit more
detail:
1. Heart's Location: Your heart is situated more towards the left side of your chest.
2. Space Allocation: To accommodate the heart, the left lung has to be smaller to leave enough room for the
heart to beat and pump blood effectively.
3. Functional Balance: This size difference allows the heart and the lungs to work together smoothly. The
right lung, being larger, can provide more space for air while the left lung provides room for the heart.
The Path of Air Through the Respiratory System
Nose and Mouth
Nose and Mouth: When you breathe in, you start by taking a breath through your nose or mouth. These are the
entry points where air from the outside world comes into your body.
Filtering and Warming: The air you breathe in goes through your nose, which acts like a natural filter. It helps
remove tiny particles and dust from the air. Additionally, your nose warms up the cold air, making it more
comfortable for your lungs.
So, the path of air begins with you inhaling air through your nose or mouth, and these openings play a role in
cleaning and preparing the air before it continues its journey into your respiratory system.
Pharynx
Pharynx: The pharynx is like the hallway where the air from your nose and mouth meets the throat. It's the place
where these two paths come together.
Think of it as the meeting point before the air continues on its way into your body. It is also a common pathway of
food and air.
“EPIGLOTTIS” : When you swallow, food and liquid first move from your mouth to your
throat (pharynx). A small muscular flap called the epiglottis closes to prevent food and liquid
from going down the “wrong pipe”
Larynx “The Voice Box”
Larynx (Voice Box): is like a little box inside your throat. It's where your voice comes from when you talk or
sing. When you want to say something, the larynx helps you make sounds by vibrating, sort of
like a musical instrument. So, it's not just a part of your breathing; it also helps you talk and make different sounds.
"Adam's apple" is also often used to refer to the larynx. that is more noticeable in males during puberty when the
larynx grows and the voice deepens.
Trachea “The Wind Pipe”
TRACHEA “THE WINDPIPE” a long tube in your throat that works like a straw for air. It carries the air you breathe
down into your chest, where it can go into your lungs. Think of it as the air highway that leads to your lungs,
helping you breathe.
Bronchi
Imagine the trachea (windpipe) as a tree trunk, and the bronchi are like the tree's branches. The trachea splits
into two bronchi, one for each lung, just like a tree trunk splits into two big branches. These bronchi help the air
get into each of your lungs, where the magic of breathing happens.
Lungs
Your lungs are like two soft, spongy balloons inside your chest. They're there to help you breathe. Their main job is
to take in fresh air and release used air, sort of like a sponge soaking up water and then squeezing it out. One big
thing your lungs do is exchange gases. They take in oxygen from the air you breathe and send it into your body
so your cells can use it for energy. At the same time, they grab carbon dioxide (a waste gas) from your body and
send it out when you breathe. It's like a constant swap of gases to keep your body working properly. So, think of
your lungs as your body's air factories!
LUNGS: The Left Lung is Smaller Than the Right Lung
Alveoli
Think of alveoli as tiny, stretchy balloons inside your lungs. They're super small, like the size of the tip of a pin, but
there are millions of them in your lungs. These little balloons are where the real action happens. They're like tiny
exchange centers. When you breathe in, oxygen goes into these balloons, and when you breathe out, carbon
dioxide comes out of them. This is where your body swaps the good stuff (oxygen) for the waste stuff (carbon
dioxide) in the air you breathe. So, alveoli are like your lungs' gas exchange stations!
Fun Fact: The Lungs Contain Over 300 Million Alveoli
If you were to spread out all of the alveoli in your lungs, they would cover an area roughly the size of a tennis
court! That's a lot of surface area for gas exchange to occur.