Circulatory System

Function and Parts

Definition
It

is a fluid-filled network of tubes (or

vessels) through which materials move
between the environment and the cells of a
multicellular animal.

Characteristics
It

connects all parts of an organism in a way

that allows individual cells to thrive as well
as for organisms to function as a unit
It is an entirely closed system

Function
Transport

materials needed by cells

Oxygen
Glucose

Remove

waste materials from cells

Carbon dioxide
urea

Major Components
Pump

(heart)

Continuously circulates blood

Network

of tubes

Arteries- blood away from heart

Veins- blood back to the heart

Blood
Fluid that fills the circulatory system

Specific parts
Pulmonary

arteries- transport blood to lungs

Pulmonary veins- transport oxygenated blood to
hear
Aortic arch and trunk- main arteries from heart
Common carotid artery- carries blood to brain
Renal vein and artery- connects to kidneys
Mesenteric veins- connects to intestine

Accessory Organs
Lungs-

organ where oxygen is taken up and

CO2 is released

Kidneys-

organ where wastes are removed

from blood; critical in regulating fluids in
the body
Small intestine- digestion
Large intestine- water absorption

The Heart
The

human heart has four chambers

Left and right ventricle

Left and right atrium

The

left side of the heart pumps oxygenated

blood to the body while the right side of the
heart pumps deoxygenated blood to the
lungs where oxygen can be absorbed by the
hemoglobin carrying red blood cells

After passing through the capillaries of the lungs, the

blood which is now oxygenated returns to the heart in
the pulmonary veins.

From lungs

The left atrium receives blood from the pulmonary vein.

Blood passes through the mitral valve into the left

ventricle.

Contraction of the left ventricle pushes blood through the aortic

semilunar valve into the aorta. Blood travels to all regions of the
body where it feeds cells with oxygen picked up from the lungs
and nutrients from the digestive tract.
To rest of body

Deoxygenated blood returns from the rest of the body

through the superior and inferior vena cava.

The right atrium receives the deoxygenated blood.

Blood then enters the right ventricle through the

tricuspid valve.

Contraction of the right ventricle pushes blood through

the pulmonary semilunar valve into the pulmonary
arteries in which it travels to the lungs.
To lungs

Blood Pressure
Blood

pressure is a measure of the force

exerted by the blood on the wall of the
arteries.
An example is 120/80 (systolic

pressure/diastolic pressure.
Systolic pressure is the result of the contraction of
the ventricles (normal 110-140)
Diastolic pressure is during the ventricle relaxation
(normal 70-90)