Healthy Organs 1: Cardiovascular system Flashcards
What is the function (job) of the circulatory system?
The circulatory system ensures that all cells receive food and oxygen from the blood and that waste products such as carbon dioxide are removed from the blood
What are the 4 components of blood?
Plasma, white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets.
What is the function of white blood cells.
White blood cells form part of the immune system and produce phagocytes (pac-man styley to gobble up the baddies) and antibodies to fight of infections.
What is the function of red blood cells?
Red blood cells transport oxygen around the body.
What is the function of platelets?
The main job of platelets is to prevent and stop bleeding. If you are cut or a blood vessel is damaged, the body sends signals to platelets which cause them to travel to the injured area and plug the hole.
What is the heart and what is it’s job?
It is a big muscle (made of cardiac muscle). It is responsible for transporting blood around the body blood vessels.
Why do we have deoxygenated blood and what happens to it?
All the cells of the body use up oxygen during chemical reactions and release carbon dioxide.
This deoxygenated blood is transported in vessels to the RIGHT HAND SIDE of the heart where the carbon dioxide in the blood is exchanged for oxygen between the heart and the lungs.
How do we oxygenate our blood and where is it taken?
As we breathe in air oxygen is diffuses from the lungs into the blood. The now oxygenated blood at the LEFT HAND SIDE of the heart is transported in the vessels to EVERY cell in the body so the can perform their chemical reactions such as aerobic respiration.
Why is the left hand side of the heart thicker than the right hand side?
The left hand side of the heart has a very thick muscular wall. This is because the left hand side of the hart needs to work extra hard (pumps supper hard at high pressure) to get oxygenated blood to every cell in the body for example cells in your toes are far away from the heart.
Why is the right hand side of the heart thinner than the left hand side?
The right hand side of the heart is thinner because it only has to push deoxygenated blood a short distance from the heart to the lungs which are very close together.
How many chambers of the heart are there and what are they called?
There are 4 chambers. Left and right atrium and left and right ventricles.
What are the two main arteries if the heart called?
The aorta on the left hand side and the pulmonary artery in the right hand side.
What are the two main veins of the heart called?
The pulmonary artery on the left hand side and the vena cava on the right hand side.
What is the purpose of the valves in the heart?
The keep blood flowing in the right direction. Stops back flow.
Name the three types of blood vessels.
Arteries, veins and capillaries.
