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Circulatory System

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Kyra Aliyah Sambrano
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7 views

Circulatory System

Uploaded by

Kyra Aliyah Sambrano
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CIRCULATORY SYSTEM

The circulatory system (cardiovascular system) pumps blood from the heart to
the lungs to get oxygen. The heart then sends oxygenated blood through arteries
to the rest of the body. The veins carry oxygen-poor blood back to the heart to
start the circulation process over. Your circulatory system is critical to healthy
organs, muscles and tissues.

What is the circulatory system?

Your heart and blood vessels make up the circulatory system. The main
function of the circulatory system is to provide oxygen, nutrients and
hormones to muscles, tissues and organs throughout your body. Another part
of the circulatory system is to remove waste from cells and organs so your
body can dispose of it.

Your heart pumps blood to the body through a network of arteries and veins
(blood vessels). Your circulatory system can also be defined as your
cardiovascular system. Cardio means heart, and vascular refers to blood
vessels.

FUNCTION OF THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM

What does the circulatory system do?

The circulatory system’s function is to move blood throughout the body. This
blood circulation keeps organs, muscles and tissues healthy and working to
keep you alive.

The circulatory system also helps your body get rid of waste products. This
waste includes:

 Carbon dioxide from respiration (breathing).


 Other chemical byproducts from your organs.
 Waste from things you eat and drink.

How does the circulatory system work?

Your circulatory system functions with the help of blood vessels that include
arteries, veins and capillaries. These blood vessels work with your heart
and lungs to continuously circulate blood through your body. Here’s how:

1. The heart’s bottom right pumping chamber (right ventricle) sends blood
that’s low in oxygen (oxygen-poor blood) to the lungs. Blood travels
through the pulmonary trunk (the main pulmonary artery).
2. Blood cells pick up oxygen in the lungs.
3. Pulmonary veins carry the oxygenated blood from the lungs to the
heart’s left atrium (upper heart chamber).
4. The left atrium sends the oxygenated blood into the left ventricle (lower
chamber). This muscular part of the heart pumps blood out to the body
through the arteries.
5. As it moves through your body and organs, blood collects and drops off
nutrients, hormones and waste products.
6. The veins carry deoxygenated blood and carbon dioxide back to the
heart, which sends the blood to the lungs.
7. Your lungs get rid of the carbon dioxide when you exhale.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT


CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
How big is the circulatory system?

Your body has more than 60,000 miles of blood vessels that circulate about
1.5 gallons of blood every day.
What is red blood and blue blood?

All blood is red. Hemoglobin, an iron-rich protein in red blood cells, mixes
with oxygen to give blood its red color. Blood that’s rich in oxygen is known
as red blood.

Your veins carry oxygen-poor blood. This is sometimes called blue blood
because your veins can look blue underneath the skin. The blood is actually
red, but the low oxygen levels give veins a bluish hue.

Do arteries always carry oxygenated blood?

For the most part, yes. The exceptions are pulmonary arteries and veins.
Pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood to the lungs. Pulmonary veins
return the oxygenated blood to the heart.

NOTE
Your circulatory system plays a critical role in keeping you alive. Blood
vessels carry blood to the lungs for oxygen. Then your heart pumps oxygen-
rich blood through arteries to the rest of the body. Your veins help your body
get rid of waste products. Conditions like high blood pressure, high
cholesterol and atherosclerosis can affect the health of your circulatory
system. If you have one of these conditions, talk to your healthcare provider
about steps you can take to protect your cardiovascular health.

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