Glossary of the Circulatory System

Circulatory system
The circulatory system is composed of the heart and the blood vasculature: the arteries and the veins.
System: Circulatory

Region: All

Function: Arteries carry blood away from the heart, and veins carry blood back to the heart.
Circulating blood supplies cells throughout the body with oxygen and removes waste carbon dioxide.
Pathologies: Acute myeloid leukemia, anemia, angina, aortic aneurysm, aplastic anemia, arrhythmia,
arteriovenous malformations, atherosclerosis, atrial fibrillation, blood clots, brain aneurysm,
cardiomyopathy, carotid artery disease, childhood leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, congenital heart
defects, coronary artery disease, deep vein thrombosis, diabetes type 1, diabetes type 2, diabetic foot,
diabetic heart disease, giant cell arteritis, heart attack, heart failure, heart valve diseases, hemophilia,
high blood pressure, Kawasaki Disease, low blood pressure, malaria, mitral valve prolapse, muscular
dystrophy, pericardial disorders, peripheral arterial disease, Reynaud’s Disease, Rh incompatibility,
rheumatoid arthritis, sickle cell anemia, stroke, thalassemia, transient ischemic attack, varicose veins,
vasculitis
Blood
Blood is composed of 55% plasma and 45% “formed elements,” including red blood
cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Because of these living cells suspended in the
plasma, blood is considered a fluid connective tissue (not a fluid).
System: Circulatory
Region: All
Function: It transports oxygen and other essential substances throughout the body,
fights sickness, and performs other vital functions.
Platelet
Cell fragments called platelets, or thrombocytes, make up about 2 percent of
blood. See it in 3D!
System: Circulatory
Region: All
Function: Platelets clump and form a plug in the damaged area of a torn blood vessel
to stop blood loss.
Red blood cell
Red blood cells, also called erythrocytes, make up 40–45% of blood volume and
function to transport oxygen from the lungs to the cells of the body. See it in 3D!
System: Circulatory
Region: All
White blood cell
White blood cells, also called leukocytes, are the disease-fighting components of
blood. They account for just 1% of circulating blood but multiply during infection or
inflammation. See it in 3D!
System: Circulatory, Lymphatic (Immune)
Region: All
Plasma
The largest component of blood is plasma, a yellowish liquid that is 90% water.
System: Circulatory
Region: All
Function: Plasma carries suspended blood cells and other substances.
Artery
Arteries transport blood away from the heart. In the systemic circulation arteries and
their branches transport oxygenated blood and veins carry deoxygenated blood.
System: Circulatory
Region: All
Pathologies: Aortic aneurysm, arteriovenous malformations, diabetes type 1,
diabetes type 2
Vein
Veins return blood back toward the heart. In the systemic circulation arteries and
their branches transport oxygenated blood and veins carry deoxygenated blood. See
it in 3D!
System: Circulatory
Region: All
Pathologies: Arteriovenous malformations, diabetes type 1, diabetes type 2
Capillary
Capillaries surround body cells and tissues to deliver and absorb oxygen, nutrients,
and other substances. The capillaries also connect the branches of arteries and to
the branches of veins.
System: Circulatory
Region: All
Systemic circulation
Systemic circulation moves blood between the heart and the rest of the body. It
sends oxygenated blood out to cells and returns deoxygenated blood to the heart.
System: Circulatory
Region: All
Pulmonary circulation
Pulmonary circulation moves blood between the heart and the lungs. It transports
deoxygenated blood to the lungs to absorb oxygen and release carbon dioxide. The
oxygenated blood then flows back to the heart.
System: Circulatory
Region: Thorax