circulatory system Flashcards
what are the functions of the circulatory system?
- circulate blood to body
- transport O2, water and nutrients to cells in the blood
- transport CO2 and wastes away from body
- maintain body temperature
- white blood cells fight infections
what are the 3 structure of the circulatory system?
heart, blood vessels and blood
what is the heart for?
a muscular pump that drives blood around the body
what are blood vessels responsible for?
carrying blood from the heart, taking it to different parts of the body and then returning it to the heart
what are the 3 different types of blood vessels?
arteries - carry blood AWAY from heart
veins - carry blood TOWARDS heart
capillaries - tiny blood vessels that reach each cell
what are the 2 types of circulation in the cardiac cycle?
pulmonary circulation and systemic circulation
what is the basic purpose of pulmonary circulation?
to carry blood from the heart to the lungs and back agian
how does pulmonary circulation work?
right side of heart pumps de-oxygenated blood to the lungs via the pulmonary artery and then returns it via the pulmonary vein
what is the basic purpose of systemic circulation?
it carries blood from the heart to all parts of the body (except lungs) and back again
how does systemic circulation work?
left side of heart pumps oxygenated blood to rest of body via aorta and de-oxygenated blood returns from body to the right side of heart via vena cava
what are the functions of blood?
transport nutrients and waste products
regulates body temperature
protects body through white blood cells
what are the components of blood?
plasma (55%), white blood cells (<1%), red blood cells (45%)
explain the journey of an oxygen molecule through the body
- oxygen enters though mouth or nose
- travels to lungs and enters bloodstream through alveoli (diffusion)
- oxygen rich blood returns to heart
- blood is pumped through aorta
- oxygen rich blood then travels to arteries and capillaries
- oxygen molecules move into body cells
