CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
• an organ system that permits blood to circulate and
transports nutrients, oxygen, carbon dioxide,
hormones, and blood cells to and from the cells in the
body to provide nourishment and help in fighting
diseases, stabilize temperature and pH, and maintain
homeostasis
• includes PULMONARY CIRCULATION and
SYSTEMIC CIRCULATION
• centered on the HEART, a muscular organ that
rhythmically pumps BLOOD around a complex
network of BLOOD VESSELS extending to every part
of the body
• blood carries the oxygen and nutrients needed to fuel
the activities of the body's tissues and organs, and it
plays a vital role in removing the body's waste
products
• average-sized adult carries about 5 litres (9 pints) of
blood.
PULMONARY CIRCULATION
• a "loop" from the heart through the lungs where blood
is oxygenated
• sends oxygen-depleted (deoxygenated) blood away
from the heart through the pulmonary artery to the
lungs and returns oxygenated blood to the heart
through the pulmonary veins
• RIGHT ATRIUM: the upper chamber of the right side
of the heart. The blood that is returned to the right
atrium is deoxygenated (poor in oxygen) and passed
into the RIGHT VENTRICLE to be pumped through
Flores, Cristina Angela B. (BSMLS- 1A)
the PULMONARY ARTERY to the lungs for re-
oxygenation and removal of carbon dioxide.
• PULMONARY ARTERY: This artery divides above
the heart into two branches, to the right and left lungs,
where the arteries further subdivide à smaller and
smaller branches until the capillaries in the pulmonary
air sacs (alveoli) are reached
o In capillaries: blood takes up oxygen from the
air breathed into the air sacs and releases
carbon dioxide à flows into larger and larger
vessels until the PULMONARY VEINS
• PULMONARY VEINS usually four in number, each
serving a whole lobe of the lung. The pulmonary veins
open to the LEFT ATRIUM of the heart
• LEFT ATRIUM: receives newly oxygenated blood
from the lungs
RIGHT ATRIUM à RIGHT VENTRICLE à
PULMONARY ARTERY à PULMONARY ARTERIOLES
à PULMONARY CAPILLARIES à PULMONARY
VENTRICLES à PULMONARY VEINS à LEFT
ATRIUM
SYSTEMIC CIRCULATION
• provides the functional blood supply to all body tissue
• carries oxygen and nutrients to the cells and picks up
carbon dioxide and waste products
• network of veins, arteries and blood vessels that
transports blood from heart, services the body's cells
and then re-enters the heart
• Blood is pumped from the LEFT VENTRICLE of the
heart through the AORTA and arterial branches à
ARTERIOLES à CAPILLARIES, where it reaches
an equilibrium with the TISSUE FLUID, and then
drains through à venules into the VEINS and returns,
via the SUPERIOR AND INFERIOR VENAE CAVAE,
à RIGHT ATRIUM of the heart
LEFT VENTRICLE à AORTA à ARTERIES à
TISSUES à VEINS à SUPERIOR AND INFERIOR
VENA CAVA à RIGHT ATRIUM
ARTERIES
• Oxygen-rich blood (bright red)
• have thick walls to withstand the pressure of
ventricular contraction, which creates a pulse that can
be felt, distinguishing them from veins
• When arterial blood is collected by syringe, the
pressure normally causes blood to "pump" or pulse
into the syringe under its own power
VEINS
• Oxygen-poor blood (brick red)
• have thinner walls than the same-size arteries
because blood in them is under less pressure
• Consequently, they collapse more easily
PMLS 2 Lecture
• Blood is kept moving through veins by skeletal muscle • it is the 3rd choice in the M pattern
movement and the opening and closing of valves that • although it may appear more accessible, it is
line their inner walls located near the anterior and posterior
branches of the median cutaneous nerve
CAPILLARIES
• allow the exchange of gases and other substances ****Although antecubital veins are used most
between the tissues and the blood frequently, veins on the back of the hand and wrist
• only one cell thick may also be used for venipuncture.
• the capillary bed in the skin can easily be punctured § Veins on the underside of the wrist, however,
with a lancet to provide blood specimens for testing should NEVER be used for venipuncture.
§ Leg, ankle, and foot veins are sometimes used
PHLEBOTOMY-RELATED VASCULAR ANATOMY but not without permission of the patient's
H Pattern Veins physician, due to a potential for significant
• displayed approximately 70% of the population medical condition.
and includes the following veins:
1. MEDIAN CUBITAL VEIN
• Near the center of the antecubital fossa
• preferred vein for venipuncture in the H pattern
because it is typically large, closer to the
surface, and the most stationary à easiest and
least painful to puncture and the least likely to
bruise
2. CEPHALIC VEIN
• second-choice vein
• lateral aspect of the antecubital fossa
• although often harder to palpate( feel) than the
median cubital, it is fairly well anchored and
often the only vein that can be felt in obese
patients
3. BASILIC VEIN
• last choice vein
• medial site if the antecubital fossa
• although normally large and easy to feel, it is
not well anchored and rolls easily, increasing
risk of puncturing a median cutaneous nerve
branch or the brachial artery that is nearby
• CLSI recommends against using it unless no
other vein in either arm is prominent

M Pattern Veins
1. MEDIAN VEIN
• Center-most vein
• first-choice vein in the M pattern because it is
well anchored, tends to be less painful
• not as close to major nerves or arteries as the
others
• generally safest to puncture
2. CEPHALIC VEIN
• Branches from the median vein to the lateral
aspect of the arm
• it is the second choice M-pattern vein because
it is accessible, unlikely to roll, less painful,
located far enough away from major nerves or
arteries, and generally safe to puncture
3. BASILIC VEIN
• branches from the median vein to the medial
aspect of the arm
Flores, Cristina Angela B. (BSMLS- 1A) PMLS 2 Lecture