3.2.

1
Organisational
Complexity of the Human
Circulation System

You need to know

The way a closed circulation system is organised
Arteries, arterioles, veins, venules and capillaries
Pulmonary & systemic circulation and portal systems
Structure of the heart & path of blood path through it
Role of muscle and valves in heart and blood vessels
Coronary arteries & veins supplying the heart muscle
Lymphatic system
Composition of blood

ABO blood groups

Pulse

Rhesus Factor

Blood pressure

Two types of Circulation System

Open Circulation Systems
Heart pumps blood into vessels that
are open ended eg in Insects

Closed Circulation Systems

Blood remains in a continuous system of
blood vessels..eg in Humans

Advantages of a Closed Circulation

System
1.

Blood can be pumped faster

Therefore nutrients can be delivered faster to
cells allowing the organism to be more active

2. Blood flow rate to different organs

can be changed
For example blood flow can be increased to the
leg mucles when running

Main parts of Human Circulation

System
1.
2

Heart
Blood Vessels

Arteries
Arterioles
Veins

3.

Blood

Venules
Capillaries

Main Blood Vessels

Arteries

Carry blood away from the heart

Carry blood under high pressure
Thick elastic wall
Narrow lumen
Carry blood under low pressure
Carry blood towards the heart
Have valves to prevent backflow
Thin wall
Wide lumen

Veins

Smaller Blood vessels

Arterioles
Arterioles connect arteries
and capillaries

Venules
venules connect
capillaries to the veins

Capillaries
Tiny blood vessels linking arterioles and venules
The thin wall allows easy exchange of materials with cells

Blood vessels under the microscope

Arteries

Thick Wall

Narrow
lumen

Veins
Thin Wall
Wide
lumen
Have valves
to prevent
backflow

Cross section of blood vessel

Collagen
Muscle and
Elastic fibres
Endothelium
Lumen

Learning check
1

Give three differences between arteries and veins

What is the function of valves in veins

Name the blood vessels that connect capillaries

and veins

Give one advantage of a closed circulation system

Role of muscle and elastic fibres

Muscle expand to allow
increased blood flow through
the vessel
Elastic fibres bring the blood
vessel back to shape
Valves prevent backflow

The Heart
Location

Function

Structure

Between the lungs, slightly to

the left side of the thorax,
above the diaphragm
To pump blood around the body
A hollow structure made of
cardiac muscle, surrounded by a
double membrane

Role of Heart Muscle

1. The heart wall is made of Cardiac
Muscle
2.

Contraction of the cardiac muscle

drives blood around the body

3.

Cardiac Muscle does not fatigue

Human Two-Circuit Circulation

Systemic
Circuit

Pulmonary
Circuit

Pumps to
the head,
trunk and
limbs and
back to
the heart

Pumps to
the lungs
and back
to the
heart

Advantages of a Double Circulation

System
1. Separation of oxygen rich and
oxygen poor blood
2.

Blood pressure can be kept high

Pathway of blood Around Body

Portal systems
A blood pathway that begins and ends in
capillaries

Hepatic Portal System

Connects the stomach
and intestines with the
liver

Learning check
1

Name the blood vessel that connects the digestive

system with the liver

Distinguish between the systemic the pulmonary

blood circuits

Give one advantage of a double circulation system

Vena Cava

Aorta
Pulmonary Artery

Pulmonary Vein
Left Atrium
Bicuspid Valve
Right Atrium

Left Ventricle

Tricuspid Valve

Cardiac muscle

Right ventricle

Semi Lunar Valves

Septum

Blood pathway through heart

Aorta
Vena Cava

Right Atrium

Tricuspid valve

Right ventricle

Pulmonary artery
Pulmonary vein
Left atrium
Bicuspid valve

Left ventricle

Role of Valves
Semi Lunar
valves
Tricuspid
valve
Prevents
backflow into
right atrium

Prevent
backflow into
heart

Bicuspid
Valve
Prevents
backflow into
left atrium

Blood supply to the heart wall

Coronary arteries
Cardiac muscle is
supplied with blood by
the coronary arteries.
These branch from the
aorta just above the semi
lunar valves ot the aorta

Coronary veins
Drain blood from heart
wall into the right atrium

Learning check
1

Where does blood go immediately after leaving

the right ventricle ?

Name the blood vessel that enters the right atrium

What is the function of the coronary arteries ?

State the exact location of the opening into the

coronary arteries

Name the valve between the left atrium and left

ventricle

Heartbeat and its control

The heart beat consists of alternate contraction and
relaxation of the cardiac muscle
The heart beat is controlled by the pacemaker in
the right atrium. This sends an electrical signal to
the cardiac muscle
The heart beat sound is caused by the closing of
the heart valves
( Higher level material on heartbeat control in section 3.2.4 )

Pulse
The alternate expansion and contraction of arteries is
called a pulse
A wave of expansion passes
down the walls of arteries
following a contraction of the
left ventricle. The elastic fibres in
the artery walls then bring about
a contraction of the artery wall.

Average pulse rate is 72 beats per minute

Blood Pressure
Pressure in the due the to contraction of the ventricles
which forces blood into the arteries
As blood passes from arteries to veins pressure drops
Blood pressure is
measured with an
instrument that records the
pressure it takes to stop
the blood flow in an artery
of the upper arm

Effect of smoking on the circulation system

1.

Nicotine increases the heart rate and blood pressure

These puts a bigger workload on the heart

2.

CO2 reduces the amount of O2 carried by the blood

This reduces energy levels

3.

Other chemicals in tobacco

Increase the chance of clots

Effect of Diet on the circulation system

High intake of fat causes a
build up of cholesterol
Cholesterol may block
arterioles and lead to stroke
or heart attack

High salt intake

Raises blood pressure
which can cause heart
attack

Effect of Exercise on the circulation system

Exersise strengthens the heart

This improves circulation

Exercise increases our ability to transport oxygen

This gives increased energy levels

Learning check
1

What causes the blood to be under pressure in the

arteries ?

Explain the term Pulse

What controls the rate of heartbeat

Give two harmful effects of cigarette smoke on

the circulation system

Explain why salt can have a negative effect on the

circulation system

Lymphatic System
A secondary transport system consisting of one way system
of vessels that collects and returns excess tissue fluid to
blood system

Structure
1.

Lymph vessels

2.

Lymph Nodes

3.

Lymph

Lymph vessels & blood vessels

Lymphatic System Functions

1.

Collect tissue fluid and return it to the

blood system

2.

Fight Infection by
(a) Filtering out microorganisms in the lymph nodes
(b) Destroying microorganisms by antibody production
(c) Mature and store lymphocytes

3.

Transport digested fat away from intestine

Composition of Blood
Plasma
Red Blood Cells
White Blood Cells
Platelets

Liquid part of the blood

Role of of Blood Parts

Plasma
Composed of mainly water which acts as a
transport medium for the cells and dissolved
substances
Red Blood Cells

Carry Oxygen

White Blood Cells

Fight Infection

Platelets

Clotting

Higher
level
material
in sec
3.2.3

Role of Plasma
Composed of mainly water which as a transport
medium for the cells and dissolved substances
Digestion products .Glucose,
amno acids, Fatty acids,
glycerol, minerals and vitamins
Waste.Carbon dioxide, urea
Hormones.eg Insulin
Antibodies

4 Blood Groups
Group

A
B
AB
O

It is essential to know a
persons blood group for
safe blood transfusions

Rhesus Factor
Another blood grouping system
Involvs antigen called factor D on the red cells
If you have factor D you are Rhesus positive or Rh+
If you havent you are Rhesus negative or RhRhesus factor is important in pregnancy as problems may
arise in second and further preganncies if the mother is
Rh - and the baby is Rh +

Learning check
1

Name the three main parts of the Lymphatic System

Name three substances dissolved in plasma

Name a blood grouping system other than the

ABO System

What is the function of white blood cells

Give two functions of the Lymphatic System

Extended study

See PowerPoint in section 3.2.3 for for higher

level material on blood cells
See PowerPoint in section 3.2.4 for higher level
material on heartbeat control

END