Unit 3: The Circulatory System

Circulatory systems in organisms are responsible for the

transport of energy and nutrients in order to maintain
homeostasis (equilibrium or balance) among the organism’s
other systems as well as between the internal and external
environment. Humans and other organisms must maintain
equilibrium with respect to organs, organ systems, and the
surrounding environment for survival.
Upon completion of this unit of study, you should be
able to do all of the following:
♥ explain the need for circulatory systems in humans
♥ describe the structure and function of an artery, a vein,
and a capillary
♥ trace the flow of blood through the heart and describe the
pulmonary and
systemic pathways of blood
♥ describe the functions of the lymphatic system
♥ identify the main components of blood and explain the
role of each
♥ describe how the immune system recognizes and destroys
pathogenic
organisms that penetrate the human body’s first line of
defense

Introduction:
 All cells require nutrients. Nutrients must be
transported from feeding cells to support cells. Wastes
produced in all cells need to be moved to specialized cells for
waste removal. An efficient circulatory system is important
for organisms with three distinct cell layers. There are
approximately 96,000 kilometers of blood vessels supplying
nutrients to the estimated 60 trillion cells composing the
human body. In your body, no cell is more than two cells
away from a blood vessel. About 5 litres of blood cycle
through the heart to the lungs and back every sixty seconds.
The heart pumps oxygen-rich blood to the body’s tissues
where both carbon dioxide and waste are given up and is
taken up by the blood. The primary fuel for cells is glucose
which is broken down by oxygen to form carbon dioxide and
water.

Six functions carried out by the human circulatory system

are:

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Definitions:

Define each of the following words using the glossary or

chapter 7 of the Nelson Biology 11 textbooks:

artery semi-lunar valves

vein atrioventricular valves
capillary septum
aorta atherosclerosis
atrium coronary arteries
ventricle arterioles
systemic circulatory system venules
pulmonary circulatory system aneurism
vasoconstriction vasodilation

Early Theories of Circulation

Ancient Greeks believed that the center of human
intelligence was the heart, an “innate heat” that produced
four humors: blood, phlegm, and black and yellow bile.
Early theories on circulation were put forth by Galen,
Malpighi, and Harvey. Briefly describe what their ideas
were and their connection to our understanding of
circulation today:

1. Galen-

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2. William Harvey-

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3. Marcello Malpighi-
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