The circulatory system consists of a network of

vessels that circulates blood throughout the body,

motored by the action of the heart.
Blood Vessels
 Three Main Types of blood
Vessels: Arteries, Capillaries
and Veins
 1. Arteries- brings the oxygenated blood from
the heart to the tissues.
“ All arteries except pulmonary arteries and
umbilical arteries carry oxygenated blood.”
 Arterioles- the smallest branches of artery
-are important in regulating blood pressure
 2. Capillaries- tiny vessels form an
extensive networks ( bed) within each tissue.
 connects the smallest arteries(arterioles) and
veins (venules)
 permit materials to be exchanged between
the blood and tissues, walls are so thin that
oxygen and nutrients easily diffuse through
them.
 Capillary walls are somewhat porous,
permitting plasma to pass through them into
the tissues.
 3. Veins- drain the tissues and return the
unoxygenated blood to the heart
(conducting vessels- freeway and
secondary roads).
 “ All veins except pulmonary veins and
umbilical veins carry unoxygenated blood.”
 Three Main Types of blood
Vessels: Arteries, Capillaries
and Veins
 1. Arteries- brings the oxygenated blood from
the heart to the tissues.
“ All arteries except pulmonary arteries and
umbilical arteries carry oxygenated blood.”
 Arterioles- the smallest branches of artery
-are important in regulating blood pressure
 2. Capillaries- tiny vessels form an
extensive networks ( bed) within each tissue.
 connects the smallest arteries(arterioles) and
veins (venules)
 permit materials to be exchanged between
the blood and tissues, walls are so thin that
oxygen and nutrients easily diffuse through
them.
 Capillary walls are somewhat porous,
permitting plasma to pass through them into
the tissues.
 3. Veins- drain the tissues and return the
unoxygenated blood to the heart
(conducting vessels- freeway and
secondary roads).
 “ All veins except pulmonary veins and
umbilical veins carry unoxygenated blood.”
 Three coats or tunics of Arteries
and veins except capillaries
 1.Tunica intima-lines the lumen or interior of the vessels
-thin layer of endothelium (squamous epithelial)
resting on the basement membrane. Cells fit closely
together and form a smooth surface- reduces friction.
 2.Tunica media- bulky middle coat , mostly smooth
muscle and elastic tissue. Larger arteries have elastic
laminae complete sheets of elastic tissue in addition to
the scattered elastic fibers.
- smooth muscle controlled by the sympathetic nervous
system is active in changing the diameter of the vessels,
- it constricts and dilate. Constrict- increase BP, dilate- dec.
BP
 3. Tunica externa or adventitia- outermost
tunica- composed largely of fibrous connective
tissue- support and protect the vessels
 Structural Differences Between Arteries,
Capillaries and Veins.
1.Walls of arteries are usually much thicker than
the walls of the veins.
- Arteries- closer to the pumping action of the
heart must be able expand as the blood forced
into them and recoil passively as the blood flows
off into the circulation during diastole. Their
walls must be string and stretchy enough to
take the continuous change in pressure
 2. Veins far from the heart in the circulatory pathway
and the pressure is low all the time. Blood pressure is
usually too low to force the blood back to the heart and
blood returning to the heart. Often flow against gravity.
- Venous return (blood flow back to the heart) is equal to
the amount being pumped out of the heart (cardiac
output)at any time.
- Lumen is much larger than corresponding arteries and
has Valves- prevent backflow of blood.
- skeletal muscles enhance and respiratory pump
enhance venous return.
 3. Capillaries- transparent walls of the
capillaries- only one cell layer thick-tunica
intima. For exchanges are easily made
between the blood and tissue cells. Form
interweaving network called capillary beds.
The Human Heart
The Heart Muscle
 The heart is the most important
muscle in the body.
 You cannot live without a heart.
 The heart is really a pump or two
pumps in one. The right side receives
blood from the body and pumps it to
the lungs. The left side does the
opposite: it receives blood from the
lungs and pumps it around the body.
 Amazing Facts
About the Human Heart
 The heart is about the same size as
your fist.
 The heart beats on average 70 times
per minute; 4,200 beats per hour;
100,000 beats per day; 365 million
beats per year; 30 billion beats in an
average life time of 80 years.
 An adult heart pumps 7,500 liters of
blood daily.
 More Amazing Facts
About the Human Heart
 It takes about 20 seconds to pump
blood to every cell in your body.
 Blood is cleaned in the kidneys.

 If you lined up all the blood vessels in

your body end-to-end, they would
wrap around the earth twice.
Responsibilities of the Heart
 The heart is responsible for two
things:
1. Through the blood it pumps, the
heart provides oxygen and nutrients
to our cells to keep us alive.
2. It also carries away wastes from
these active cells to special organs
(such as the kidneys) that rid them
from our bodies.
More About the Heart Muscle
 The heart is an involuntary muscle.
 The human heart averages one
hundred thousand beats daily.
 With each beat, your heart fills with
blood.
 Then it contracts to pump the blood
through the body.
Parts of the Heart
Parts of the Heart
 The heart has four different hollow
areas called chambers.
 There are two chambers on each side
of the heart.
 Each chamber is separated by a
valve, which is a flap of tissue that
opens and closes to keep blood
flowing in the right direction.
Parts of the Heart
 The two chambers on top are called the
atria. The atria are the chambers that fill
with blood.
 The two chambers on the bottom are called
the ventricles. They pump the blood out of
the heart, first to the lungs and later to the
rest of the body.
 The septum is a thick wall of muscle that
separates the two sets of chambers. It
separates the left and rights sides of the
heart.
Parts of the Heart
 The atria, ventricles, and valves work
together to pump blood.
 The atria fill with blood, then pump it
into the ventricles.
 The ventricles pump the blood out of
the heart.
 § Heart valves (1)
1. Two atrioventricular (AV) valves—
– A. Right AV valve– also called the
tricuspid valve
– B. Left AV valve– also called mitral
valve

• Function--
blood from the atria to ventricles .

19-27
 Aorta

Pulmonary artery
Superior vena cava

Pulmonary valve
Pulmonary veins
Pulmonary veins Left atrium
Left AV valve
Right atrium
Aortic valve
Chordae tendineae
Right AV valve
Papillary muscle
Left ventricle
Right ventricle
Interventricular
Inferior vena cava septum

Superior views of these valves – next slide19-28

Right AV valve

Left AV valve
Aortic/pulmonary
valve
19-29
 Heart valves (2)
2. Chordae tendineae—
– Structure–
• Fibrous cords anchor the cusps to
the ventricle walls via papillary
muscles

– Function–
• Prevent valves from being _________
Figure 19.7, 19.8 19-30
 Right atrium

Chordae
tendineae
Right AV
valve

Direction of
backflow of Septum
blood
Right ventricle

Papillary
muscle

19-31
Right AV valve seen from within the
right ventricle

19-32
 § Heart valves (3)
3.Semilunar valves include:
pulmonary valve and aorticvalve
A. Where are they located respectively?
• Major arteries leave the ventricles
B. How to prevent them from everting?
• Anatomical structure— leakproof “seam”
C. Function– (of all valves)
• Ensure unidirectional flow of blood

19-33
 Aorta Next slide

Pulmonary artery
Superior vena cava

Pulmonary valve
Pulmonary veins
Pulmonary veins Left atrium

Left AV valve
Right atrium
Aortic valve
Chordae tendineae
Right AV valve
Papillary muscle
Left ventricle
Right ventricle
Interventricular
Inferior vena cava septum

19-34
 (Pulmonary trunk
or Aorta)
Direction of backflow of blood

Leakproof
“seam”

Aortic valve

(Right or Left
Ventricle)
19-35
 § Valve Mechanics
Ventricles filling & isovolumetric contraction
– AV valves open (semilunar valves close);
blood flows from atria to ventricles (v. fillings)
– AV valves open/closed (circle one)—S1
– ventricle pressure continues to rise
– Momentarily before ventricle ejection
Ventricles ejection & isovolumetric relaxation
– semilunar valves open (AV valves close);
– ventricle ejection; ventricle pressure drops
– semilunar valves open/closed (circle one)—S2
– Isovolumetric relaxation
19-36
Operation of Atrioventricular Valves

S1

19-37
Operation of Semilunar Valves

S2

19-38
The Heart Beat
 When you go to visit the doctor, the doctor
uses a stethoscope to listen to your heart.
 A healthy heart makes a “lub-dub” sound,
which comes from the valves shutting
inside the heart.
 The “Lub” sound happens when the blood
hits valves between the atria and
ventricles.
 The “Dub” sound happens when the blood
hits the aortic and pulmonic valves the
close up as the heart relaxes to fill the
blood for the next beat.
Cardiac conduction system

19-40
Cardiac Conduction System (2)–
Autorhythmic cells
1. SA (sinoatrial) node: pacemaker, initiates
heartbeat, sets heart rate
2. AV node: electrical gateway to ventricles
• fibrous skeleton– insulates atria from ventricle
3. AV bundle: pathway for signals from AV node
4. Right and left bundle branches: divisions of
AV bundle that enter interventricular septum
5. Purkinje fibers: upward from apex spread
throughout ventricular myocardium

19-41
 Cardiac Conduction System

2
4
3

19-42
5
 The inferior vena cava is
the largest vein of the body.
It carries de-oxygenated
blood back from the lower
part of the body to the right
atrium of the heart. This
blood is carrying carbon
dioxide.

The superior vena cava is above the heart and

carries de-oxygenated blood from the head and
arms to the right atrium of the heart.
 From the right
atrium, the blood
flows through the
tricuspid valve to
the right ventricle
and then onto the
lungs through the
pulmonary valve
and pulmonary
artery.
In the lungs, the blood exchanges the carbon
dioxide it is carrying for oxygen.
The fully oxygenated
blood now flows
BACK to the left
atrium of the heart
through the
pulmonary veins.
 The oxygenated
blood leaves the
left atrium through
the mitral
(bicuspid) valve
into the left
ventricle, gets
pumped from the
left ventricle
through the aortic
valve to the aorta.
 The aorta is the
largest artery of the
body. The
ascending aorta
leaves the heart,
curves in an
inverted ‘U’ shape
making an arch,
and then descends
downward.
 At the arch of the aorta, 3
branches extend upward…
1. The brachiocephalic
artery (or innominate
artery) quickly divides into
the right subclavian artery
that supplies blood to the
right arm and upper torso
AND the right common
carotid artery that supplies
the head and neck.
 At the arch of the aorta, 3
branches extend upward…
2.The left common carotid
artery supplies the head
and neck.
3.The left subclavian artery
supplies the left arm and
upper torso. ‘Subclavian’
means it is located below
the clavicle… or collarbone.
 The descending aortic
artery leads downward
through the diaphragm
and chest…and into the
abdomen. About 1/5 to 1/3
of the blood passes
through the renal artery
into the kidney. The
kidney is a filter, and takes
some water and waste
products out of the blood.
The kidneys excrete the waste products and
water out of the body as urine.
 The descending
aortic artery
continues downward
into the abdomen. It
then splits into two
major branches. This
split is called the
aortic bifurcation;
the two branches are
called iliac arteries.
 The left iliac
artery supplies
blood to the left
pelvis and leg;
the right iliac
artery supplies
blood to the right
pelvis and leg.

The iliac artery continues down

into the leg as the femoral artery
and its branches.
 Arteries are elastic tubes that carry
blood in pulsating waves. The blood
exerts pressure against the walls of
the arteries as it passes through. The
peak pressure occurs during the
heart’s contraction, and is called
systolic pressure. The minimum
pressure occurs between
contractions when the heart expands
and refills, and is called diastolic
pressure. This pressure variation
within the artery produces a pulse.
All arteries have a pulse.
 Common pulse sites used to
check circulation are:
1. TEMPORAL (TEM por ul) - side of
forehead
2 & 3. CAROTID (kuh RAH did) - neck
4. BRACHIAL (BRAY kee ul) - inside
the elbow
5. RADIAL - thumb side of wrist
6. FEMORAL (FEM er all) - groin
7.POPLITEAL (pah plah TEE ul) -
behind the knee
8 & 9. DORSALIS PEDIS (dor SAL us
PED iss) - upper surface of foot
 The average
pulse rate for a
person who is
‘resting’, would
be 70. During
exercise, that
number might
increase to
between 130
and 140 beats
per minute.
Count the number of beats for
15 seconds x 4 = pulsations per minute.
 Systolic and diastolic
blood pressure can be
measured in the brachial
artery just above the
elbow with an instrument
called a
sphygmomanometer
(sfig mō mah MOM ah ter) and a
stethoscope. Two
The two blood pressure measurements are taken,
measurements are and are expressed in
written as a ratio… millimeters of mercury
systolic over diastolic. (the chemical symbol for
mercury is Hg).
 In the average adult,
systolic pressure usually
ranges between 100 to
140 mm Hg. Diastolic
pressure usually ranges
between 60 to 90 mm Hg.
A typical blood pressure
reading would be expressed as
120/80… 120 over 80. A reading
of 140/90 would be considered
‘high’ blood pressure, and may
pose health risks.
 The arteries
branch off
into even
smaller
vessels called
arterioles,
and then to
smaller
vessels yet Arterioles act like adjustable
called nozzles in the circulatory system,
capillaries. so they have the greatest
influence over blood pressure.
The capillaries are the
smallest of the blood
vessels, and the walls
are so thin that
molecules can pass
through them. They
branch out from the
arterioles, passing In the cellular tissue, the
next to the organs, capillaries provide the
intestines, and means of exchange,
through all the through the process of
cellular tissue. absorption.
 The capillaries The capillaries
branching away branching away
from the arteries in from the arteries in
the abdomen pass the lungs absorb
by the liver and oxygen.
intestines, picking Nutr
Wat ien Oxy
up nutrients and er ts gen

water.

The capillaries in the cellular tissue exchange

their oxygen, nutrients, and water… and pick up
carbon dioxide and other wastes.
The capillaries,
now carrying
carbon
dioxide and
cell wastes,
start merging
into bigger
vessels called
venules (VEEN or VEN
yoo als) The venules
widen even further,
emptying into
 The veins
have valves
that prevent
the backflow
of blood.
Veins lead
back to the
heart.
 Veins are the vessels
that are used to
remove blood from the
body for analysis.

This procedure is called a

venipuncture (VEEN ah punk chur)
and the medical personnel
that specializes in this
procedure is called a
phlebotomist (flah BOTT ah mist).
 The veins carry the
blood BACK toward the
heart. The blood still
carries a small amount
of oxygen along with
cellular waste, but has
fairly low pressure
compared to blood in
arteries. It finally travels
through the superior
and inferior vena cava,
and back into the right
atrium of the heart.
Circulation is complete, and starts over again.
Fetal Circulation