The Circulatory System

Learning Goals …
… explain the primary function of the circulatory system
… explain how the heart pumps blood, and how the heart’s valves work
… explore how blood pressure, coronary artery disease, and heart
attacks relate to the circulatory system
 The Circulatory System
• the heart, blood vessels, and
blood together make up the
Circulatory System.
 What is the Circulatory System?

• the circulatory system carries blood and

dissolved substances around the body
• transports nutrients and oxygen to the
body cells
• remove wastes and carbon dioxide from
the cells
• the heart pumps blood and substances
around the body in tubes called blood
vessels
Heart
• cardiac muscle tissue causes the heart
to contract
• pumps blood through the blood
vessels

Blood Vessels
• tubular structures carrying blood through the tissues and
organs
• there are 3 types of blood vessels
• vein
• artery
• capillary
Arteries
• carry blood away from heart;
has thick walls to withstand
high pressure

Veins
• carry blood toward heart;
under low pressure
• valves help direct blood
back to heart

Capillaries
• surround each body cell
• allows oxygen and
nutrients to enter cells
Why do veins look BLUE while our blood is RED?
Blood is always red, actually!

shorter wavelength blue

light reflects back to us,
making veins appear blue

longer wavelength colours

penetrate through the skin and
muscles, and is absorbed by our
Blood
• there are four main components of blood:

1. Red blood cells (45%)

• transports oxygen to cells

2. White blood cells (<1%)

• fight infections

3. Platelets (<1%)
• cell fragments involved with blood clotting

4. Plasma (approx. 55%)

• mostly water
• protein-rich liquid that carries blood cells
 How Does this System Work?
Our circulatory system is a double circulatory system.
This means that blood has two major routes:

Pulmonary Circuit
• carries deoxygenated blood to
the lungs and returns
oxygenated blood back to the
heart
Systemic Circuit
• carries oxygenated blood to the
organs of the body and returns
deoxygenated blood back to the
heart
PULMONARY
CIRCULATION

SYSTEMIC
CIRCULATION
Right side: Deoxygenated blood from the body is returned to the heart
to be pumped to the lungs

Left side: Oxygenated blood from the lungs enters the heart and is
pumped to the body organs and tissues
vein from head and upper body
artery to head and body

artery to
lungs artery to lungs

veins from veins from lungs

lungs

RIGHT SIDE LEFT SIDE

vein from lower body

 superior vena cava
aorta
pulmonary artery
right left atrium
atrium
pulmonary vein
mitral valve
tricuspid
valve left ventricle
aortic valve
inferior
vena cava cardiac muscle
pulmonary valve
right ventricle
 How the Heart Valves Work
The heart valves constantly open and close to regulate blood
flow (causing the sound of a heartbeat).

The heart has 4 valves:

• the mitral valve and
tricuspid valve control
blood flow from the atria
to the ventricles 
• the aortic valve and
pulmonary valve control
blood flow out of the
ventricle
A normal, healthy heart valve minimizes any obstruction
and allows blood to flow smoothly and freely in one
direction.

It closes completely and

quickly, not allowing any
blood to flow back through
the valve.
 How does the Heart Pump Blood?
• All the parts of the heart work together in a repeated
sequence
• The left and right atrium contract and relax
• The left and right ventricle contract and relax
• This is how blood moves through the heart and is pumped
to the lungs and the body
• One complete sequence of contraction
and relaxation is called a heartbeat.
Open vs. Closed Circulatory Systems
Closed Circulatory System (vertebrates and some invertebrates)
• blood is enclosed—at all times—within vessels of different size
• blood is pumped by a heart through these vessels
• blood does not normally fill body cavities
Open Circulatory System (mollusks, crustaceans, insects)
• blood is pumped into a hemocoel (a primary body cavity) and
diffuses back into the circulatory system between cells
• blood is pumped into body cavities, and surrounds tissues
 What Is Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is the force of
blood pushing against the arteries.

Each time the heart beats (about 60-70 times a minute at

rest), it pumps out blood into the arteries.
SYSTOLIC PRESSURE DIASTOLIC PRESSURE
Your blood pressure is When the heart is at
at its highest when the rest, between beats,
heart beats, pumping your blood pressure
To the blood.
p
falls. mb er
nu
m nu
be ttom
r Bo
120/80
What Is Normal Blood Pressure?

120/80
 Coronary Artery Disease
• when coronary arteries become partially blocked with
plaque (a build up of fat, cholesterol, and calcium)

Symptoms include:
tiredness, dizziness, pain or burning sensation in chest or arms
Diagnosed with:
an angiogram (special
dyes injected into blood
vessels makes them
visible to X-rays)

Treatment:
can include lifestyle
changes, medication or
surgery (angioplasty or
bypass surgery)
 Heart Attack
• coronary arteries become completely blocked (from
plaque or a blood clot)
• prevents oxygen transport to the heart
• heart tissue becomes damaged
Symptoms include:
chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, anxiety, upper body
pain, stomach pain, sweating, dizziness, unusual fatigue

Diagnosed with:
blood test or
electrocardiogram (ECG)

Treatment:
 Lifestyle and Heart Disease

To reduce the risk of heart disease:

• Don’t smoke
• Maintain a healthy diet
• Exercise, be physically active
• Reduce stress
 HOMEWORK
 WS: Circulatory System Questions #1-5
 p. 87 #1, 5, 7