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All cells in the body need to have oxygen and nutrients, and they need their wastes removed.
These are the main roles of the circulatory system
The heart, blood and blood vessels work together to service the cells of the body.
Using the network of arteries, veins and capillaries, blood carries carbon dioxide to the lungs (for exhalation) and picks up oxygen. From the small intestine, the blood gathers food nutrients and delivers them to every cell. Blood consists of: – blood cells, nutrients and wastes float in this liquid.
The heart pumps blood around the body
It sits inside the chest, in front of the lungs and slightly to the left side. The heart is actually a double pump made up of four chambers, with the flow of blood going in one direction due to the presence of the heart valves. The contractions of the chambers make the sound of heartbeats.
The right upper chamber (atrium) takes in deoxygenated blood that is loaded with carbon dioxide. The blood is squeezed down into the right lower chamber (ventricle) and taken by an artery to the lungs where the carbon dioxide is replaced with oxygen. The oxygenated blood travels back to the heart, this time entering the left upper chamber (atrium).
It is pumped into the left lower chamber (ventricle) and then into the aorta (an artery). The blood starts its journey around the body once more. Blood vessels have a range of different sizes and structures, depending on their role in the body.
Oxygenated blood is pumped from the heart along arteries, which are muscular. Arteries divide like tree branches until they are slender. The largest artery is the aorta, which connects to the heart and picks up oxygenated blood from the left ventricle.
The only artery that picks up deoxygenated blood is the pulmonary artery, which runs between the heart and lungs. The arteries eventually divide down into the smallest blood vessel, the capillary. Capillaries are so small that blood cells can only move through them one at a time.
Oxygen and food nutrients pass from these capillaries to the cells. Capillaries are also connected to veins, so wastes from the cells can be transferred to the blood. Veins have one-way valves instead of muscles, to stop blood from running back the wrong way.
Generally, veins carry deoxygenated blood from the body to the heart, where it can be sent to the lungs. The exception is the network of pulmonary veins, which take oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart. Blood pressure refers to the amount of pressure inside the circulatory system as the blood is pumped around.
Some common problems of the circulatory system include:
- – problems with the valves that stop blood from running backwards. The circulatory system delivers oxygen
- nutrients to cells
- takes away wastes. The heart pumps oxygenated
- deoxygenated blood on different sides
The types of blood vessels include arteries, capillaries and veins. Blood Red blood cells – to carry oxygen White blood cells – that make up part of the immune system Platelets – needed for clotting Plasma The heart The right side of the heart The left side of the heart Blood vessels Arteries Capillaries Veins Blood pressure Common problems Aneurysm – a weak spot in the wall of an artery Atherosclerosis – a narrowing of the arteries caused by plaque deposits Heart disease – lack of blood supply to the heart because of narrowed arteries High blood pressure – can be caused by obesity (among other things) Varicose veins Where to get help Your doctor In an emergency, always call 911 Things to remember.