THE CIRCULATOR

Y SYSTEM

By: Marina Bacon

Major Functions The main functions of the circulatory system is to transport oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. It also gets rid of waste from the body.

DiagramHeart- the main function of the heart is to pump blood throughout the body.Artery- the main function of arteries are to carry oxygenated blood throughout the body.Vein- the main function of veins are to carry blood throughout the body back to the heart.Capillary- the main function of the capillaries are to let the oxygen and nutrients to actually be delivered to the tissue of the body.

Components of BloodRed Blood Cells- carry oxygen from the lungs to your body tissue and take carbon dioxide back to the lungs to be exhaled.White Blood Cells- help fight infection and aid the immune process.Platelets- small cell fragments in blood that interact with clotting proteins to stop or prevent bleeding.Plasma- a fluid, composed of 92% water, 7% clotting factors and 1% mineral salts, sugars, fats, hormones, and vitamins.

Path Blood TakesThe heart is divided into four chambers: the left and right atria and the left and right ventricles. The left ventricle pumps oxygen-rich blood out of the heart and into an artery called the aorta. From the aorta, blood branches out into a series of smaller tube-like vessels: arteries, arterioles, and finally capillaries. The capillaries deliver the blood’s oxygen and nutrients to cells. Then the oxygen-poor blood makes its journey back from the capillaries, to vessels called venules, to veins, and finally back to the heart.

Working Together The circulatory system works with the muscular system by providing the muscles with oxygen and nutrients. The skeletal system produces blood cells which the circulatory system uses. The respiratory system takes out waste, and delivers oxygen to the circulatory system.

DiseasesOne of the most common diseases of the circulatory system is arteriosclerosis, in which the fatty deposits in the arteries causes the walls to stiffen and thicken the walls.Another circulatory disease is, hypertension, commonly called high blood pressure. This causes the heart to work harder and can lead to complications such as a heart attack, a stroke, or kidney failure.

High Blood Pressure

arteriosclerosis

FUN FACTSDid you know the heart beats about 3 billion times in an average person’s life. About 8 million blood cells die and are born a second.Within a droplet of blood, there are 5 million blood cells.It takes about 20 seconds for a red blood cell to circle the whole body.