Circulatory System: Facts, Function & Diseases

The circulatory system is a vast network of organs and vessels that is responsible for
the flow of blood, nutrients, hormones, oxygen and other gases to and from cells.
Without the circulatory system, the body would not be able to fight disease or maintain a
stable internal environment such as proper temperature and pH known as
homeostasis.
Description of the circulatory system
While many view the circulatory system, also known as the cardiovascular system, as
simply a highway for blood, it is made up of three independent systems that work
together: the heart (cardiovascular); lungs (pulmonary); and arteries, veins, coronary
and portal vessels (systemic), according to the U.S National Library of Medicine (NLM).
In the average human, about 2,000 gallons (7,572 liters) of blood travel daily through
about 60,000 miles (96,560 kilometers) of blood vessels, according to the Arkansas
Heart Hospital. An average adult has 5 to 6 quarts (4.7 to 5.6 liters) of blood, which is
made up of plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. In addition to blood,
the circulatory system moves lymph, which is a clear fluid that helps rid the body of
unwanted material.
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The heart, blood, and blood vessels make up the cardiovascular component of the
circulatory system. It includes the pulmonary circulation, a "loop" through the lungs
where blood is oxygenated. It also incorporates the systemic circulation, which runs
through the rest of the body to provide oxygenated blood, according to NLM.
[Top 10 Amazing Facts About Your Heart]
The pulmonary circulatory system sends oxygen-depleted blood away from the heart
through the pulmonary artery to the lungs and returns oxygenated blood to the heart
through the pulmonary veins, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Oxygen-deprived blood enters the right atrium of the heart and flows through the
tricuspid valve (right atrioventricular valve) into the right ventricle. From there it is
pumped through the pulmonary semilunar valve into the pulmonary artery on its way to
the lungs. When it gets to the lungs, carbon dioxide is released from the blood and
oxygen is absorbed. The pulmonary vein sends the oxygen-rich blood back to the heart,
according to NLM.
The systemic circulation is the portion of the circulatory system is the network of veins,
arteries and blood vessels that transports blood from heart, services the body's cells
and then re-enters the heart, the Mayo Clinic noted.

Job of the Circulatory System

The Circulatory System is responsible for transporting materials throughout the entire
body. It transports nutrients, water, and oxygen to your billions of body cells and carries
away wastes such as carbon dioxide that body cells produce. It is an amazing highway
that travels through your entire body connecting all your body cells.
Parts of the Circulatory System-

The circulatory System is divided into three major parts:

1. The Heart
2. The Blood
3. The Blood Vessels
The Heart-

The Heart is an amazing organ. The heart beats about 3 BILLION times during an
average lifetime. It is a muscle about the size of your fist. The heart is located in the
center of your chest slightly to the left. It's job is to pump your blood and keep the blood
moving throughout your body. It is your job to keep your heart healthy and there are
three main things you need to remember in order to keep your heart healthy.
1. Exercise on a regular basis. Get outside and play. Keep that body moving (walk,
jog, run, bike, skate, jump, swim).
2. Eat Healthy. Remember the Food Pyramid and make sure your eating your food
from the bottom to top.
3. Don't Smoke! Don't Smoke! Don't Smoke! Don't Smoke! Don't Smoke!

The Blood-

The blood is an amazing substance that is constantly flowing through our bodies.

Your blood is pumped by your heart.

Your blood travels through thousands of miles of blood vessels right within your
own body.

Your blood carries nutrients, water, oxygen and waste products to and from your
body cells.

A young person has about a gallon of blood. An adult has about 5 quarts.

Your blood is not just a red liquid but rather is made up of liquids, solids and
small amounts of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Blood Cells-

Red Blood Cells-

Red Blood Cells are responsible for carrying oxygen and carbon dioxide. Red
Blood Cells pick up oxygen in the lungs and transport it to all the body cells. After
delivering the oxygen to the cells it gathers up the carbon dioxide(a waste gas
produced as our cells are working) and transports carbon dioxide back to the
lungs where it is removed from the body when we exhale(breath out). There are
about 5,000,000 Red Blood Cells in ONE drop of blood.

White Blood Cells (Germinators)-

White Blood Cells help the body fight off germs. White Blood Cells attack and
destroy germs when they enter the body. When you have an infection your body
will produce more White Blood Cells to help fight an infection. Sometimes our
White Blood Cells need a little help and the Doctor will prescribe an antibiotic to
help our White Blood Cells fight a large scale infection.

Platelets-

Platelets are blood cells that help stop bleeding. When we cut ourselves we
have broken a blood vessel and the blood leaks out. In order to plug up the holes
where the blood is leaking from the platelets start to stick to the opening of the
damaged blood vessels. As the platelets stick to the opening of the damaged
vessel they attract more platelets, fibers and other blood cells to help form a plug
to seal the broken blood vessel. When the platelet plug is completely formed the
wound stops bleeding. We call our platelet plugs scabs.

Plasma-

Plasma is the liquid part of the blood. Approximately half of your blood is made of
plasma. The plasma carries the blood cells and other components throughout the
body. Plasma is made in the liver.

Where are the blood cells made?

The Red Blood Cells, White Blood Cells and Platelets are made by the bone marrow.
Bone marrow is a soft tissue inside of our bones that produces blood cells.

The Blood Vessels-

In class we talked about three types of blood vessels:

1. Arteries
2. Capillaries
3. Veins

Arteries-

Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood AWAY from the heart, much of which
is oxygen rich. Remember, A A Arteries Away, A A Arteries Away, A A Arteries
Away.

Capillaries-

Capillaries are tiny blood vessels as thin or thinner than the hairs on your head.
Capillaries connect arteries to veins. Food substances(nutrients), oxygen and
wastes pass in and out of your blood through the capillary walls.

Veins-

Veins carry blood back toward your heart.

AMAZING FACTS

One drop of blood contains a half a drop of plasma, 5 MILLION Red Blood Cells,
10 Thousand White Blood Cells and 250 Thousand Platelets.

You have thousands of miles of blood vessels in your body. "Bill Nye the Science
Guy" claims that you could wrap your blood vessels around the equator
TWICE!

Keep your heart healthy...it's going to have to beat about 3 BILLION times
during your lifetime!

Diseases of the Circulatory System

According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease is the leading
cause of death in the United States. Because of its vastness and critical nature, it is one
of the systems of the body most prone to disease.
One of the most common diseases of the circulatory system is arteriosclerosis, in which
the fatty deposits in the arteries causes the walls to stiffen and thicken the walls.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the causes are a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other
material in the artery walls. This can restrict blood flow or in severe cases stop it all
together, resulting in a heart attack or stroke.

Stroke involves blockage of the blood vessels to the brain and is another major
condition of the circulatory system, according to Mitchell Weinberg of the North ShoreLIJ Health System. Risk factors include smoking, diabetes and high cholesterol, he
noted.
Another circulatory disease, hypertension commonly called high blood pressure
causes the heart to work harder and can lead to such complications as a heart attack, a
stroke, or kidney failure, the NLM noted.
An aortic aneurysm occurs when the aorta is damaged and starts to bulge or eventually
tear, which can cause severe internal bleeding. This weakness can be present at birth
or the result of atherosclerosis, obesity, high blood pressure or a combination of these
conditions, according to Weinberg.
Peripheral arterial disease (also known as PAD) typically involves areas of narrowing or
blockage within an artery, according to Jay Radhakrishnan, an interventional radiologist
in Houston, Texas. In addition, chronic venous insufficiency (also known as CVI)
involves areas reflux (or backward flow) within the superficial veins of the lower
extremities.
PAD is diagnosed with noninvasive testing including ultrasound, CT scan, and/or MRI.
Ultrasound is the least expensive of these methods, but also gives the least amount of
detail, as CT and MRI show a much higher degree of anatomic detail when identifying
areas of narrowing/blockage within an artery. CVI is diagnosed with ultrasound as the
venous reflux can be measured accurately by ultrasound, which ultimately guides
treatment.
Study of the circulatory system
Cardiologists are specialists who are certified to diagnose, treat and prevent disease of
the heart, arteries and veins. Cardiologists are certified by the American Board of
Internal Medicine (ABIM) after meeting educational and practice requirements. Before
being certified as cardiologists, those aspiring to the specialty must be certified in
internal medicine.
Then cardiologists can become certified in one of several cardiology subspecialties,
including transplant cardiology, cardiovascular disease, clinical cardiac
electrophysiology and interventional cardiology.
Ready for Med School? Test Your Body Smarts
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Well, sort of. In fact, most body parts are far more complicated than that, while some
seem to have no business being inside there at all.