THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM

In this unit you will learn about how blood circulates through the body and how our bodies are
supplied with energy. All cells in the body need to have oxygen and nutrients, and they need
their wastes removed. These are the main roles of the circulatory system. The heart, blood and
blood vessels work together to service the cells of the body. Using the network of arteries,
veins and capillaries, blood carries carbon dioxide to the lungs (for exhalation) and picks up
oxygen. From the small intestine, the blood gathers food nutrients and delivers them to every
cell.

Describe the circulatory system as a system of tubes with a pump and valves to ensure one w
ay flow of blood
throughout the body

The circulatory system is the system of organs that circulates blood and lymph through the
body, consisting of the heart, blood vessels, blood, lymph, and the lymphatic vessels and
glands. The structure of the circulatory system is a blood vessels that transports nutrients and
oxygen throughout the body.

Blood travels in a circular path through the circulatory system. The heart pumps blood to all
parts of the body, and within about a minute, that blood returns to the heart to be pumped out
once again. All cells of the body get their resources from the circulatory system, either directly
or indirectly, depending on their proximity to blood vessels. Within the structure of the
circulatory system, the heart is its center.

Describe the structure of the heart including the muscular wall and septum, chambers, valves
and associated blood vessels.
The heart pumps blood to all parts of the body, and within about a minute, that blood returns
to the heart to be pumped out once again. All cells of the body get their resources from the
circulatory system, either directly or indirectly, depending on their proximity to blood
vessels.Within the structure of the circulatory system, the heart is its center.

he heart is made up of four different blood-filled areas, and each of these areas is called a
chamber. There are two chambers on each side of the heart. One chamber is on the top and
one chamber is on the bottom. The two chambers on top are called the atria. If you're talking
only about one, call it an atrium. The atria are the chambers that fill with the blood returning to
the heart from the body and lungs. The heart has a left atrium and a right atrium. heart diagram
animated.

The two chambers on the bottom are called the ventricles The heart has a left ventricle and a
right ventricle. Their job is to squirt out the blood to the body and lungs. Running down the
middle of the heart is a thick wall of muscle called the septum. The septum's job is to separate
the left side and the right side of the heart.

The atria and ventricles work as a team — the atria fill with blood, then dump it into the
ventricles. The ventricles then squeeze, pumping blood out of the heart. While the ventricles
are squeezing, the atria refill and get ready for the next contraction.

Describe the structure and functions of arteries, veins and capillaries

Arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart. They’re tough on the outside but they
contain a smooth interior layer of epithelial cells that allows blood to flow easily. Arteries also
contain a strong, muscular middle layer that helps pump blood through the body.

Capillaries connect the arteries to veins. The arteries deliver the oxygen-rich blood to
the capillaries, where the actual exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs. The capillaries
then deliver the waste-rich blood to the veins for transport back to the lungs and heart.

Veins carry the blood back to the heart. They’re similar to arteries but not as strong or as thick.
Unlike arteries, veins contain valves that ensure blood flows in only one direction. (Arteries
don’t require valves because pressure from the heart is so strong that blood is only able to flow
in one direction.) Valves also help blood travel back to the heart against the force of gravity.

Describe the transfer of materials between capillaries and tissue (diffusion and osmosis)

Describe coronary heart disease in terms of the blockage of coronary arteries and state the p
ossible causes
(diet,stress and smoking) and preventive measures
 Coronary heart disease is the term that describes what happens when your heart's blood
supply is blocked or interrupted by a build-up of fatty substances in the coronary arteries.
Over time, the walls of your arteries can become furred up with fatty deposits. This process is
known as atherosclerosis and the fatty deposits are called atheroma.

Atherosclerosis can be caused by lifestyle factors and other conditions, such as:
 smoking
 high cholesterol
 high blood pressure (hypertension)
 diabetes
Angina is chest pain or discomfort caused when your heart muscle doesn't get enough oxygen-rich
blood. It may feel like pressure or squeezing in your chest. The discomfort also can occur in your
shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back. Angina pain may even feel like indigestion.

Anaemia is a decrease in the total amount of red blood cells (RBCs) or hemoglobin in the blood, or a
lowered ability of the blood to carry oxygen. When anemia comes on slowly, the symptoms are often
vague and may include feeling tired, weakness, shortness of breath, and a poor ability to exercise.

Haemophilia is a mostly inherited genetic disorder that impairs the body's ability to make blood clots, a
process needed to stop bleeding. This results in people bleeding for a longer time after an injury, easy
bruising, and an increased risk of bleeding inside joints or the brain.

Varicose veins are swollen, twisted veins that lie just under the skin and usually occur in the legs.
Overview. Varicose veins are a common condition caused by weak or damaged vein walls and valves.
Varicose veins may form whenever blood pressure increases inside your veins.

The blood capillaries are where the important functions of the circulation take place: the
exchange of material between circulation and cells. Capillaries are the smallest of the body's
blood vessels. They are only one cell thick, and they are the sites of the transfer of oxygen and
other nutrients from the bloodstream to other tissues in the body; they also collect carbon
dioxide waste materials and fluids for return to the veins. They connect the tiny muscular
branches of arteries, called arterioles, with tiny veins (called venules). Ultimately, the capillary
is the site of internal or cellular respiration and is responsible for the utilization of oxygen by
the tissue and the transporting of carbon dioxide as waste to the veins for elimination by the
lungs

Identify red blood cells as seen under the

The erythrocytes are the most numerous blood cells i.e. about 4-6 millions/mm3. They are also
called red cells. In man and in all mammals, erythrocytes are devoid of a nucleus and have the
shape of a biconcave lens. In the other vertebrates (e.g. fishes, amphibians, reptilians and
birds), they have a nucleus. The red cells are rich in hemoglobin, a protein able to bind in a faint
manner to oxygen.
In the red cells of the mammalians, the lack of nucleus allows more room for hemoglobin and
the biconcave shape of these cells raises the surface and cytoplasmic volume ratio. These
characteristics make more efficient the diffusion of oxygen by these cells.

State the functions of red blood cells

Red cells contain a special protein called hemoglobin, which helps carry oxygen from the lungs
to the rest of the body and then returns carbon dioxide from the body to the lungs so it can be
exhaled. Blood appears red because of the large number of red blood cells, which get their
color from the hemoglobin. The percentage of whole blood volume that is made up of red
blood cells is called the hematocrit and is a common measure of red blood cell levels.
Identify plasma as the liquid part of the blood.

Plasma is the clear, straw-colored liquid portion of blood that remains after red blood cells,
white blood cells, platelets and other cellular components are removed. It is the single largest
component of human blood, comprising about 55 percent, and contains water, salts, enzymes,
antibodies and other proteins.

Composed of 90% water, plasma is a transporting medium for cells and a variety of substances
vital to the human body.

Plasma carries out a variety of functions in the body, including clotting blood, fighting diseases
and other critical functions.