Structures and Functions of the Circulatory System Flashcards
What are the functions of the Circulatory System?
- Transports gasses and wastes
- Regulates internal temp, transports hormones
- Protects against blood loss from injury (platelets), provides immune response
The 3 major components of the Circulatory System are..
- Heart
- Blood Vessels
- Blood
Pumps blood through body, generates blood flow
Heart
- “Roadways” for blood
- Arteries, veins, and capillaries
Blood Vessels
Carries nutrients, O2, CO2, wastes, and other materials throughout the body.
Blood
Where is the heart located?
Slightly left of middle of chest
Two chambers at the top of the heart
Atria (singular = Atrium)
Two chambers at the bottom of the heart
Ventricles
Thick muscular wall that separates the heart from the middle
Septum
Fluid filled membrane surrounding the heart
Pericardium
Separates atria from ventricles
Atrioventricular (AV) Valves
Separates ventricles from arteries
Semilunar Valves
Why does the heart have one-way valves between atria, ventricles, aorta, and pulmonary arteries?
To ensure blood flows in the correct direction. (one direction)
What is deoxygenated blood?
- Shown on diagrams as blue (to separate from oxygenated blood)
- Blood returning from tissues
- Low O2 content (because its just delivered all its O2 to the tissues)
- Heading towards the heart & lungs to get more oxygen
What is Oxygenated blood?
- Blood leaving the lungs filled with O2
- Heading towards tissues to deliver O2
- O2 poor blood coming back from the body is pumped through the VENA CAVA (right side of heart) into the..
Right Atrium
- Blood flows from RIGHT ATRIUM to RIGHT VENTRICLE and then out the LEFT AND RIGHT…
Pulmonary ARTERIES
Pulmonary ARTERIES lead to the..
Lungs (for gas exchange)
- O2 rich blood from the LUNGS returns to the heart through LEFT AND RIGHT..
Pulmonary VEINS
- O2 rich blood enters the LEFT ATRIUM then the..
LEFT Ventricle
- O2 rich blood leaves the heart through the…
AORTA
The Aorta leads to..
the whole body
- Carries blood AWAY from the heart
- Highly Elastic walls
Arteries
DEOXYGENATED blood leaves the right side of the heart to the lungs via..
Pulmonary ARTERIES
OXYGENATED blood leaves the left side of the heart via..
AORTA
- Smallest blood vessels
- Walls are a single layer of cells
Capillaries
Site of gas, nutrient and waste exchange between blood and cells
Capillaries
- Carries blood TOWARDS the heart
- Not elastic, cannot contract to move blood back to the heart
- Relies on contraction from surrounding skeletal muscle
Veins
Has thinner walls than Arteries
Veins
Contains one-way valves to prevent back flow against gravity
Veins (unlike Arteries/except Arteries exiting the ventricles)
Deoxygenated blood returns to the RIGHT side of the heart via..
Vena Cava
Oxygenated blood returns to the LEFT side of the heart via..
Pulmonary Veins
Occurs when the leaflets of valves fail to close properly, causing blood to flow backwards and pool in the veins
Varicose Veins
Biggest Artery
Aorta