Circulatory System

Function and Parts

Definition
It is a fluid-filled network of tubes (or
vessels) through which materials move
between the environment and the cells of a
multicellular animal.
Characteristics
It connects all parts of an organism in a way
that allows individual cells to thrive as well
as for organisms to function as a unit
It is an entirely closed system
Function
Transport materials needed by cells
Oxygen
Glucose
Remove waste materials from cells
Carbon dioxide
urea
Major Components
Pump (heart)
Continuously circulates blood
Network of tubes
Arteries- blood away from heart
Veins- blood back to the heart
Blood
Fluid that fills the circulatory system
Specific parts
Pulmonary arteries- transport blood to lungs
Pulmonary veins- transport oxygenated blood to
hear
Aortic arch and trunk- main arteries from heart
Common carotid artery- carries blood to brain
Renal vein and artery- connects to kidneys
Mesenteric veins- connects to intestine
Accessory Organs
Lungs- organ where oxygen is taken up and
CO
2
is released
Kidneys- organ where wastes are removed
from blood; critical in regulating fluids in
the body
Small intestine- digestion
Large intestine- water absorption
The Heart
The human heart has four chambers
Left and right ventricle
Left and right atrium
The left side of the heart pumps oxygenated
blood to the body while the right side of the
heart pumps deoxygenated blood to the
lungs where oxygen can be absorbed by the
hemoglobin carrying red blood cells

From lungs
After passing through the capillaries of the lungs, the
blood which is now oxygenated returns to the heart in
the pulmonary veins.
The left atrium receives blood from the pulmonary vein.
Blood passes through the mitral valve into the left
ventricle.
To rest of body
Contraction of the left ventricle pushes blood through the aortic
semilunar valve into the aorta. Blood travels to all regions of the
body where it feeds cells with oxygen picked up from the lungs
and nutrients from the digestive tract.
Deoxygenated blood returns from the rest of the body
through the superior and inferior vena cava.
The right atrium receives the deoxygenated blood.
Blood then enters the right ventricle through the
tricuspid valve.
To lungs
Contraction of the right ventricle pushes blood through
the pulmonary semilunar valve into the pulmonary
arteries in which it travels to the lungs.
Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is a measure of the force
exerted by the blood on the wall of the
arteries.
An example is 120/80 (systolic
pressure/diastolic pressure.
Systolic pressure is the result of the contraction of
the ventricles (normal 110-140)
Diastolic pressure is during the ventricle relaxation
(normal 70-90)