UNIT 5:

NUTRITION: THE CIRCULATORY AND EXCRETORY

SYSTEMS

INDEX
1. The internal environment 7. Healthy habits and illness of the
2. Blood circulatory system,
3. Blood vessels 8. The excretory apparatus.
4. The heart 9. Illness of the excretory systems.
5. The double circulation system 10. Healthy habits for the excretory
6. The lymphatic system apparatus.
 VOCABULARY
CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
Blood Heart Lymph Blood vessels
Artery Vein Capillaries Provide
Branch out Narrow Lead Arterioles
Venules Bloodstream Flow Atrium/Atria
Ventricle Myocardium Heartbeat Pump
Systole Diastole Twice Split

EXCRETORY SYSTEM

Nephron Kidneys Bladder Urethra

Ureter Convoluted tubule Loop of Henle Collecting ducts

Renal pelvis Capillary network
1. THE INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT AND CIRCULATORY
SYSTEM
 It consists of the blood, lymph, and interstitial fluid that
bathes all cells and provides a medium for the elementary
exchange of nutrients and waste material.

 Interstitial fluid is a liquid found in the spaces between cells. It is renewed

by blood, which circulates continuously around the whole body, providing
nutrients to cells and taking waste products away from them, which it
carries to the lymph.
Nutrition function: circulatory and excretory systems

1.Blood transports nutrients, which

pass from the blood vessels to the
interstitial plasma.

2.Tissue cells exchange 3.The blood removes the

substances with the excretion products of cellular
interstitial plasma. metabolism.
 The circulary apparatus

- The circularatory apparatus carries the nutrients

to all the cells, and collects their waste products-
- In humans, is composed by two systems:
1. The blood circulatory system, which consists of
the blood, blood vessels and heart.
2. The lymphatic circulatory system, which consists
of the lymph, lymphatic vessels and lymph
nodes.
2. BLOOD
 Blood is a red, connective and liquid tissue which carries out different

functions in our body and flows through the blood vessels.

 The human body contains around 5,5 litres of blood.
 Blood is made up of blood formed elements (45%) suspended in a liquid
called blood plasma (55%)
2. BLOOD

1. BLOOD PLASMA (55%):

 It’s a yellowish substance made up of:

 Water (91%) containing various dissolved molecules:

 Proteins (7%) with different functions
 Other solutes: hormones, waste products, minerals, nutrients and gasses.

2. FORMED ELEMENTS (45%):

 They are cells:

 Erythrocytes or red blood cells (RBC)

 Leucocytes or white blood cells (WBC)
 … and fragments of cells:
 Platelets
 2. BLOOD
2. FORMED ELEMENTS (45%) (cont.):
 They all come from the red bone marrow, where we
can find the hematopoietic stem cells

Don’t be worried about all the cell

names!! 
I’ve underlined the most important
ones
 2. BLOOD
2. FORMED ELEMENTS (45%) (cont.):
A. ERYTHROCYTES or RED BLOOD CELLS:
 They are the most common type of blood cell (around 5 million per mm 3)
 They are disc-shaped and have no nucleus.
 They contain haemoglobin, a red molecule that carries O2 to the body cells.

B. LEUCOCYTES or WHITE BLOOD CELLS:

 There are fewer WBC than red ones (around 7000 per mm 3)
 These cells help to protect the body from infections and
eliminate
cellular waste after infections.
 There are several different types, with different functions, all of
them related with defense.
2. BLOOD
Functions of blood

Blood plays a number of essential roles in the body:

1. To transport nutrients and oxygen to all cells, but also, to collect waste
products (urea, uric acid and carbon dioxide) from cells.

2. To regulate temperature. It works like a heating system, moving body

heat from the warmer areas to the cooler ones.

3. To defense against infectious diseases, thanks to leucocytes.

2. BLOOD
2. FORMED ELEMENTS (45%) (cont.):
C. THROMBOCYTES = PLATELETS:
 These are not true cells, but cell fragments, from megakaryocytes
 They contain substances that allow the blood to coagulate or clot, which
prevents haemorrhages.
 There are around 300000 platelets per mm3
 3. BLOOD VESSELS

Blood flows around the body through the circulatory

system, which is made up of:
 a network of blood vessels: arteries, capillaries and veins.
 the heart, the main organ of this system.
 3. BLOOD VESSELS

ARTERIES
 They carry the blood away from the heart. (Blood with a higher
concentration of oxygen, except to pulmonary arteries)
 They branch out into narrower vessels, leading to the different organs.
 These vessels then divide into even smaller ones called arterioles.
 The largest arteries are elastic and they have a strong muscular wall.
 3. BLOOD VESSELS

CAPILLARIES
 These are microscopic blood vessels which branch out from the arterioles.
 They are found in every body tissue.
 Their walls are formed by a single layer of flat cells which allow substances to
be exchanged quickly and easily between the blood and the tissue cells.
 There are several million capillaries in our circulatory system
 3. BLOOD VESSELS

VEINS
 Capillaries come together to form thicker VENULES.
 The venules then form veins.
 These veins take blood back to the heart from all tissues of the body. (Blood
with a lower concentration of oxygen)
 Their walls are thinner than artery walls.
 There are valves inside the veins which allow blood to flow towards the heart
but not in the opposite direction.
 4. THE HEART

The heart is a muscular and hollow organ.

 It is divided up into four chambers:
 2 atria
 2 ventricles
Between the atria and the ventricle on each side
there is an atrioventricular valve which allows the
blood to flow in one direction.
Veins enter the atria and arteries leave from the
ventricles.
 It’s made up of a thick wall of muscular tissue called
the myocardium.
 Superior LEFT SIDE (red)
RIGHT SIDE Vena OXYGENATED
Cava Aorta BLOOD
(blue)
artery
DEOXYGENATE
D
BLOOD Pulmonary
artery
Pulmonary
veins (4)

Semilunar valve Mitral valve *

(pulmonary)
Semilunar valve
(aortic)
Tricuspid
Valve *

Inferior
Septum
* They are also called Vena
ATRIOVENTRICUL Cava
AR VALVES
 4.1. THE HEART: The cardiac cycle
Each heartbeat has three phases: (DIASTOLE=RELAX, SYSTOLE=CONTRACT)

1. ATRIAL AND VENTRICULAR DIASTOLE

 The heart RELAXES and the blood from
the venae cavae and pulmonary veins
flows into both atria.

2. ATRIAL SYSTOLE, VENTRICULAR DIASTOLE

 The atria contract and the blood is
pumped into the ventricles via the open
atrioventricular valves.

3. VENTRICULAR SYSTOLE, ATRIAL DIASTOLE

 The ventricles contract, the semilunar
valves open, and the blood flows out into
the pulmonary artery and the aorta.
 At the same time, atrioventricular valves
close.
5. THE DOUBLE CIRCULATORY
SYSTEM
 5. THE DOUBLE CIRCULATORY
SYSTEM
 Blood is constantly pumped around a circuit of blood vessels by the heart.
 The main characteristics of human blood circulation are:
1. Circulation is double: Blood has to pass through the heart twice in order to complete its circuit.
2. Circulation is closed: The blood never leaves the blood vessels at any time.
3. Circulation is complete: Oxygenated blood from the lungs never mix with deoxygenated blood from
the rest of the body.

 In humans, circulation has two parts:

1. PULMONARY CIRCULATION: 2. SYSTEMIC CIRCULATION:

 The blood starts in the right ventricle,
where the pulmonary artery leads away
from the heart and splits into two
arteries which each lead to a lung, where
gas exchange takes place.
 The pulmonary veins lead oxygenated
blood to the left atrium.
 From here, the blood flows to the mitral
valve to the left ventricle, where systemic
circulation begins.
 The blood starts in the left ventricle and flows
along the aorta, which splits into arteries,
arterioles and then into capillaries, which lead
to all body tissues and organs, except the lungs.
 The blood in the capillaries provides cells with
the oxygen and nutrients they need, and takes
away waste products.
 Then, it returns by the venae cavae, passing
through the right atrium and the tricuspid valve.
 Finally, it enters the right ventricle where
pulmonary circulation starts.
 6. THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM

 It is a network of vessels and structures distributed throughout

the body.

 Its main structures are:

 LYMPH CAPILLARIES: Very thin
vessels, found in all tissues that
collect excess of interstitial fluid.

 LYMPHATIC VESSELS: Larger vessels

with valves. They return lymph to
circulatory system.

 LYMPH NODES: Small organs,

located along veins and arteries,
neck and surrounding the ears. The
contain defense cells.
6. THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM

 The main functions of lymphatic system

are:

1. Return excess interstitial fluid to

the blood.
2. Transport absorbed fat from the
small intestine to the blood
3. Defend the body in the immune
system.

LYMPH consists of interstitial fluid

that flows into the lymphatic vessels.
It only flows in one direction.
DON’T
STUDY
THIS PIC
 7. HEALTHY HABITS AND ILLNESSES OF THE
CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
• Diseases that affect the circulatory system

To the blood vessels:

o High blood pressure (high blood pressure). High blood pressure which can
damage the arteries and force the heart to work harder.
o Arteriosclerosis.The arteries become hard and lose elasticity.
o Atherosclerosis: The walls of the arteries become hard and thick because of
deposits of fats and cholesterol. It affects the blood flow.
o Aneurysm.A weak spot in the wall of a blood vessels grows
big , like a bubble. If it ruptures, it can cause a stroke.

To the heart:

o Myocardial infarction. Blood supply to he heart is suddenly blocked. This prevents

blood and oxygen from reaching the heart muscle (MYOCARDIUM), causing a heart
attack.
o Angina pectoris.
 7. HEALTHY HABITS AND ILLNESSES OF THE
CIRCULATORY SYSTEM

To the blood:

o Anemia.When the amount of red blood cells or haemoglobin is too low. Signs
of anaemia are pale skin, fatigue and dizziness.

o Leukemia. A cancer of the White blood cells. They can’t fight diseases and
infections.

o Thrombosis. Formation of a bloodclot inside a blood vessels.

• Take care of your circulatory system:

o Avoid excessive consumption of foods rich in cholesterol and saturated fats.

o Do not smoke.
o Avoid being overweight.
o Don't abuse salt.
o Try to reduce stress and situations of nervous tension.
o Avoid a sedentary life and do regular physical exercise.
 8. EXCRETION
a. Excretory system organs
 The excretory system’s function is to expel from the body the waste
products it produces.

 The excretory function is carried out by:

1. Respiratory system: This removes carbon dioxide (CO2) from the
blood.
2. Sweat glands: These are found in the skin and the produce sweat
( /swet/), a liquid which is made up of mineral salts and water.
3. Liver: This eliminates products from the breakdown* of haemoglobin
and toxic substances (medicines and alcohol).
4. Urinary system: This is the most important part of the excretory
system. It eliminates waste products by means of the urine.

VOCABULARY:
* Breakdown: descomposición
  The excretory system is made
8. EXCRETION up of:
b. The urinary system 1. Kidneys: Organs which
produce urine (/jʊərɪn/)
2. Urinary tracts:
a. Ureters: Tubes that
take the urine to the
bladder.
b. Bladder: Elastic sac
which collects urine.
c. Urethra: Duct that
takes urine to the
outside of the body.
In men, it’s a common
duct with reproductive
system. (It carries urine
and semen)
8. EXCRETORY SYSTEM Kidneys:
 Bean-shaped organs
b. The urinary system
 They are in the back of the
abdomen.
 Each one is made up of:
a. Renal cortex: external part.
b. Renal medulla: internal part.
c. Renal pelvis: hollow chamber
which leads urine to the ureter.

 Each kidney is made up of

over a million of nephrons.
8. EXCRETION
Nephron:
b. The urinary system  Small tubules surrounded by
blood capillaries.
 They filter blood and make
urine.
 They are made of several
parts:
 Bowman’s capsule: This is a
round sac which contains a
capillary network called
glomerulus.
 Convoluted tubule
 Loop of Henle
 They lead to the collecting
ducts, which drain into the
renal pelvis.
 8. EXCRETION  Urine is made up of water,
c. Production of urine mineral salts and urea.
 Urine is formed in three phases:
1. Glomerular filtration: Some
substances passes from the blood
capillaries into the Bowman’s
capsule.
2. Tubular reabsorption: As they
travel through the nephron’s
tubule, a lot of the filtered
substances are reabsorbed (they go
back into blood in the surrounded
capillaries). These substances are
water, nutrients and some mineral
salts.
3. Tubular secretion: Water is
reabsorbed and urine is drain to the
collecting duct.
http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/en/howthebodyworks/kidneysandbladderoverview/thekidneysoverview/pages
/urineformation.aspx
 9. DISEASES OF THE EXCRETORY SYSTEM

CYSTITIS /sɪstaɪtɪs/
Inflammation of the bladder wall
or urinary tract, usually caused by
a bacterial infection.

PYELONEPHRITIS
/ˌpaɪələʊnɪˈfraɪtɪs/
Inflammation of the renal cortex,
medulla and renal pelvis, due to a
bacterial infection.

RENAL COLIC
Severe pain caused by KIDNEY
STONES, which are made of
mineral deposits.
 10. HEALTHY HABITS FOR EXCRETORY
APPARATUS
• Healthy and balanced diet, with abundant liquids and sufficient dietary fibre.

• Adequate hygiene, which includes washing hands before and after urinating to avoid
possible urinary infections.

• Drinking abundant water. As a guideline, we should drink 1.5 litres of water a day.

• Avoid self-medication, don’t forget that most medicine is eliminated by the kidneys.

• Avoid alcohol and drugs

• Carry out moderate and frequent physical exercise.