The Circulatory And Respiratory System

Question 1

Main function of circulatory system

Answer 1

• Circulate blood to all parts of the body
• Transport water, oxygen and nutrients to cells
• Transports wastes, including carbon dioxide, away from the cells
• Helps maintain correct body temperature
• Helps fight disease, through white blood cells and antibodies in the blood

Question 2

Main function of the respiratory system

Answer 2

•The respiratory system allows our body to breathe, bringing oxygen to the blood and removing carbon dioxide.

Question 3

How and why does blood move through the heart and body?

Answer 3

•Arteries always carry oxygen-rich blood away from the heart to the body to give oxygen to muscles
•Veins carry blood which is low in oxygen back to the heart so they can gain oxygen
Blood moves through the heart:
From the lungs to the left atrium to the left ventricle to the body to the right atrium to the right ventricle to the lungs again

Question 4

What are capillaries and what do they do?

Answer 4

• Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels and are the site of exchange of nutrients and wastes between the blood and the body cells.
• The walls of the capillaries allow oxygen, carbon dioxide and nutrients to exchange between the blood and cells.

Question 5

What are arteries and what do they do?

Answer 5

• An artery has a thick, elastic, muscular wall and expands with each
• Arteries always carry oxygen-rich blood away from the heart to the body
• Arteries near the skin surface are used to measure pulse.

Question 6

What are veins and what do they do?

Answer 6

• Veins carry blood which is low in oxygen back to the heart (except for the pulmonary vein) as the muscles and cells have extracted oxygen for the production of energy.
• Veins have one way valves which prevent the blood from flowing backwards away from the heart.
• Veins require the assistance of valves and nearby contracting skeletal muscles to help

Question 7

Where do you find your pulse?

Answer 7

•The two most common sites are in the neck (carotid pulse) and the wrist (radial pulse)

Question 8

What is a pulse?

Answer 8

•The left ventricle of the heart forcefully pushes blood into the aorta and out to the rest of the body

Question 9

How is your pulse measured?

Answer 9

• We are able to measure heart rate by feeling the pulse of each beat as blood is pumped through the arteries.
• Arteries which are close to the skin are the sites where we can take a pulse count.

Question 10

Role of red blood cells

Answer 10

•Red blood cells carry oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from the cells and muscles

Question 11

Role of white blood cells

Answer 11

•White blood cells pass through capillary walls into the body’s cells to fight disease.

Question 12

Role of platelets

Answer 12

•Platelets have the important role of clotting blood when a blood vessel has been damaged.

Question 13

Where are platelets produced?

Answer 13

Bone marrow

Question 14

What happens to the heart and lungs during exercise?

Answer 14

G

Question 15

Inspiration

Answer 15

• Inspiration is initiated by the diaphragm.

* When the diaphragm contacts, it moves downwards, enlarging the chest cavity.

Question 16

Expiration

Answer 16

•Expiration occurs when the diaphragm relaxes and the chest cavity returns to its smaller ‘at rest’ state.