The Circulatory System - The Heart Flashcards
What is the circulatory system (also known as the cardiovascular system)?
It is an example of an organ system, which means that it is made up of a group of organs that work together to form a common function.
What organs make up the organ system in the circulatory system? What is their ** common function**?
Heart, Blood Vessels and Blood
Their role is to transport substances around the body.
What is the blood’s function?
Blood is a fluid that carries all of the substances, such as oxygen, nutrients, cells and waste products.
What is the function of the blood vessels?
They hold the blood, and direct it around the body.
What is the function of the heart?
Pumps blood to ensure it keeps flowing through the blood vessels.
Why is it called a “double circulatory system”?
It contains 2 separate circuits.
What is the top circuit called in the double circulatory system? What happens in it?
Pulmonary Circuit
This is where blood flows from the heart, around to the lungs and then back to the heart again.
What is the bottom circuit called in the double circulatory system? What happens in it?
Systemic Circuit
This is where the blood flows from the heart around to all of our body tissues, like our muscles, brain, liver, etc., and then it flows back to the heart.
How does the heart get its own supply of oxygenated blood?
Through the coronary arteries.
They make sure the muscle tissue gets all the oxygen and nutrients that it needs to keep contracting.
