Circulatory System

Circulatory system in humans, is the

combined function of the
heart,
blood, and
blood vessels (arteries, veins and
capillaries)
to transport oxygen and nutrients to
the organs and tissues throughout the
body and carry away waste products.
Parts of the Circulatory System

1. The blood (a fluid tissue)

2. The veins and arteries (a network of tubing)
to carry the blood.
3. The capillaries (specialized tubing) to allow
diffusion of molecules to and from blood.
4. The heart (a pump) to keep the blood moving
through the arteries, veins, and capillaries.
 Anatomy- Heart
 The heart is the engine of the circulatory system.
 It provides the pressure needed to keep the blood flowing
through the network of tubing.
 It is divided into four chambers:

(1) the right atrium,

(2) the right ventricle,
(3) the left atrium, and
(4) the left ventricle.
 Anatomy- Heart
4

 The two atria collect the blood.

 The two ventricles pump the blood out
of the heart.
 The valves prevent the blood from
flowing backwards.
 The septum separates the two sides of
the heart.
 The right side of the heart pumps de-
oxygenated blood to the lungs to pick
up oxygen.
 The left side of the heart pumps
oxygenated blood from the lungs to the Septum
rest of the body.
 Anatomy- Heart
 The walls of heart chamber are made of a muscle called
myocardium, which contracts continuously and
rhythmically to pump the blood.
 The pumping action of the heart occurs in two stages for
each heartbeat:
(1) Diastole, when the heart is at rest;
(2) Systole, when the heart contracts to pump
deoxygenated blood toward the lungs and oxygenated
blood to the body.  
 During each heartbeat, 60 to 90 ml of blood are pumped
out of the heart.
 Diastole Systole
Normal range
(blood pressure): 60 – 80 mmHg 90 – 120 mmHg
(adults) (adults)
Blood Circulation in Heart

 Deoxygenated blood from body to

heart – Superior and Inferior Vena
cava  Right Atrium  [diastole]
Right Ventricle  [systole]
Pulmonary Artery (to lungs)

 Oxygenated blood from lungs to

heart – Pulmonary vein  left
Septum
Atrium  [diastole] Left Ventricle
 [systole] Aorta (to body)
Blood Vessels

Arteries
 Arteries are tubes that carry oxygenated blood
away from the heart.
 Small arteries are called arterioles.

Veins
 Veins are tubes that return deoxygenated blood
to the heart.
 Small veins are called venules.
 Difference between Artery and Vein
Artery Vein
 Carry oxygenated blood (except  Carry deoxygenated blood
pulmonary artery). (except pulmonary vein)
 Carry blood away from the heart  Carry blood to the heart
 Thick and elastic muscular wall  Thin and slightly muscular wall
 Contain no valve  Contain valve
 Blood moves in pulses  No pulses
 Blood flows rapidly  Blood flows smoothly
Blood Vessels
Capillaries
 Capillaries connect arteries and veins.
 They are a finely divided network of tiny tubes that exchange
food, oxygen and wastes between blood and body cells.
 Capillaries leak nutrients from the bloodstream to all cells in
the body.
 Cell wastes diffuse through the capillary back into the blood.

capillaries
arteriole venule
Types of Blood Circulation

 Systemic circulation
is the movement of blood
between the heart and the
rest of the body.

 Pulmonary circulation
is the movement of blood
between the heart and the
lungs.
Blood

 Blood is a specialized body fluid that transports

oxygen and nutrients to the cells and carries
carbon dioxide and other waste products away
from the same cells. 
 Blood is composed of blood cells suspended in
blood plasma.
Functions of Blood

Blood performs many functions within the body including:

 Supply of oxygen to all tissues
 Supply of nutrients such as glucose, amino acids and fatty
acids
 Removal of waste such as CO2, urea, uric acid etc.
 Produces antibodies and destroy harmful microorganisms
 Maintains acid-base balance and body temperature.
 Transports hormones and signals about tissue damage.
 Composition of Blood
14

1. Plasma
 Fluid part of the blood

2. Blood cells
a) Red blood cells: Contain hemoglobin
which carries oxygen.
b) White blood cells: They produce
antibody and destroy harmful
microorganisms.
c) Platelets: Clump together to form clots
and protect the body by stopping bleeding.
 Plasma

After centrifuge a
blood sample, the
yellowish liquid will
be found on the top,
is called plasma
(55%)
 Composition of Plasma
 Plasma composed of water (90%), proteins (~10%) and other
substrates.
 Plasma proteins include albumins, globulins, and clotting proteins
 Other substrates include,
Electrolytes: Na+, K+, Ca++, Mg++
Nutrients: glucose, amino acids, fatty acids, monoglycerides
Gases: O2, N2, CO2
Regulatory substance: hormones, enzymes, vitamins, wastes
Blood Cells

There are mainly 3 types of blood cells.

 Red blood cells (RBC)

or erythrocytes
 White blood cells (WBC)
or leukocytes
 Platelets
or thrombocytes
Blood Cells

Red Blood White Blood Platelets

Cells Cells

Granulocytes Agranulocytes

Neutrophils Eosinophils Basophils Monocytes Lymphocytes

Red blood cells (RBC)
 RBC are red because they contain a protein called
hemoglobin that is red in color due to its iron.
 RBC carry oxygen to body tissues and remove carbon
dioxide.
 RBC are produced in the bone marrow. (In the embryo,
the liver is the main site of RBC production).
 RBC have an average life span of ~120 days.
 In adult, the total count of RBC is 4.5×106 - 5.5×106 per
mm3 of blood.
White blood cells (WBC)

 WBC are cells of the immune system defending the

body against both infectious disease and foreign
materials.
 They are made in the bone marrow from stem cell.
 The lifespan of WBC ranges from 13 to 20 days.
 The total count of WBC is 7×103 - 1×104 per mm3 of
blood.
Platelets
 Platelets are involved with blood clotting. Without blood
platelets, anybody would bleed to death.
 They are made in the bone marrow from stem cells.
 Platelets survive for 10 days before being removed by
the liver and spleen.
 The total count of platelets is 3×105 per mm3 of blood.
Blood grouping

Human blood is grouped into 4 types:

 A, B, AB, and O group based on two antigens A and B
 Each letter refers to a kind of antigen (protein) on the
surface of red blood cells (RBC)
 Each blood type is also grouped by its Rhesus factor,
or Rh factor
 Blood is either Rh positive (Rh+) or Rh negative (Rh-)
Rh blood type

Another red blood cell (RBC) surface antigen

is called Rh factor.

Rh+ … individual has Rh antigen

Rh- … individual does not have Rh antigen
Universal donor and Universal recipient

 Type O- blood is considered the “universal donor”

because it can be donated to people of any blood type.
It contains no antigen.
 Type AB+ blood is considered the “universal
recipient” because people with this type can receive
any blood type. It contains both the antigens and will
not produce any antibody against foreign antigen.
Disorders
Atherosclerosis
 is a hardening of an artery, specifically due to the formation

of fatty plaque.
 develops in the inner wall of the arteries, thus narrowing their

channel.
 increases blood pressure and the risk of heart attack, brain

stroke, and kidney damage.

Disorders
Heart Attack
 results from interruption of oxygen supply to the heart
 causes death of the heart muscle
 the leading cause of death in both men and women

Brain Stroke
 usually results from rupture or blockage of arteries in the
head
 brain cells are starved of oxygen and nutrients
 can cause paralysis, loss of ability to speak, or death.
Thank you