Function of Blood; Blood Viscosity; Double Circulatory system

Aidan and Khalifa

Double Circulatory System

The human body contains an efficient system to transport the blood around the body. This system means that the blood passes through the heart twice; once as de-oxygenated blood, and the second as oxygenated bllod. In this system, the blood flows through 2 different circuits, that are connected via the heart. These are the Systemic circuit and the Pulmonary circuit.

The Pulmonary Circuit

Deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle of the heart, travels through the pulmonary artery to the lungs. Here the haemoglobin in the red blood cells associate with oxygen and the oxygenated blood returns to the left atrium in the heart via the pulmonary vein.

The Systemic Circuit

Oxygenated blood from the left ventricle of the heart pumps blood through the aorta the arteries that carry the blood to the body tissues. The deoxygenated blood returns from the blood tissues,via viens, to the right atrium, entering the heart in the vanea cavae (superior and inferior)

Functions and components of blood.

Blood has four key components: Plasma Fluid part of blood Carries carbon dioxide, hormones and waste Red blood cells Contain haemoglobin which carries oxygen Made in the bone marrow. The more you train the more red blood cells are made. White blood cells An important part of the immune system, they produce antibodies and destroy harmful microorganisms Made in the bone marrow Platelets

Clump together to form clots

Protect the body by stopping bleeding

Functions and components of blood.

When exercising blood does the following things:

Transports nutrients and waste

Delivers oxygen to the working muscles Dilutes/carries away lactic acid (acidic balance)

Removes heat (temperature regulation)

This is known as homeostatis

Blood Viscosity
Blood viscosity is the thickness and stickiness of blood. It is a direct measure of the ability of blood to flow through the vessels Blood viscosity measures how much friction the blood causes against the vessels, how hard the heart has to work to pump blood, and how much oxygen is delivered to organs and tissues. Having high blood viscosity can be associated with medical issues. The higher the viscosity, the harder the heart has to pump in order to transport the blood, containing the essential nutrients for the body to perform efficiently, around to the respiring tissues, therefore increasing pressure on the heart.