The Circulatory

System
The Circulatory Pathway, Components and Functions of
Blood, and Blood Vessel Structure and Function
The Circulatory System
• Is the transport system of the body and has 4 main
functions:
• Transportation of oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2)
• Distribution of nutrients and transport of wastes
• Maintenance of body temperature
• Circulation of hormones
The Circulatory System
• Consists of the following components:
• Blood – fluid that transports materials
• Blood Vessels – a system in which fluid moves
• Heart – a pump that pushes the fluid through the blood
vessels

+ Blood Vessels = The Cardiovascular System

(cardio = “heart”, vascular = “vessels” or “tubes”)
The Circulatory System
• Two systems in one:
• The Pulmonary Circuit – moves deoxygenated blood from
the heart to the lungs and oxygenated blood from the
lungs to the heart
• The Systemic Circuit – moves oxygenated blood from the
heart to all parts of the body and returns deoxygenated
blood back to the heart
Components and Functions of
Blood
• Blood is made up of 55% plasma (liquid) and 45%
cells (solid)
• Plasma
• 92% water
• 7% is oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients etc.
• 1% is dissolved proteins for clotting, immunity, and fluid
balance
Components and Functions of
Blood
• Cells
• Red-blood cells – contains hemoglobin, carries oxygen
and transports carbon dioxide
• White-blood cells – fights off disease and infection
• Platelets – helps stop blood loss after injury to a blood
vessel by forming a clot
Blood Vessels
• Arteries
• Vessels that receive blood from the heart at HIGH
PRESSURE
• Carry blood away from the heart
• Thick strong muscular walls that can stretch in response to
pressure
• All carry oxygenated blood except the ones that carry blood
from the heart to the lungs
Blood Vessels
• Arterioles
• Smaller arteries
• Control blood flow into smaller vessels called capillaries
• Capillaries
• Small blood vessels – walls are one cell thick
• Sight of fluid and gas exchange between blood and body
cells
Blood Vessels
• Venules – small veins
• Veins
• Receive blood from the capillaries at low
pressure
• Carry blood back to the heart
• Contain one-way valves that are near
skeletal muscles to assist blood (under
lower pressure) to return to the heart
• All carry deoxygenated blood except the
ones that carry blood from the lungs
back to the heart
Which type of blood vessel
are blood samples taken
from? Why?
 Homework
• Page 269 – # 5 and 6
• Page 271 – # 8 – 10