1.

The 2 of 10
body's
transpor
t system

Blood travels around the body in over 75,000 miles of

arteries, veins and capillaries. Stretched end-to-end,
that's three times around the world! They transport oxygen
from the lungs, remove carbon dioxide from the cells and
carry nutrients, hormones and water to all parts of the
body.

Arteries Capillaries Veins

Carry blood: away from the from arteries to towards the
heart veins heart
Pressure: high low very low
Walls are: thick and very thin and thin
muscular with leaky - one cell
elastic fibres thick
Blood is: oxygenated exchanging de-
(except nutrients and oxygenated
pulmonary gases with cells (except
artery) pulmonary
vein)
Picture 1.2 The structure of arteries, Pulse: Strong none none
veins and capillaries

Humans are endothermic and keep a constant body

temperature of 37 °C. The circulatory system plays a big
part in regulating body temperature and it is self-repairing.
A blood clot quickly forms to seal up a cut before new
tissue grows to replace the damaged area.
 Layout of the circulation

The circulation in
humans, and other
mammals, is a closed
loop of tubes that run in
a continuous figure of
"8" centred on the
heart.
The heart is the pump
that keeps the blood
flowing. This is called a
"double circulation"
system: one loop
carries blood around
the lungs . The blood is
carried to the lungs in
the pulmonary arteries
and returns in the
pulmonary veins.
The other loop supplies
blood at high pressure
to the head and body.
The main artery from
the heart is the aorta. It
Picture 1.3a Circulation system Picture 1.3b. Figure of 8.
branches to carry blood
to the head and body.
The blood returns to the
heart in the vena cava.