The Circulatory System

Main Components

The circulatory system includes the heart, blood vessels and blood.
The heart is a muscular organ responsible for pumping blood around the body.
Blood vessels include capillaries, veins, and arteries.
Arteries transport blood away from the heart; they have thick, elastic walls.
Veins take blood back to the heart; they have thinner walls than arteries and contain valves to prevent backflow of blood.
Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels, where nutrients and oxygen are exchanged for waste products.
Blood is made up of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma.

The heart consists of four chambers: two atria (upper chambers) and two ventricles (lower chambers).
Atria receive blood from the body and pump it into the ventricles.
Ventricles pump blood out of the heart to the body.
Blood flows through the heart in one direction – from the atria to the ventricles, and then out of the heart.
The heart muscle contracts and relaxes in a cycle called the heartbeat.

Red blood cells (erythrocytes) contain haemoglobin that binds to oxygen and transports it from the lungs to cells in the body.
White blood cells (leukocytes) are part of the immune system and work to fend off infections.
Platelets are tiny cell fragments that help in blood clotting to prevent excessive bleeding.
Plasma is the liquid part of blood, carrying blood cells, nutrients, waste products, hormones, and other substances.

The human body has a double circulation system: systemic circulation and pulmonary circulation.
Systemic circulation moves oxygenated blood from the heart to the body’s tissues, and returns deoxygenated blood back to the heart.
Pulmonary circulation moves deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs, where it gets oxygenated, and then returns this oxygen-rich blood back to the heart.
Veins always carry blood to the heart while arteries carry blood away from the heart.
Despite the general rule, the pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood to the lungs, and the pulmonary veins carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart.

The circulatory system is responsible for transporting oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and waste products around the body.
It also aids in temperature regulation, allowing the body to maintain a steady internal environment.
It helps in fighting diseases and infections through the immune response provided by white blood cells.
The circulatory system also plays a significant role in clotting mechanisms to prevent excessive bleeding after an injury.

Remember, understanding these key facts about the circulatory system will help you to answer potential questions effectively and accurately.