The circulatory system, or the cardiovascular system is comprised of the heart, lungs and the blood vessels. The arteries are the blood vessels that carry the blood away from the heart, and the veins return the blood to the heart. The circulatory system is composed of three distinct types of classification. The pulmonary circulatory system transports the blood between the heart and the lungs. Coronary circulation controls the movement of blood within the heart chambers, to the heart tissues. Systemic circulation is the movement of blood between the heart and the body.
The function of the systemic circulatory system is to transport nutrients, oxygen and water to all parts of the body. In reverse it transports away the carbon dioxide that the body produces. The blood cells are comprised of red blood cells, platelets, lymphocytes, and phagocyte cells; the white cells are collectively comprised of the lymphocytes, and phagocyte cells.
Each type of blood cell has a separate and specialised function. The red cells collect the oxygen from the lungs, and distributes this oxygen to the tissues. The platelets form blood clots; the lymphocytes are concerned with the body’s immune system. The phagocyte cells are further subdivided into the granlocyte monocyte cells, and their function is to break down any foreign particles and microorganisms, and protect against infection. Whilst the blood circulates it serves as a carrier, the platelets protect the body from blood loss, the phagocyte go to an area of inflammation, and the lymphocytes to areas of infection. The red blood cells carry both oxygen and carbon dioxide, when we inhale the air goes to the lungs, and the red blood cells extract the oxygen and transports it to the body cells. In the mean time the body has been producing carbon dioxide as a waste by product, it is then transported b y the red blood cells back to the lungs, where it is expelled from the body when we exhale. The capillaries are very tiny blood vessels, which interact between the arteries to the veins. They act as an exchange system for the food, and oxygen between the blood and the body cells, and from body cells to the blood when transporting waste.
Each drop of blood should contain a half-drop of plasma, ten thousand white blood cells, a quarter of a million platelets, and five million red blood cells.
The heart acts as the muscular pump, which whilst beating at approximately seventy two times, per minute starts the blood on its journey through the body. The muscles need oxygen to function as well as glucose and amino acids. Muscles whilst working expand and contract, and the blood takes the correct proportions of sodium potassium and calcium salts for this process.[quote]The heart acts as the muscular pump, which …starts the blood on its
journey through the body.:Catherine Ford[/quote]
The pulmonary element of circulation is important, as the lungs have to reoxygenate the blood. This reoxygenated blood is drawn into the left side of the heart, and then on into the blood system. The atria is the part of the heart that takes the blood from the body and lungs, and it is then pumped to the lungs and body by the ventricles. Blood that has released its nutrients is drawn to the right side of the heart and then pumped to the lungs to be reoxygenated.
Glossary of Terms
Cardiac CycleThe pumping of the heart is called the Cardiac Cycle, which occurs about 72 times per minute.
Cardiovascular system
Is the organ system, which circulates blood around the body of humans.
Coronary circulation controls the movement of blood within the heart chambers, to the heart tissues.
Plasma
Is a yellowish, slightly alkaline liquid that comprises 55% of blood, and is a mixture of nutrients which are amino acids, sugars, fatty acids, glycerol, salts, hormones, antibodies, enzymes and some dissolved gases in water and nutrients which are amino acids, sugars, fatty acids, glycerol, salts,
Pulmonary circulatory system transports the blood between the heart and the lungs.
Systemic circulation is the movement of blood between the heart and the body.
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