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Circulation in Arthropods

Arthropods have an open circulatory system where blood fills the body cavity, unlike humans who have a closed circulatory system with blood vessels. In arthropods, the coelom is reduced and divided, with the leftover space filled by blood called hemolymph. Hemolymph is pumped through the body by the heart and bathes the organs before returning to the heart, without veins. This open system allows for gas exchange and nutrient distribution throughout the body.

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Narasimha Murthy
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418 views

Circulation in Arthropods

Arthropods have an open circulatory system where blood fills the body cavity, unlike humans who have a closed circulatory system with blood vessels. In arthropods, the coelom is reduced and divided, with the leftover space filled by blood called hemolymph. Hemolymph is pumped through the body by the heart and bathes the organs before returning to the heart, without veins. This open system allows for gas exchange and nutrient distribution throughout the body.

Uploaded by

Narasimha Murthy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CIRCULATION IN ARTHROPODS

Arthropods (animals in the phylum Arthropoda) have segmented bodies as well as an


exoskeleton. They include animals such as insects, arachnids (spiders, scorpions, etc), and
crustaceans. So, if arthropods' skeletons are on the outside, is what's on the inside different
too? Sure is, but there are some things you'll find familiar. Let's take a look at their
circulatory system.

Circulatory system

You can imagine that if you had a skeleton on the outside, your circulatory system could
be much different. Arthropods have what is referred to as an open circulatory system,
where blood fills the body cavity of the animal. Humans have a closed circulatory system,
where blood is moved around the body via vessels and arteries.

Inside of many animals exists an area of empty space called the coelom where you can find
its organs. A coelom helps to give animals some rigidity and acts like a skeleton, giving the
body a sort of structure. In arthropods, this coelom is much reduced, and divided into
smaller areas around excretory and reproductive organs. Since they have skeletons, the
leftover space is instead filled with blood which covers the other organs, keeping them
bathed in blood. This cavity is referred to as a haemocoel, or blood cavity.

Blood flow in arthropods

The type of blood that is in arthropods is


also different from what a human would
consider 'normal' blood. It doesn't have
the oxygen content that humans do.
However, it does help to distribute the
oxygen and
remove carbon dioxide throughout the body similar in scope to a human's blood. Arthropod
blood is copper based, so it does not appear red like a human's. We refer to this blood-type
fluid inside of the system as the hemolymph.

A basic example of the open circulatory system

The blood is pumped along the haemocoel via the animal's heart. This muscle ripples
instead of contracting, pumping the blood forward in the animal. It then is cycled around
again allowing them to move oxygen around the body to different organ systems.

General arthropods

Arthropods possess what we call an open circulatory system. There system consist a dorsal
heart and arteries. The heart and arteries can be very limited, as to the body of an insect, or
much extended, as to the body of a crab. The blood is pumped by
52

the heart. It then moves through the body cavities to reach the
internal organs. There are no veins to bring the blood back to the
Page

Dr.C.V.NARASIMHA MURTHY, Associate Professor ( Contract) VSUPG.C. Ka vali. M.Sc. Zoology,


Previous. Paper I .Notes. 2018-2019.
heart. It is for this reason that blood for the insects is called "hemolymph". Regular body
movements allow for the blood to travel to the dorsal, also known as pericardial, sinus. Tiny valves
open from the heart in other for the hemolymph of the insect toenter the hear once more. The cycle
is then repeated for the duration of the insects life. The circulatory system also plays a role in
defense for its organism.

Insects

The circulatory for the insect is again an open circulatory system. This system seals
off wounds, destroys internal parasites, and produces toxins to ward off predators. In
some insects, the circulatory system aids
in ways as a thermoregulation in
which it helps cool or heat the
body. A dorsal vessel, heart, is
important for the cell circulatory
system. This a vessel in which it
flows through the thorax and
abdomen. This is a usually a
fragile membranous
structure that collects hemolymph to
carry it towards the head. The
heart is divided into segments
that
are separated by valves. This is to ensure a one way flow of the hemolymph. Alary muscles
are attached to the walls of each chamber. The blood flow is controlled
by peristaltic contractions. Basically, hemolymph flows through the heart to the head.
Thenthe hemolymph flows to the internal organs. The blood flow then flows the opposite
direction of the heart and reaches the end in which it flows back to the heart. The heart rate
varies between each insect.

Spiders
The blood for spiders is colorless and is also called hemolymph. They are not entirely
considered insects so they get their own section in this site. The circulation of blood
transport nutrients throughout the body. Not only does it do that, but it helps in order
body functions. Spiders the blood is used to raise pressure for when molting, or shedding
their skin, and stretching their legs. The
spider is like the insect in that
there are no veins to allow
blood flow. The spider has
hemolymph pumped through
the heart which it then goes
into sinuses surrounding the
internal organ. The blood
contains hemocyanin which is a
respiratory protein that taints the hemolymph to its clear faint blue color. The dorsal vessel,
heart is located in the abdomen and it is not divided into segments, it is like a tube.
Through contractions, the aorta is able to
move the blood to the and past the anterior of the heart. The heart allows hemolymph to enter one
end of the heart and leave at the other end of it.

Dr.C.V.NARASIMHA MURTHY, Associate Professor ( Contract) VSUPG.C. Kavali. M.Sc. Zoology,


Previous. Paper I .Notes. 2018-2019.

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