Download The Circulatory System

The Circulatory System
Aorta
Superior vena cava
Pulmonary artery
Pulmonary vein
Right atrium
Bicuspid valve
Right ventricle
Inferior vena cava
Pulmonary artery
Pulmonary veins
Left atrium
Tricuspid valves
Left ventricle
Aorta
• Right atrium and left atrium
– upper chambers of the heart
• Right ventricle and left ventricle
– Lower chambers of the heart
• The heart is near the center of the chest,
slightly to the left
Pathway of blood through the heart
• A large vein called the superior vena cava
brings the blood from the upper part of the
body to the heart, where it enters the right
atrium. The blood is pumped out of the
right atrium into the right ventricle and
travels through the pulmonary artery to the
lungs where it picks up oxygen.
Pathway of blood through the heart
• From the lungs, blood travels through the
pulmonary veins and returns to the heart,
where it enters the left atrium. Finally, the
blood is forced from the left ventricle into
the aorta which carries it to the tissues of
the body.
What are the major components of blood?
• Red blood cells
– Transport oxygen to the body via hemoglobin
• White blood cells
– Part of immune system, fight infection
• Platelets
– Involved in blood clotting
• Plasma
– Fluid portion of blood (90% water, 10%
dissolved substances)
What are the three types of
VESSELS and their functions?
• Veins
– blood vessels that return blood to the heart
• Arteries
– blood vessels that carry blood away from the
heart to the body tissues
• Capillaries
– smallest blood vessels
– bring nutrients and oxygen to tissues and
absorb carbon dioxide and waste products
What might happen if a blood clot forms inside the
circulatory system and lodges in a major blood vessel?
• Heart attack
– lack of oxygen to the heart
• Stroke
– lack of oxygen to the brain
• Tissue damage
– due to lack of oxygen