Circulatory System

Circulatory system is the system of our body that takes care of carrying food nutrients and oxygen to the cells.
Circulatory system is the transport system of our body. It carries food nutrient, oxygen and other substances
to billions of cells in our body. It also collects the wastes from the cells and carries them away. It also helps maintain
body temperatures and helps in blood clotting.
The Heart

 The Heart is the pumping organ of the circulatory system.

 It is about the size of a man's fist.
 It is located in the breastbone between the lungs with the lower and somewhat to the left.
 The heart is a powerful and strongest muscle in the human body called cardiac muscle.
 The pumping action of the heart is known as the heartbeat.
 Heartbeat is due to the rhythmic contraction and relaxation of the cardiac muscles.
 The heart beats at an average of 70 times per minute.
 Heartbeat between 50 and 90 are within normal range.
 The stethoscope is the doctor's instrument for listening to heartbeats.
The Blood

 Blood, the red fluid that flows through the blood vessels, is the transport medium of the body.
The Blood Vessels

 Arteries and arterioles carry the blood from the heart to the body tissues.
 Veins and venules carry the blood from the cells back to the heart.
 Capillaries are the fine microscopic tubes that connect veins and arteries.
Specific functions of the circulatory system are:
 Carry oxygen and digested food to all cells of the body
 Carry carbon dioxide, water and other wastes to the respective excretory organs
 Permits white blood cells and anti-bodies to travel to places where they are needed to fight off foreign bodies/
invaders
 Helps regulate and maintains body temperature
More about Circulatory System
Blood circulates throughout the body in specific routes or paths called circuits.
Components of Blood

Blood is composed of a liquid part called plasma that comprises about 55% of the blood by volume and a solid

part that has comprises 45% of the blood by volume. The solid parts of formed components are the red blood cells,

white blood cells and platelets.

Red Blood Cells (RBC)

Red blood cells, also known as erythrocytes, are small, spherical enucleated and biconcave cells. Red blood

cells transport gasses ( oxygen and carbon dioxide ) respectively to and from the cells.

Red blood cells are red in color. The color is due to the pigment hemoglobin, an iron containing an oxygen

transport protein. Red blood cells are continuously being manufactured in the red marrow of flat and long bones like
the ribs, skulls and vertebrae. The lfie span of erythrocytes is only 120 days, after which they are destroyed in the liver

and spleen. Iron from hemoglobin is recovered and reuse by the body.

White Blood Cells (WBC) or leucocytes are irregular in shape and are slightly larger than the red blood cells. White

blood cells are nucleated, but lack hemoglobin..

White blood cells originate from stem cells that undergo cell division in red bone marrow. There are several

varieties of white blood cells: neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes and lymphocytes.

Platelets or thrombocytes are the smallest of the formed components of the blood. They help stop bleeding..

Platelets are made in the bone marrow. They survive for 10 days before being removed and destroyed in the liver and

spleen. There are about 150 000 – 300 000 platelets in each milliliter of blood.

When we are cut or abraded, the blood platelets disintegrate upon contact with air. The blood clotting-

process is controlled by the chemical reactions among the blood proteins present in the plasma, specifically

prothrombin and fibrinogen, calcium ions and some enzymes. A red mass of tissue called clot forma as a

permanent patch on it.

Plasma is the liquid part of the blood. It is a clear yellowish fluid that makes up the rest of the blood’s volume. Plasma

is made in the liver.Plasma has 90% water and 10% dissolved materials, including proteins, glucose, ions, hormones,

salt and gases.

The Blood Vessels

The blood vessels are the vast networks of small tubes that carry the blood throughout your body. There

are three kinds of blood vessels: the arteries, the capillaries and the veins. Arteries are thick-walled and elastic blood

vessels. Veins are blood vessels which have thinner walls compared to arteries. Capillaries are very thin and have

tiny openings in their walls. If you could take all the blood vessels out and line them up from end to end, they could

measure 96, 600 kilometers.

The Heart

The heart is the pumping organ of the circulatory system. The heart beats about three billion times during

an average lifetime.

Heart Chambers

The heart is divided into four chambers: the left and the right atrium or auricles, and the left and the right

ventricles. The atria ( singular: atrium ) are responsible for receiving used blood coming from all parts of the

body. When atria contract, blood is pumped into the ventricles. The ventricles are the pumping chambers of the

heart. When they contract, oxygen rich blood is forced away from the heart for distribution to the different body parts.

The muscles composing the walls of the ventricles are thicker than the muscles in the atria. Between the atria and the

ventricles are mitral valves and tricuspid valve. The valves are overlapping layers of tissue that allow the blood to flow

only in one direction.

 Common Circulatory Ailments

Atherosclerosis This is an ailment connected to the arteries. The arteries are blocked by deposits of cholesterol and

fat-absorbing cells.

Anemia Is a disorder of the blood in which the red blood cells are affected. The red blood cells contain haemoglobin,

which carries oxygen to the body cells to provide energy. The level of the blood cells may be reduced from the normal

level. This result in a lack of oxygen in the tissue, causing anemia.

Leukemia is one type of cancer that attacks the blood. This ailment is characterized by abnormal production of white

blood cells in the bone marrow.

Coronary Heart Disease is the narrowing of arteries that supply blood to the heart. When this happens, and the heart

does not receive oxygen, the heart becomes infracted which causes a heart attack.

High Blood Pressure or Hypertension.This characterized by an abnormally high pressure in the arteries and

increases the risk of problems such as stroke, heart failure, heart attack and kidney damage. If the blood pressure is

too high, it can rupture a blood vessel and can cause bleeding in the brain or other complications the more that you

use it. Exercise also helps to keep your blood vessels working properly.

Heart Attack When a coronary artery becomes blocked by a blood clot, a heart attack occurs. The blood clot

completely cuts off the supply of blood to a part of the heart muscles.

Stroke When a blood clot blocks one of the arteries going to the brain, a stroke occurs..

Rheumatic Heart Disease is caused by an inflammation of the inner lining or failure of the heart valve to close. This

causes a blood leak that produces a heart murmur.

Hemophilia Is a disease of the blood which is inherited . A person with hemophilia is called a bleeder because when

he or she bleeds, the blood does not clot or it clots very slowly resulting in the loss of much blood

Congenital Heart Disease This is an inborn ailment, is sometimes called “blue baby”. This is an incomplete or

malformation of the muscles of the heart and major blood vessels that produces abnormally in the flow of blood.

Things we can do to keep your circulatory system healthy

1. Get enough sleep, rest and exercise.

2. Eat healthy and right amount of foods.

3. Do not smoke or drink alcoholic beverages.

4. Think positively. Avoid tensions and worries.

5. Visit the doctor once a year for a health examination.

6. Stay away from prohibited drugs or you might get hook into it.

7. Think positively. Avoid tensions and worries.

8. Get fresh air everyday.

9. Stand and sit with good posture.