Circulatory System

Presented By:
Mr. Kiran D. Baviskar,
Assist. Professor
Dept. of Pharmaceutics,

Smt. Sharadchandrika Suresh Patil College of Pharmacy, Chopda.

Blood - Blood is the main circulating fluid in the human body.
Study of blood is called haematology (Gk. Haeme-blood,
logos-study).
Blood is a fluid connective tissue derived from mesoderm.

It is bright red, slightly alkaline (pH 7.4), salty, viscous fluid

heavier than water.
The average sized adult has about 5 litres of blood which
constitutes about 8%of the total body weight
Composition of blood - Blood is composed of two main
components

Plasma Blood corpuscles

55% 45%.
Blood corpuscles are suspended in plasma and are of three
types
erythrocytes (RBCs)
leucocytes (WBCs)
thrombocytes (platelets).
Erythrocytes or Red blood corpuscles
(RBCs) (Gk, erythros-red, kytos-cell)-
Erythrocytes are circular, biconcave, non-nucleated cells
(nucleated in camels).
The size is about 7um in diameter and 2.5um in thickness.
There are about 5.1 to5.8 million RBCs per cubic mm of blood
in adult male and 4.3 to5.2 million per cubic mm in adult
female.This is called total RBC count.
The average life span is about 120 days.
Formation of RBC is called erythropoiesis.

In foetus, it occurs in liver and spleen whereas in adults it

occurs in red bone marrow.

The old and worn out RBCs are destroyed in liver and
spleen.

The cytoplasm of RBCs contains respiratory pigment called

haemoglobin which helps in transport of oxygen and carbon
dioxide.
The normal haemoglobin content in
adult male is 13-18 gm / 100 ml of blood
adult female is 11.5-16.5 gm/100 ml of blood
Function of RBC

RBCs transport oxygen from lungs to tissues and carbon

dioxide from tissues to lungs.

They maintain blood pH as haemoglobin acts as a buffer.

They also maintain the viscosity of blood.

Increase in number of RBCs is called polycythemia

Decrease in their number is called erythrocytopenia.

Less amount of haemoglobin leads to anaemia.

Leucocytes or White blood corpuscles
(WBCs) (Gk.leukos-white, kytos-cell)-

Leucocytes are colourless, nucleated, amoeboid and

phagocytic cells.

Due to their amoeboid movement they can squeeze out of

blood capillaries. This is called diapedesis.

The size is about 8 to 15 urn.

There are about 5000 to 9000 WBCs per cu mm of blood. This

is called total WBC count.

The average life span is about 3 to 4 days.

Formation of WBCs is called leucopoiesis.

It occurs in red bone marrow, spleen, lymph nodes, :c*nsils,

thymus and Payer’s patches.

Increase in number of WBCs is called leucocytosis

Decrease in their number is called leucopenia.

Leukemia is a pathological increase in number of WBCs and

is commonly called blood cancer.

The dead WBCs are destroyed by phagocytosis in blood, liver

and lymph nodes.
Leucocytes are of two types - granulocytes and agranulocytes.
Granulocytes show granular cytoplasm and lobed nucleus.
They are of three types:
neutrophils,
eosinophils
basophils.
In neutrophils the cytoplasmic granules are stained with n
Neutrophils: the cytoplasmic granules are stained with
neutral dyes.

The nucleus is three to five lobed hence are called

polymorphonuclear leucocytes or polymorphs.

They constitute about 54 ;o 62% of total WBCs. They are

phagocytic in nature
Eosinophils (Acidophils) show the cytoplasmic granules which
are stained with acidic dyes such as eosin.

The nucleus is bilobed. They constitute about 3% of total

WBCs.

They are non-phagocytic and their number increases during

allergic conditions.

They show anti-histamine property.

Increase in number of eosinophils is called eosinophilia.

Basophils have the cytoplasmic granules that are stained with
basic dyes such as methylene blue.

The nucleus is twisted.

They constitute about 0.5% of total WBCs.

They are non-phagocytic.

They release heparin (anticoagulant) and histamine (involved

in inflammatory and allergic reaction).
Agranulocytes show absence of granules in the cytoplasm
and nucleus is not lobed.

They are of two types - lymphocytes and monocytes.

Lymphocytes show large round nucleus.

They constitute about 25-33% of total WBCs.

They produce antibodies and responsible for immune response

of the body.
Monocytes are the largest of all WBCs and show large kidney-
shaped nucleus. They constitute about 3-9% of total WBCs.
They are phagocytic in function. At the site of infection
monocytes enlarge and differentiate into macrophages which
enguif microorganisms and remove cell debris. Hence they are
also called scavengers.
Monocytes are the largest of all WBCs and show large
kidney-shaped nucleus.

They constitute about 3-9% of total WBCs.

They are phagocytic in function.

At the site of infection monocytes enlarge and differentiate

into macrophages which engulf microorganisms and remove
cell debris. Hence they are also called scavengers.
Platelets or Thrombocytes (Gk. thrombos-clot, kytos-cell)
Platelets are non-nucleated, round and biconvex.

Formation of platelets is called thrombopoiesis.

They are the smallest elements of blood measuring about 2.5

to 5 um in diameter.

They are about 2.5 to 4.5 lakhs per cubic mm of blood.

Their life span is about 5 to 10 days.

Thrombocytes are fragments formed from large cells called

megakaryocytes of bone marrow.
Increase in platelet count is called thrombocytosis,

Decrease in platelet count is called thrombocytopenia.

Thrombocytes aggregate at the site of injury and form a

platelet plug.

They release thromboplastin which helps in clotting of

blood.
RBC WBC Platelets
Red colored Colourless Colourless
Haemoglobin present Haemoglobin absent Haemoglobin absent
circular, biconcave amoeboid and phagocytic round and biconvex.
cells.
Nucleus absent Nucleus present
5.1 to5.8 :male 5000 to 9000 WBCs per cu 2.5 to 4.5 lakhs per cubic
4.3 to5.2 :female mm of blood mm of blood.
The average life span is The average life span is Their life span is about 5 to
about 120 days. about 3 to 4 days. 10 days.
Formation of RBC is Formation of WBCs is Formation of platelets is
called erythropoiesis. called leucopoiesis. called thrombopoiesis.
In foetus, it occurs in It occurs in red bone
liver and spleen whereas marrow, spleen, lymph
in adults it occurs in red nodes, tonsils thymus and
bone marrow. Payer’s patches.
The old and worn out The dead WBCs are
RBCs are destroyed in destroyed by phagocytosis
liver and spleen. in blood, liver and lymph
nodes.
RBC WBC Platelets
RBCs transport oxygen Neutrophills: phagocytic They release
from lungs to tissues and in nature thromboplastin which
carbon dioxide from helps in clotting of blood
tissues to lungs.
They maintain blood pH as Basophills:heparin
haemoglobin acts as a (anticoagulant) and
buffer. histamine (involved in
inflammatory and allergic
reaction
They also maintain the Acidophills:They show
viscosity of blood anti-histamine property
Lymphocytes: They
produce antibodies and
responsible for immune
response of the body
Monocyte: Phagocytic
RBC WBC Platelets
Increase in number of Increase in number of Increase in platelet count
RBCs is called WBCs is called is called thrombocytosis
polycythemia leucocytosis
Decrease in their number Decrease in their number is Decrease in platelet count
is called erythrocytopenia called leucopenia. is called
thrombocytopenia
Less amount of Leukemia is a
haemoglobin leads to pathological increase in
anaemia. number of WBCs and is
commonly called blood
cancer.
Blood Coagulation:
Inside an intact blood vessel, blood does not coagulate or clot
due to presence of active anticoagulants like heparin and
antithrombins.
As soon as a blood vessel ruptures, bleeding starts. The
conversion of liquid blood into semisolid jelly is called blood
coagulation or clotting.
Heart:
Human heart is situated almost in the middle of thoracic cavity
in a space called mediastinum, between the two lungs.

Heart is hollow, muscular, conical organ about the size of

one’s fist with broad base and narrow apex tilted towards left.

Heart is mesodermal in origin.

It measures about 12 cm in length, 9 cm in breadth and weighs

about 250 to 300 grams.
External structure of Heart:
Human heart consists of four chambers –
two superior, small, thin walled receiving chambers called
atria
two inferior, large, thick walled, distributing chambers called
ventricles

Externally a transverse groove is present between the atria and

the ventricles called atrio-ventricular groove or coronary
sulcus.
The interventricular sulcus is present between the right and
left ventricles.

In these sulci, there are situated coronary arteries and coronary

veins.

The coronary arteries supply oxygenated blood to the heart

while coronary veins collect deoxygenated blood from the
heart.

The coronary veins join to form coronary sinus which opens

into the right atrium.
Internal structure of Heart:
Internally the heart is four chambered with two atria and two
ventricles.
Atria:
The atria are two thin walled receiving chambers placed
superiorly and separated from each other by interatrial
septum.

Right Atrium:
The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from all
over the body through superior vena cava, inferior vena
cava and from heart through coronary sinus.
The opening of inferior vena cava is guarded by Eustachian
valve while the opening of coronary sinus is guarded by
Thebesian valve.

An oval depression, the fossa ovalis is present on the right

side of interatrial septum.

It represents the remnant of foramen ovale, an oval opening

in the interatrial septum of the foetus.
LEFT ATRIUM

The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs

through four openings of pulmonary veins.

Each atrium opens into the ventricle of its side through

atrioventricular aperture guarded by valves made up of
connective tissue.

Tricuspid valve:
The right atrioventricular valve has three flaps hence
called as tricuspid valve

Bicuspid valve or mitral valve:

left atrioventricular valve has two flaps hence called
bicuspid valve or mitral valve.
These valves are attached to papillary muscles of ventricles
by chordae tendinae.

The chordae tendinae prevent the valves from turning back

into the atria during the contraction of ventricles.
Ventricles:
The ventricles are two thick walled distributing chambers
placed inferiorly and separated from each other by
interventricular septum.

Left ventricle has thickest wall as it has to pump blood to

all parts of the body.

The inner surface of the ventricle is thrown into a series of

irregular muscular ridges called columnae carnae or
trabeculae carnae.
Pulmonary trunk or aorta arises from the right ventricle
carrying deoxygenated blood to lungs for oxygenation.

Systemic aorta arises from left ventricle carrying oxygenated

blood to all parts of the body.

Pulmonary aorta and systemic aorta has three semilunar

valves at the base which prevent backward flow of blood
during ventricular diastole.
Pumping action of Heart:

The heart acts as a pumping organ.

The rhythmic contraction (systole) and relaxation (diastole) of

heart is called heart beat.

The heart beats about 72 times per minute and pumps

about 5 litres of blood per minute.
Conducting system of heart:
Human heart is myogenic (myo-muscle, genie-originating
from).

The heart beat originates in modified cardiac muscles

called
Sinoatrial node (SA node)
which lies in the wall of right atrium near the opening of
superior vena cava.

The SA node is called pace maker because it has power of

generation of wave of contraction.

The wave of contraction or cardiac impulse generated by SA

node is conducted by cardiac muscle fibres to both the atria
causing their contraction (atrial systole).
The atrioventricular node (AV node) is located in the wall of
right atrium near the opening of coronary sinus receives the
wave of contraction generated by SA node through internodal
pathways.

Bundle of His arises from AV node and divides into right and
left bundle branches located in the interventricular septum.

The bundle branches give rise to Purkinje fibres which

penetrate into myocardium of ventricles.

The bundle of His and Purkinje fibres conduct the wave of

contraction from AV node to myocardium of ventricles
causing their contraction (ventricular systole).
Working of heart (Cardiac cycle);
The events associated with one heart beat is called cardiac
cycle.
It lasts for 0.8 seconds.
Each heart beat includes
atrial systole,
ventricular systole
joint diastole.
Atrial systole:
During atrial systole, the deoxygenated blood from the right
atrium enters the right ventricle through atrioventricular
aperture, the back flow is prevented by tricuspid valve.

The oxygenated blood from left atrium enters the left ventricle
through atrioventricular aperture, the back flow is prevented
by bicuspid valve.
The atrial systole lasts for 0.1 second.
Ventricular systole:
During ventricular systole, the deoxygenated blood from the
right ventricle enters the pulmonary trunk, which carries blood
to lungs for oxygenation.

The oxygenated blood from the left ventricle enters the aorta,
which carries blood to all parts of the body. The back flow of
blood is prevented by semilunar valves.

The ventricular systole lasts for 0.3 seconds.

Joint diastole or complete cardiac diastole:
During joint diastole both atria and ventricles undergo
relaxation.

The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from all parts of

the body through superior vena cava, inferior vena cava and
coronary sinus.

The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs

through two pairs of pulmonary veins.

The joint diastole lasts for 0.4 seconds.

Regulation of Cardiac Activity:
Normal activities of the heart are regulated by specialized
muscles (auto regulated ), hence the heart is called myogenic.

The cardiovascular centre lies in the medulla oblongata of

the brain.

Sino auricular node receives sympathetic and para sympathetic

nerves which secretes adrenaline and acetylcholine
respectively.

Adrenaline- stimulates and increases heart beat

Acetylcholine -decreases the heart rate.
Adrenal medullary hormones can also increase the cardiac output.

During inspiration heart rate increases and during expiration it

falls. This phenomenon is known as sinus arrhythmias.
 HEART BEAT AN0 PULSE
Stroke Volume: (Systolic Discharge)
During each heart beat ventricles pump about 70 ml of blood.

This is called stroke volume.

It means heart pumps about 72 X 70 ml = 5040 ml or

approximately 5 litres of blood per minute.

This is called cardiac output.

Tachycardia means fast heart rate usually over 100 beats per
minute.

Bradycardia means slow heart rate usually below 60 beats

per minute.
 HEART BEAT AN0 PULSE
Minute Volume:
Volume of blood per beat per minute=
Stroke Volume x Heart beat

Cardiac Output depends upon following four factors:

1. Venous return
2. Force of heart beat
3. Frequency of heart beat
4. Peripheral resistance
Pulse:
Pulse is a pressure wave that travels through the arteries after
each ventricular systole.

The pulse may be felt in any artery that lies near the surface of
the body.

The radial artery at the wrist is most commonly used to feel

the pulse.
Since each heart beat generates one pulse in the arteries, the
pulse rate per minute indicates the heart rate.

Thus pulse rate is same as that of heart rate, 72 per minute.

Pulse rate is higher in children, females and standing position.

It is lower in adults, males and lying position.

It increases in emotional state (anger, fear, excitement) and

during exercise.