Notes on circulatory system continues

Human Circulatory System

The human body is a complex machine, requiring many processes to function efficiently. To keep these crucial processes running without any hitches, vital elements and components need to be delivered to the various parts of the body.

This role of transportation is undertaken by the human circulatory system, moving essential nutrients and minerals throughout the body and metabolic waste products away from the body. Below is the neat labelled Circulatory system diagram.

Human Circulatory System

The human circulatory system consists of a network of arteries, veins, and capillaries, with the heart pumping blood through it. Its primary role is to provide essential nutrients, minerals, and hormones to various parts of the body. Alternatively, the circulatory system is also responsible for collecting metabolic waste and toxins from the cells and tissues to be purified or expelled from the body.

Features of Circulatory System

The crucial features of human circulatory are as follows:

• The human circulatory system consists of blood, heart, blood vessels, and lymph.
• The human circulatory system circulates blood through two loops (double circulation) – One for oxygenated blood, another for de oxygenated blood.
• The human heart consists of four chambers – two ventricles and two auricles.
• The human circulatory system possesses a body-wide network of blood vessels. These comprise of arteries, veins, and capillaries.
• The primary function of blood vessels is to transport oxygenated blood and nutrients to all parts of the body. It is also tasked with collecting metabolic wastes to be expelled from the body.
• A fact that most circulatory system diagrams do not visually represent is its sheer length. Theoretically, if the veins, arteries, and capillaries of a human were laid out, end to end, it would span a total distance of 1,00,000 kilo meters (or roughly eight times the diameter of the Earth).

Organs of Circulatory System

The human circulatory system comprises of 4 main organs that have specific roles and functions. The vital circulatory system organs include:

• Heart
• Blood (technically, blood is considered a tissue and not an organ)
• Blood Vessels
• Lymphatic system

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Lymphatic System

The human circulatory system consists of another body fluid called lymph. It is also known as tissue fluid. It is produced by the lymphatic system which comprises a network of interconnected organs, nodes and ducts.

Lymph is a colorless fluid consisting of salts, proteins, water, etc. which transport and circulates digested food and absorbed fat to inter cellular spaces in the tissues. Unlike the circulatory system, lymph is not pumped; instead, it passively flows through a network of vessels.

Functions of Circulatory System

The most important function of the circulatory system is transporting oxygen throughout the body. The other vital functions of the human circulatory system are as follows:

1. It helps in sustaining all the organ systems.
2. It transports blood, nutrients, oxygen, carbon dioxide and hormones throughout the body.
3. It protects cells from pathogens.
4. It acts as an interface for cell-to-cell interaction.
5. The substances present in the blood helps repair the damaged tissue.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How does the human circulatory system work?

The human circulatory system is a network of arteries, veins, capillaries design collects metabolic waste to be filtered or expelled from the body.

2. What are the three types of circulation?

• Pulmonary Circulation
• Systemic Circulation
• Coronary Circulation

3. Is the human circulatory system open or closed?

The human circulatory system is a closed system that pumps blood through a network of arteries and veins. This type of circulation is seen in all vertebrates and some invertebrates.

4. What is the advantage of a closed circulatory system?

In a closed circulatory system, more pressure is available in the system, and the blood can reach the body extremities much quicker. This translates to a much faster metabolism rate and quicker movements in organisms with closed circulatory systems.

5. What is double circulation?

Double circulation is a system of circulation where the blood flows through the heart twice. This type of circulation is very effective as the body has a constant supply of oxygenated blood.

6. What are the dangers of high blood pressure?

High blood pressure can cause the inner walls of the arteries to get damaged. It can also cause arteries to become less elastic. Worst-case scenario, it can cause an aneurysm (a bulge in the artery that can potentially rupture).

7. What is a stroke?

A stroke is caused when brain cells do not get enough oxygen and blood supply. This causes the cells to die, resulting in symptoms such as numbness in the face, arms or a part of the body.

8. What is hypertension?

Hypertension is another term for high blood pressure. It occurs when the blood travels through the blood vessels with more force than normal. This can result in damage to the body. An average healthy human has a blood pressure of 120/80 Hg. Values higher than this is considered as hypertension.

9. What is hypo-tension ?

Also known as low blood pressure, hypo-tension is a condition where the blood flows through the blood vessels with unusually low pressure. On average, healthy blood pressure is considered to be between 120/80 Hg. Anything lower than this is considered as hypo-tension.

10. What was the earliest circulatory system like?

The circulatory system evolved as an efficient method to pump important nutrients and collect waste materials throughout the body. The earliest circulatory system resembled today’s open circulatory system where blood flowed in a hollow enclosed space. Closed circulation evolved much later in ancestors of vertebrates.