B3 - The Blood System Flashcards
What is the role of the circulatory system?
The circulatory system supplies the cells with oxygen and glucose and it also removes waste products such as carbon dioxide.
How is the human circulatory system so effective?
It has a double circulation system. One system which pumps the deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs to pick up oxygen and so carbon dioxide can be diffused out and one pumps oxygenated blood around the body to get oxygen and glucose to cells. It allows more areas of the body to quickly receive oxygenated blood.
What is the difference between a vein and an artery?
Artery - takes blood way from the heart Vein - carries blood to the heart.
What makes the heart beat?
It is stimulated to beat by the brain. On the left atrium wall there is a special bundle of nerve cells which are stimulated to make an electrical impulse. This is the ‘natural pacemaker’.
What happens in a heart beat?
Blood enters the atria of the heart. The atria contract and force blood into the ventricles. The ventricles contract and force blood out of the heart. Valves in the heart ensure that blood flows in the correct direction. Blood flows from the heart to the organs through arteries and returns through veins. There are two separate circulation systems, one for the lungs and one for all other organs of the body.
A - Aorta
B - Left Ventricle
C - Right Atrium
D - Vena Cava
What are the walls of the heart made from? Why is one thicker than the other?
CARDIAC MUSCLE.
The left side is thicker as it has to pump the blood a greater distance, all around the body. The right side is less thick as it is pumped a shorter distance to the lungs.
How can stents be used to keep arteries open?
Fat or cholesterol blocks the artery.
Stent with a balloon is inserted.
Baloon is inflated to open stent and blood vessel.
Widens the blood vessel, allowing more blood to pass through.
The vena cava brings blood to the heart.
The pulmonary artery carries blood to the lungs.
The pulmonary vein brings the oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart.
The aorta pumps the oxygenated blood to the body.
