Human Circulatory System

• The human circulatory system consists of a network of arteries, veins, and

capillaries, with the heart pumping blood through it.
• Its primary role is to provide essential nutrients, minerals, and hormones to
various parts of the body.
• Alternatively, the circulatory system is also responsible for collecting metabolic
waste and toxins from the cells and tissues to be purified or expelled from the
body.
Features of Circulatory System

• The human circulatory system consists of blood, heart, blood vessels, and lymph.
• The human circulatory system circulates blood through two loops (double
circulation) – One for oxygenated blood, another for deoxygenated blood.
• The human heart consists of four chambers – two ventricles and two auricles/ Atria
(sing Atrium)
• The human circulatory system possesses a body-wide network of blood vessels.
These comprise arteries, veins, and capillaries.
• The primary function of blood vessels is to transport oxygenated blood and
nutrients to all parts of the body. It is also tasked with collecting metabolic wastes
to be expelled from the body.
• Most circulatory system diagrams do not visually represent is its sheer length.
Theoretically, if the veins, arteries, and capillaries of a human were laid out, end to
end, it would span a total distance of 1,00,000 kilometres (or roughly eight times
the diameter of the Earth).
Organs of Circulatory System

• The human circulatory system comprises 3 main organs and 1 tissue

that have specific roles and functions. The vital circulatory system
organs include:
• Heart
• Blood (technically, blood is considered a tissue and not an organ)
• Blood Vessels
• Lymphatic system
Heart

• The heart is a muscular organ located in the chest cavity, right

between the lungs. It is positioned slightly towards the left in
the thoracic region and is enveloped by the pericardium. The human
heart is separated into four chambers; namely, two upper chambers
called atria (singular: atrium), and two lower chambers called
ventricles.
• The heart has four chambers — two on top and two on bottom:
• The two bottom chambers are the right ventricle and the left ventricle
. These pump blood out of the heart. A wall called
the interventricular septum is between the two ventricles.
• The two top chambers are the right atrium and the left atrium. They
receive the blood entering the heart. A wall called the interatrial
septum is between the atr
Valves
• The atria are separated from the ventricles by the atrioventricular valves:
• 1. The tricuspid valve separates the right atrium from the right ventricle.
• 3. The mitral(bicuspid) valve separates the left atrium from the left
ventricle.
• Two valves also separate the ventricles from the large blood vessels that
carry blood leaving the heart:
• 2. The pulmonic valve is between the right ventricle and the pulmonary
artery, which carries blood to the lungs.
• 4. The aortic valve is between the left ventricle and the aorta, which
carries blood to the body.
CIRCULATION
• Coronary circulation – the circulation
of blood within the heart.
• Pulmonary circulation – the flow of
blood between the heart and lungs.
• Systemic circulation – the flow of
blood between the heart and the cells
of the body.
SYSTEMIC AND PULMONARY
CIRCULATION
Pulmonary circulation
The flow of blood
between the heart
and lungs.
Systemic circulation
The flow of blood
between the heart
and the cells of the
body.

Figure 18.5
Chapter 18, Cardiovascular System 10
FUNCTIONS OF THE HEART
• Generating blood pressure
• Routing blood
Heart separates pulmonary and systemic
circulations
• Ensuring one-way blood flow
Heart valves ensure one-way flow
• Regulating blood supply
Changes in contraction rate and force match
blood delivery to changing metabolic needs
BLOOD VESSELS

•Blood Vessels -A closed network of tubes

•These includes:
 Arteries
 Capillaries
 Veins
BLOOD VESSELS
-Arteries(Distributing channel)
• Thick walled tubes
• Elastic Fibers
• Circular Smooth Muscle

•Capillaries (microscopic vessels)

• One cell thick
• Serves the Respiratory System

•Veins (draining channel)

ARTERIES
 Blood vessels that carry
blood away from the
heart are called
arteries.
 They are the thickest
blood vessels and they
carry blood high in
oxygen known as
oxygenated blood
(oxygen rich blood).
CAPILLARIES (5-8 micron)

• The smallest blood

vessels are capillaries
and they connect the
arteries and veins.
• This is where the
exchange of nutrients
and gases occurs.
VEINS
• Blood vessels that carry
blood back to the heart
are called veins.
• They have one-way valves
which prevent blood from
flowing backwards.
• They carry blood that is
high in carbon dioxide
known as deoxygenated
blood (oxygen poor
blood).
VEINS
• Thin Walled
• Large irregular lumen
• Have valves
• Dead space around
• Types:
Large
Medium
Small