The Circulatory System

Tuesday, October 17, 2017
The Circulatory System
 The human circulatory system is made up of the blood, the heart, and the blood vessels.
 The function of the circulatory system is to transport substances around the body. It moves
nutrients absorbed from the intestine to all of the body’s cells. However, another vital function is
the regulation of body temperature and the transport of disease-fighting white blood cells to areas
of the body where there are viruses or bacteria
 Blood flows through the lungs (part of the respiratory system) to pick up oxygen and then flows
through the body to deliver it to active cells. Blood also carries wastes from the body tissues for
disposal. It carries carbon dioxide to the lungs, where it is released into the air. Other waste
substances are carried to the kidneys (an organ of the urinary system), where the substances are
filtered out and excreted.
Parts of the Circulatory System

 The three main parts of the circulatory system are the blood, the heart, and the blood vessels.
 The heart pumps the blood through large blood vessels, called arteries, which branch into smaller
and smaller blood vessels. The smallest blood vessels are called capillaries. In the capillaries,
blood exchanges many substances with the surrounding tissues. After this exchange, blood flows
into larger blood vessels called veins and eventually returns to the heart.
Blood: is a type of connective tissue that circulates throughout all parts of your body. The blood consists
of four components:
1. Red blood cells are the most plentiful of the body’s blood cells. These cells make up almost half
of the blood’s volume. Red blood cells contain a protein called hemoglobin, which allows them to
transport oxygen throughout the body. Hemoglobin makes the cells appear red.
2. White blood cells are infection-fighting cells in the blood. They recognize and destroy invading
bacteria and viruses. White blood cells make up less than 1 % of the volume of blood. They are
the only blood cells to have a nucleus.
3. Platelets are tiny cells that help in blood clotting. They also comprise less than 1 % of the blood.
4. Plasma is a protein-rich liquid that carries the blood cells along. It makes up over half of blood’s
volume.
The Heart: made up of three different types of tissue: cardiac muscle tissue, nerve tissue, and
connective tissue.
- Cardiac muscle tissue is a special type of muscle found only in the heart. All of the cardiac
muscle tissue in each part of the heart contracts at the same time. This makes the heart contract
and moves the blood around the body.
- Your heart pumps with a regular beat. The frequency of the beat (the heart rate) changes
depending on your physical activity and other factors, such as stress, temperature, and your
general health.
- The muscles and nerves are covered by a smooth layer of epithelial tissues. This is covering
reduces friction and protects the heart from damage when the lungs expand and contract. The
inner surface of the heart, where the blood flows, is also lined with smooth epithelial tissue to
allow the blood to flow freely. Any hardening or roughening of this inner lining can lead to health
problems.
Tuesday, October 17, 2017
Blood Vessels: Three types of blood vessels form a network of tubes throughout the body to
transport the blood. These three types of blood vessels are arteries, veins, and capillaries
1. Arteries: carry blood away from the heart. Because the blood in the arteries is being pumped
away from the heart, it is under greater pressure than the blood in other blood vessels. The walls
of arteries are thicker than the walls of other blood vessels to withstand this pressure.
2. Veins: carry blood toward the heart. This blood is at lower pressure, so the walls of the veins are
not as thick. Arteries and veins are linked together by the capillaries. Both arteries and veins can
vary considerably in size; the largest are near the heart and there are not many. Further away, they
are smaller and more of them.
3. Capillaries: are tiny blood vessels with very thin walls that allow substances to diffuse between
the blood and other body fluids and tissues. Oxygen and nutrients diffuse from the blood into the
surrounding tissues. Carbon dioxide and other wastes pass from the body tissues into the blood to
be carried away for disposal. Every part of the body is supplied with blood by a network of
capillaries.
Diseases and Disorders of the Circulatory System: There are many conditions that affect the
function of the circulatory system.
Example #1:
Coronary Artery Disease: the cardiac muscle tissue needs a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients. If the
heart no long receives this, it can cause a heart attack. Coronary arteries are the blood vessels that provide
blood to the heart muscle tissue itself. These arteries can become partially blocked with plaque—a deposit
made of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances that normally circulate in the blood.
- Cause: plaque buildup can be caused by inherited genetic information or by poor lifestyle
choices, such as a high-fat diet, smoking…etc.
- Symptoms: tiredness, dizziness, and pain or a burning sensation in the chest or arms.
- The problem can be diagnosed with the aid of a special X-ray called an angiogram, in which a
fluorescent dye is injected into the bloodstream. This dye shows up on the X-ray image.
Example #2:
Heart Attack: Coronary arteries can become completely blocked, either with plaque or with a blood clot.
When this happens, the heart muscle cells no longer receive the oxygen and nutrients they need to
function. The heart stops pumping, and the heart tissue starts to die.
- Symptoms: chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, nausea, anxiety, upper body pain,
abdominal or stomach pain, sweating, dizziness, unusual fatigue.
- Diagnosis: blood test and an electrocardiogram. The blood test identifies certain proteins that are
present only when cardiac muscle tissue dies. The electrocardiogram (or ECG) measures the
electrical signals created by the heart as it beats. (electrical signals from damaged heart muscle
tissue are not the same as those from healthy heart muscle.)

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Tuesday, October 17, 2017

The Circulatory System

Parts of the Circulatory System

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