1
Overview
● Transportation: The process of moving nutrients, gases, hormones, and waste
products to and from cells in the body.
● Circulatory System: The system responsible for transportation in humans,
comprising the heart, blood, and blood vessels.
● Purpose: Delivers oxygen (O₂) and nutrients to cells, removes carbon dioxide (CO₂)
and wastes, and maintains homeostasis.
Components of the Circulatory System
1.Blood – Blood is a fluid connective tissue which consists of :–
i) Plasma –
● It is the fluid medium (90–92%),It transports proteins, nutrients, hormones, and
wastes
● Plasma is the liquid part of blood in which cells are suspended.
● It is a light yellow-colored liquid that forms about 55% of the blood.but no blood cells.
ii) Red Blood Cells –
● RBC contains haemoglobin which carries oxygen from lungs to all the cells of the
body.
iii) White Blood Cells –
● They protect us from diseases by fighting infection.
iv) Platelets –
● They help in clotting of the blood in the case of injury.
2.Blood Vessels:
- Arteries:
- Carry oxygenated blood away from the heart (except pulmonary artery).
- Thick, elastic walls to withstand high pressure.
- Veins:
- Carry deoxygenated blood toward the heart (except pulmonary vein).
- Thin walls with valves to prevent backflow.
- Capillaries:
- Tiny, thin-walled vessels connecting arteries and veins.
- Site of exchange of nutrients, O₂, CO₂, and wastes with tissues.
3.Heart:
- Muscular organ that pumps blood throughout the body.
- Located slightly left of the chest, protected by ribs.
- Structure:
- Four chambers: Two atria (upper) and two ventricles (lower).
- Right side: Handles deoxygenated blood; left side: Handles oxygenated blood.
- Valves (tricuspid, bicuspid, semilunar) prevent backflow.
- Function: Acts as a double pump for systemic and pulmonary circulation.
Types of Circulation
1. Pulmonary Circulation:
- Deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle → pulmonary artery → lungs.
2
- In lungs, blood picks up O₂ and releases CO₂.
- Oxygenated blood returns via pulmonary veins to the left atrium.
2. Systemic Circulation:
- Oxygenated blood from the left ventricle → aorta → body tissues.
- Delivers O₂ and nutrients; collects CO₂ and wastes.
- Deoxygenated blood returns via veins to the right atrium.
3. Double Circulation:
- Blood passes through the heart twice per cycle (pulmonary + systemic).
- Ensures efficient separation of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood.
Mechanism of Blood Circulation
● Heartbeat:
- Heart contracts (systole) to pump blood and relaxes (diastole) to fill with blood.
- Average heartbeat: ~72 beats per minute at rest.
- Controlled by the sinoatrial (SA) node (natural pacemaker).
● Blood Flow:
- Right atrium → right ventricle → lungs (via pulmonary artery).
- Lungs → left atrium (via pulmonary veins) → left ventricle → body (via aorta).
● Blood Pressure:
- Force exerted by blood on artery walls.
- Normal: ~120/80 mmHg (systolic/diastolic).
- Measured using a sphygmomanometer.
Transport of Substances
1. Oxygen:
- Carried by hemoglobin in RBCs as oxyhemoglobin.
- From lungs to tissues via arteries.
2. Carbon Dioxide:
- Transported in blood (as bicarbonate ions, dissolved, or bound to hemoglobin).
3
- From tissues to lungs via veins for exhalation.
3. Nutrients:
- Glucose, amino acids, etc., absorbed from the intestine, transported via blood to
cells.
4. Wastes:
- Urea and other metabolic wastes carried to kidneys for excretion.
5. Hormones:
- Secreted by glands, transported by blood to target organs.
Lymphatic System (Supplementary Role)
● Lymph:
- A colorless fluid derived from blood plasma; contains WBCs.
- Collects excess tissue fluid and returns it to blood via lymph vessels.
● Functions:
- Transports fats absorbed from the intestine.
- Supports immunity by carrying WBCs.
● Lymph Nodes: Filter lymph and trap pathogens.
Key Points
● Need for Transportation:
- Cells require O₂ and nutrients for energy; wastes must be removed to prevent
toxicity.
● Role of Hemoglobin:
- Binds O₂ in lungs (high O₂ concentration) and releases it in tissues (low O₂
concentration).
● Valves in Heart and Veins:
- Ensure one-way blood flow, preventing mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated
blood.
● Double Circulation Advantage:
- Maintains high pressure for efficient nutrient delivery; prevents mixing of blood
types.
Common Issues (Contextual Understanding)
● Hypertension: High blood pressure; strains heart and vessels.
● Heart Attack: Blockage of coronary arteries, reducing blood supply to heart muscle.
● Anemia: Low RBCs or hemoglobin, reducing O₂ transport capacity.
NCERT Key Terms
4
● Circulation: Movement of blood through the body.
● Double Circulation: Two separate pathways (pulmonary and systemic).
● Hemoglobin: O₂-carrying protein in RBCs.
● Lymph: Tissue fluid that supports immunity and fat transport.
Diagrams to Study (from NCERT)
1. Human Heart:
- Label: Atria, ventricles, aorta, pulmonary artery/vein, valves, superior/inferior
vena cava.
- Show blood flow (oxygenated vs. deoxygenated).
2. Schematic Diagram of Circulation:
- Illustrate double circulation (heart → lungs → heart → body).
Important Questions (NCERT-Based)
1. Why is double circulation necessary in humans?
- Ensures efficient O₂ delivery and prevents mixing of oxygenated/deoxygenated
blood.
2. What is the role of valves in the heart?
- Prevent backflow, ensuring one-way blood movement.
3. How is oxygen transported in the blood?
- Bound to hemoglobin in RBCs as oxyhemoglobin.
4. What is the difference between arteries and veins?
- Arteries: Thick walls, carry blood away from heart; Veins: Thin walls, valves, carry
blood to heart.
5. What is the function of lymph?
- Returns tissue fluid to blood, transports fats, and aids immunity.
NCERT Activities
● Activity 6.7: Measuring pulse rate (count heartbeats at wrist/neck).
- Understand how pulse rate increases with exercise due to higher O₂ demand.
● Activity 6.8: Observing blood vessels and heart in diagrams/models.
Tips for Class 10 Students
● Focus Areas: Structure of heart, blood vessels, double circulation, and roles of
blood/lymph.
5
● Diagrams: Practice drawing and labeling the heart and circulation pathway; these
are high-scoring.
● Key Differences: Revise arteries vs. veins, oxygenated vs. deoxygenated blood, and
blood vs. lymph.
● NCERT Questions: Solve all in-text and exercise questions for thorough preparation.
1. Blood Vessels Bringing Blood to the Heart
● Superior vena cava – Brings blood from the upper body to the heart.
● Inferior vena cava – Brings blood from the lower body to the heart.
● Pulmonary veins – Carry oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the heart.
6
2. Blood Vessels Taking Blood Away from the Heart
● Pulmonary arteries – Carry oxygen-poor blood from the heart to the lungs.
● Aorta – The largest artery; sends oxygen-rich blood to the whole body.
3. Heart Chambers
● Right atrium – Receives oxygen-poor blood from the body.
● Right ventricle – Pumps blood to the lungs.
● Left atrium – Receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs.
● Left ventricle – Pumps blood to the whole body (strongest chamber).
4. Heart Valves (Prevent Backflow of Blood)
● Tricuspid valve – Between right atrium & ventricle (3 flaps).
● Mitral (bicuspid) valve – Between left atrium & ventricle (2 flaps).
● Semilunar valves – At exits of aorta & pulmonary arteries.
5. Other Important Part
● Interventricular septum – Wall separating left & right ventricles.
Blood Flow Summary:
1. Body → Vena cava → Right atrium → Tricuspid valve → Right ventricle →
Pulmonary arteries → Lungs (gets oxygen).
2. Lungs → Pulmonary veins → Left atrium → Mitral valve → Left ventricle →
Aorta → Body.
SUMMARY:-
1. Deoxygenated blood enters right atrium through superior and inferior vena cava
2. Blood enters right ventricle through tricuspid valve
3. Blood exits right ventricle through pulmonary valve and enters pulmonary artery
4. Left and right pulmonary arteries send blood to lungs, where gas exchange occurs
5. Oxygenated blood returns to heart via the pulmonary veins → enters left atrium
6. Blood enters left ventricle through mitral valve
7. Blood exits left ventricle through aortic semilunar valve to enter aorta
8. Aorta distributes blood to body
