Circulation
of blood in the body
Objectives
● Describe the circulatory system of the body
● Trace the flow of blood throughout the body
● Relate the structure of the heart to its
function
Blood Vessels
Classes of blood vessels
• Blood vessels fall into three major
classes:
• Arteries and arterioles carry blood
away from the heart.
• Veins and venules carry blood to the
heart.
• Capillaries allow exchange of
nutrients, wastes and gases.
Blood Vessels
Arterioles
• Arterioles branch off of arteries.
• Arterioles can constrict to direct and control
blood flow. They may, for example, increase or
decrease blood supply to the skin.
• How might arterioles be involved when:
• Your skin turns red when you are hot.
• A person’s face turns pale with fright.
Arteries
• Arteries are
thick-walled, and
lined with smooth
muscle.
• How does the
structure of an
artery help with its
function?
Capillaries
• Body tissues contain a
vast network of thin
capillaries.
• Capillary walls are only
one cell thick, allowing
exchange of gases,
nutrients, and wastes.
• Capillaries are so fine
that RBCs must line up
single-file to go through
them.
Venules
• Venules are thin-walled collectors of
blood.
• Low pressure in the venules allows the
capillary beds to drain into them.
Veins
• Veins have thinner
walls than arteries.
• Veins have fewer
smooth muscle cells,
but do have valves.
How do valves and the
skeletal muscles help
veins function?
W
O
R
• Besides the ability to contract and move K
blood, why do arteries need to be so
thick and strong? T
O
• Varicose veins are veins in the legs that G
are swollen, stretched, and painful. What E
factors could lead to this condition, and T
how can varicose veins be prevented? H
E
R
Atherosclerosis
• a disease that occurs when
plaque builds up inside
arteries.
• The arteries get hard and
narrow, which can restrict
blood flow and lead to blood
clots, heart attack or stroke.
• This plaque forms
due to high amounts
of cholesterol and fat
in the blood
Preventing heart attacks
• Both genetic and environmental factors
contribute to atherosclerosis.
• Blood LDL cholesterol can be reduced by a
low-fat diet that emphasizes high-fiber foods,
antioxidants, and “good” fats
(monounsaturated fats, omega-3 oils), and
reduce trans-fats.
• Regular exercise also contributes significantly
to LDL cholesterol reduction.
What is always true of arteries?
1. Always carry
oxygenated blood.
2. Always carry
deoxygenated blood.
3. Always carry blood
to the heart.
4. Always carry blood
away from the heart.
Besides having to constrict to move
blood, why are artery walls so thick
and strong?
1. Arteries must move
oxygenated blood.
2. Arteries must
withstand very high
blood pressure when
the heart contracts.
3. Arteries must move
blood out to all parts
of the body.
Why are capillary walls so thin?
1. Because capillaries
are thin and narrow
2. To allow exchange of
gases and nutrients.
3. To force RBCs to
move through in
single file.
W
O
State the difference between arteries and R
veins K
The average speed of the blood in the
arteries is 45cm/s, but the average speed in T
the capillaries is only 0.5mm/s O
a. What do you think causes this difference? G
E
b. Why is it desirable for blood to flow
T
through the capillaries comparatively
H
slowly? E
R
Heart
The Heart
• The heart is a pump.
• The pumping action of the
heart maintains a constant
circulation of blood around the
body.
• The walls of the heart are
composed of cardiac muscle
which has its own permanent
rhythm and does not get tired.
The Vertebrate Heart
• Vertebrate hearts are separated into two
types of chambers
• Atria (singular: atrium): receive blood
from body or lungs. Contractions of the
atria send blood through a valve to the
ventricles.
• Ventricles: receive blood from atria,
contract to send blood to body or lungs.
Four-chambered heart
• The heart is divided into
four chambers.
• The two on the right
contain deoxygenated
blood and are completely
separated from the two
on the left which contain
oxygenated blood, by the
septum
Atria
“Dual pump” operation
The four-chambered heart acts as two pumps.
Heart
Anatomy
Blood pressure
• Systolic pressure =
pressure when the
heart contracts.
• Diastolic pressure =
pressure between
heart beats.
Which set of heart vessels moves
deoxygenated blood from the body to
the lungs?
1. Right atrium, right
ventricle
2. Right atrium, left
atrium
3. Left atrium, left
ventricle
4. Right ventricle, left
ventricle
W
O
R
• Hypertension (high blood pressure) puts K
people at risk for heart disease. What
long-term effects would an increase in T
blood pressure have on the heart? O
G
• What other organ system is involved in E
hypertension? T
H
E
R
