CIRCULATORY SYSTEM

 Determine the role of the circulatory system in the human body

 Distinguish the three major components of the circulatory system
 Enumerate the types of blood vessels
 List down diseases that affect the circulatory system
 Identify ways to take care of the circulatory system

How is blood transported throughout the body?

The circulatory system consisting of the heart, arteries, capillaries, and veins, is the pumping
mechanism that transports blood throughout the body. ... It enters the right ventricle, which
pumps it through the pulmonary arteries into the lungs, to pick up more oxygen.

Function of the Circulatory System

The circulatory system has three main function.it serves as a transport system in the body for cellular
metabolism. It also transport hormones and helps in regulating body temperature it also aids in protecting
the body from injury and toxins induced in the body.

Major Parts of the Circulatory System

A. Heart

The heart is made up of two chambers: the upper chamber called

atria (sing: atrium) and lower chamber called ventricles.
The heart is located behind the sternum, or breastbone and between
the lungs. The bottom of the heart is titled to the left side. The
human heart consists of two pumping systems; the right side sends
blood to the lungs and left side pumps blood to the rest of the body.

LEARN MORE
: When the heart rests, it pumps about 59 cc of blood per beat at the rate of 40 to 100 beats during
minute. During exercise, it is more active and could pump 120-122 cc of blood per beat. The adult
human heart is about the size of a fist and weight about 250-350 grams.
 B. Blood
The blood consists of blood cells and plasma .The blood transports fluid essential for life in every
cell of the body and also removes their waste products. It also helps to maintain body temperature,
transport hormones, and fight infections.

The blood cells comprise three main types

1. Red Blood Cells (RBC)

The red blood cell or erythrocytes is the common blood cell.

It is tiny, round, biconcave disk. Red blood cells, most white
cells, and blood platelets, are made by the bone marrow.

The main function of red blood cells is to transport oxygen

from the lungs to the tissues and to transport carbon dioxide
from the tissues to the lungs for excretion.

Each red blood cell contains haemoglobin that is largely

Responsible for the ability to carry oxygen and carbon dioxide. Hemoglobin also gives the cell their red
Color.
2. White Blood Cells (WBC)

The white blood cell or leucocyte is colorless. It is larger than red blood cell and
have a nucleus. Seventy percent of all white blood cells are formed in the bone
marrow. The leucocytes are involved in defending the body against infection. The
main function of leucocytes is to move into the connective tissue and build
antibodies against bacteria and viruses.

3. Platelets

Platelets or thrombocytes are much smaller biconcave disks than the red
blood cells. The platelets stop the bleeding of cuts and wounds. When a
tissue is damaged, the platelets seal the broken blood vessels to stop
bleeding.

Plasma
Plasma is a liquid matrix that is more than 90 percent water. It contains a large number of substances like
protein which are essential to life. An important function of plasma is to transport nutrients to the tissue.
C. Blood Vessels
Blood vessels are tubes through which blood flows.

Arteries carry blood away from the heart. They have a thick, elastic layer to allow stretching and absorb
pressure. The arteries are responsible for maintaining pressure in the circulatory system.

The smallest blood vessels are the capillaries. The exchange of substances between blood and the body
cells occurs in the capillaries.

As blood flows through the capillary and fluid moves out, the blood that remains becomes more
concentrated. Capillaries also have a vital role in the exchange of gasses, nutrients, and metabolic waste
products between the blood and the tissue cells.

The diameter of veins is greater than that of arteries. The blood pressure in the veins is low, so valves help
prevent backflow. The contraction of skeletal muscle during normal body movements squeezes the veins
and assists with moving blood back to the heart.

Diseases of the Circulatory System

Anemia is a deficiency of haemoglobin in the blood. It can also be the result of blood loss,
abnormal destruction of the red blood cells, and insufficient production of red blood cells by the
bone marrow.
Leukaemia is an abnormal increase in white blood cells that may occur for unknown
reasons.
Atherosclerosis is a disease of large- and medium-sized arteries. It is caused by a build-up
of fatty deposits on the inner walls of the arteries. It is the most common cause of coronary heart
disease, including heart attacks.
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a common disease that affects adults. High blood
pressure is often secondary to hardening of the arteries.
Stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is reduced or blocked, causing an
immediate damage to the brain cells.
Varicose veins are characterized by the swelling and twirling of the veins in the legs
which may be painful.

Taking Care of the Circulatory System

 Avoid eating fatty food.
 Exercise regularly
  Have a healthy diet. Eat fruits and vegetables.
 Avoid smoking and taking of alcoholic drinks.
 Take enough rest.

Checkpoint explain the blood flow from the heart to the different parts of the body.
Blood enters the heart through two large veins, the inferior and superior vena cava, emptying oxygen-
poor blood from the body into the right atrium. ... As the ventricle contracts, blood leaves
the heart through the pulmonic valve, into the pulmonary artery and to the lungs, where it is oxygenated

RECAP
Circulatory system – the organ responsible for sending the nutrients and oxygen to the different cells in the
body.

PARTS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS:

Blood-transport oxygen from the lungs to the different parts of the body.
-Bring wastes to the liver and kidney.
Blood vessels-serves as the highway where blood flows
Heart-major organ of the circulatory system

Three types of blood vessels :

Artery- carry blood away from the heart
-generally carry oxygenated blood
-The blood is under high preasure so the walls must be able to stretch and recoil.
Veins-carry blood from back toward the heart.
-they have ’watch-pocket’ valves to prevent back flow
Capillaries-carry blood through organs
-they are permeable.

Four chambers of the heart:

 Right atrium
 Left atrium
 Right ventricle
 Left ventricle

BLOOD transport fluid for life in every cell of the body and removes waste products. It also helps to
maintain body temperature, and fight infections.
Three main types of blood:
1. Red Blood Cells (RBC)
“erythrocytes” transport oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and carbon dioxide to the lungs for excretion.
 2. White Blood Cells (WBC)
“leucocyte” involved in defending the body against infection. By building antibodies against bacteria and
viruses
3. Platelets
“thrombocytes” it stop the bleeding of cuts and wounds. It can seal broken blood vessles to stop bleeding
of cuts and wounds. It can seal the broken blood vessels to stop bleeding.

o Haemoglobin gives red colour to the cell

o Plasma transport nutrient to the tissue
Contains large number of substances like protein.