The Circulatory System

Question 1

What is the structure and function of arteries?

Answer 1

They are thick walled blood vessels, and their job is to carry blood AWAY from the heart.

Question 2

What is the structure and function of veins?

Answer 2

They have thinner walls than arteries and have valves to prevent blood from flowing back. Their job is to carry blood TO the heart.

Question 3

What is the structure and function of capillaries?

Answer 3

They have tiny, very thin walls. Their job is to exchange gases, nutrients and waste from body tissues.

Question 4

What are the three main routes of blood vessels and what do they go through?

Answer 4

1. cardiac circulation, which go through the heart
2. pulmonary circulation, which goes through the lungs
3. systemic circulation, which goes through body tissues

Question 5

Where does oxygenated blood vs deoxygenated blood go?

Answer 5

oxygenated goes away from the heart, deoxygenated goes towards the heart

Question 6

What is the structure and function of red blood cells?

Answer 6

They are anucleate (don’t have a nucleus) and are biconcave. They carry oxygen from the lungs to body tissue

Question 7

What is the structure and function of white blood cells?

Answer 7

They are round with a distinct nucleus. They help fight infection and disease

Question 8

What is the structure and function of platelets?

Answer 8

They are anucleate with distinct mitochondria. They help to prevent and stop bleeding.

Question 9

What is the structure and function of plasma?

Answer 9

They are 92% water and 8% solids like proteins and coagulants. They carry water, salts, nutrients, enzymes, hormones and proteins

Question 10

What is a congenital heart defect and what can help it?

Answer 10

It is a problem with the heart structure that is present at birth. It can be looked at using a cardiac MRI or 3-D printing

Question 11

What is arrhythmia and what can help it?

Answer 11

It is the abnormal pattern or timing of a heartbeat. It can be helped by the use of a pacemaker or an implantable cardio defibrillator

Question 12

What is a heart murmur and what can help it?

Answer 12

It is a whooshing sound made from abnormal blood flow. It can be detected using stethoscopes or hand held electrocardiography ultrasounds

Question 13

What is atherosclerosis and what can help it?

Answer 13

The build up of plaque on artery walls. The treatment includes taking antiplatelet or anticoagulant pills. You can also have an angioplasty done

Question 14

What is plaque made of?

Answer 14

Plaque can be made up of fats, cholesterol, cellular waste, calcium and fibrin

Question 15

What is the difference between pulmonary arteries and systemic arteries? What is the difference between pulmonary veins and systemic veins?

Answer 15

Pulmonary arteries carry oxygen-poor blood from the heart to the lungs, while systemic arteries carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Pulmonary veins carry oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the heart, while systemic veins carry oxygen-poor blood from the body back to the heart.

Question 16

What keeps the blood flowing in arteries?

Answer 16

The blood flow in arteries is maintained by the pumping action of the heart and the pressure generated by each heartbeat

Question 17

Why are ventricle walls thicker than atrium walls?

Answer 17

Ventricle walls are thicker because ventricles need to generate higher pressure to pump blood either to the lungs (right ventricle) or to the entire body (left ventricle), whereas the atria pump blood into ventricles with lower pressure

Question 18

What is an angioplasty and how does it help treat atherosclerosis-related conditions?

Answer 18

Angioplasty is a medical procedure used to open narrowed or blocked arteries, often due to atherosclerosis. During the procedure, a balloon catheter is inserted into the affected artery and inflated to widen it. Angioplasty helps treat atherosclerosis-related conditions by restoring normal blood flow to vital organs.