What is the 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.
- The Heart
- The Blood
- The Blood Vessels
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.
- Exercise on a regular basis. Get outside and play. Keep that body moving (walk, jog, run, bike, skate, jump, swim).
- Eat Healthy. Remember the Food Pyramid and make sure your eating your food from the bottom to top.
- Don't Smoke! Don't Smoke! Don't Smoke! Don't Smoke! Don't Smoke!
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.
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 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 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 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 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.
In class we talked about three types of blood vessels:
- Arteries
- Capillaries
- Veins
Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen rich blood AWAY from the heart. Remember, A A Arteries Away, A A Arteries Away, A A Arteries Away.
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 carry blood back toward your heart.
- 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!
Functions
Hemoglobin
green = heme groups
red & blue = protein subunits
green = heme groups
red & blue = protein subunits
Heme
Blood performs many important functions within the body including:
- Supply of oxygen to tissues (bound to hemoglobin, which is carried in red cells)
- Supply of nutrients such as glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids (dissolved in the blood or bound to plasma proteins (e.g., blood lipids))
- Removal of waste such as carbon dioxide, urea, and lactic acid
- Immunological functions, including circulation of white blood cells, and detection of foreign material by antibodies
- Coagulation, which is one part of the body's self-repair mechanism (blood clotting after an open wound in order to stop bleeding)
- Messenger functions, including the transport of hormones and the signaling of tissue damage
- Regulation of body pH
- Regulation of core body temperature
- Hydraulic functions
· Blood doesn't have "a" function, it has several. It carries food and oxygen to cells, it carries waste away from cells, and serves as a carrier for various disease-fighting cells such as the "white" blood cells. It also has a means of puncture-proofing the body: it clots, sealing up small holes quickly. Blood is also important in maintaining a constant temperature in your body.
Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_function_of_the_blood#ixzz18rYT52fn
Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_function_of_the_blood#ixzz18rYT52fn
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Circulatory system consists of
Organ - heart; Connecting systems - arteries, veins and capillaries; cellular components - RBC - exchange of gases, WBC - immnuity against infection, platelets - blood coagulation during cuts.
Function of the circulatory system is
Organ - heart; Connecting systems - arteries, veins and capillaries; cellular components - RBC - exchange of gases, WBC - immnuity against infection, platelets - blood coagulation during cuts.
Function of the circulatory system is
- Carry oxygen from lungs to tissues and carbondioxide from tissues to lungs therby aiding in the exchange of gases. Supply of oxygen is needed for proper functionaing of the cells. Removal of carbondioxide is also equally essential s it becomes toxic to cells when present in high amount.
- Help in fighting against infections by the defence cells- the granulocytes and agranulocytes
- Prevent overbleeding by forming blood clot by the platelets.
- Helps to maintain pH of the blood by buffering system present
Thus circulating blood performs varied functions.
To distribute oxygen to the cells of the body.
Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_function_of_the_circulatory_system#ixzz18rYjuzI9
Circulatory System
Introduction
The circulatory system consists of blood, a heart, and blood vessels.Functions of the Circulatory System
The circulatory system functions with other body systems to provide the following:Transport of materials:
Gasses transported: Oxygen is transported from the lungs to the cells. CO2 (a waste) is transported from the cells to the lungs.
Transport other nutrients to cells - For example, glucose, a simple sugar used to produce ATP, is transported throughout the body by the circulatory system. Immediately after digestion, glucose is transported to the liver. The liver maintains a constant level of glucose in the blood.
Transport other wastes from cells - For example, ammonia is produced as a result of protein digestion. It is transported to the liver where it is converted to less toxic urea. Urea is then transported to the kidneys for excretion in the urine.
Transport hormones - Numerous hormones that help maintain constant internal conditions are transported by the circulatory system.
Contains cells that fight infection
Helps stabilize the pH and ionic concentration of the body fluids.
It helps maintain body temperature by transporting heat. This is particularly important in homeothermic animals such as birds and mammals.
Circulatory System: Problems and Diseases
As we all know, the circulatory system or cardiovascular system comprises the blood, heart and blood vessels. The blood consists of the red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), platelets and blood plasma. The blood vessels, on the other hand, comprise the veins, arteries, arterioles and capillaries. All of these parts contribute a lot to the proper functioning of the circulatory system. A disorder in any of the parts can cause certain health complications, which may vary from a mild disease to a life-threatening condition.
There are two types of circulatory system problems, viz. congenital (present at birth) and acquired (developed after birth). Common problems and diseases of the circulatory system include:
Aortic Aneurysm: Aortic aneurysm is bulging in the wall of the aorta, the largest artery of the body. Aortic aneurysm is caused due to aortic dissection (tear in the aortic wall) or defect in the aortic wall. A rupture of the bulging may cause heavy bleeding or hemorrhage. Aortic aneurysm can be developed as a complication of certain other diseases such as obesity, atherosclerosis and high blood pressure.
Angina: Angina is pain or discomfort in the chest area, due to blockage in the blood vessels leading to the heart. The symptoms of angina are observed when there is insufficient supply of oxygen and blood to the heart. Chest pain may lasts for about 10 minutes.
Arrhythmia: Arrhythmia is a heart problem, characterized by irregularity in the heart rhythm. Symptoms may vary from very slow to fast heart rhythm. Arrhythmia can be a congenital or an acquired problem. In case of acquired arrhythmia, it can occur at any stage of life.
Atherosclerosis: Atherosclerosis is hardening of the arterial wall (usually medium and large arteries) due to formation of plaque or atheroma. The plaque may be composed of cholesterol, calcium and fatty deposits. Atherosclerosis may hamper the blood circulation or at times, it can even stop the blood flow. A person suffering from this problem experiences sharp pain in the affected area.
High Blood Pressure: High blood pressure or hypertension is a condition, when the systolic pressure exceeds 140 mmHg and diastolic pressure exceeds 90 mmHg. It is mostly caused due to hereditary reasons or unhealthy lifestyle habits such as heavy drinking and smoking.
Peripheral Vascular Disease: Peripheral vascular disease is disorder in the blood vessels that are not part of the brain and heart. This disease is caused due to fatty acid deposits in the arteries of the leg portion. It can be hereditary or develop as a complication of obesity, high blood pressure and smoking.
In severe cases, heart disease can cause heart attack, heart failure and several other fatal health problems. One word of advice for those people who smoke cigarette and have circulatory problem would be to quit smoking, as it can worsen the existing condition, by constricting the blood vessels. Circulatory problems and diseases may also be caused due to intake of certain drugs like oral contraceptives and diuretics. It is always advisable to consult and seek advice from a qualified health practitioner before using any drugs and/or medications, in order to know the pros and cons of the same.
As we all know, the circulatory system or cardiovascular system comprises the blood, heart and blood vessels. The blood consists of the red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), platelets and blood plasma. The blood vessels, on the other hand, comprise the veins, arteries, arterioles and capillaries. All of these parts contribute a lot to the proper functioning of the circulatory system. A disorder in any of the parts can cause certain health complications, which may vary from a mild disease to a life-threatening condition.
There are two types of circulatory system problems, viz. congenital (present at birth) and acquired (developed after birth). Common problems and diseases of the circulatory system include:
Aortic Aneurysm: Aortic aneurysm is bulging in the wall of the aorta, the largest artery of the body. Aortic aneurysm is caused due to aortic dissection (tear in the aortic wall) or defect in the aortic wall. A rupture of the bulging may cause heavy bleeding or hemorrhage. Aortic aneurysm can be developed as a complication of certain other diseases such as obesity, atherosclerosis and high blood pressure.
Angina: Angina is pain or discomfort in the chest area, due to blockage in the blood vessels leading to the heart. The symptoms of angina are observed when there is insufficient supply of oxygen and blood to the heart. Chest pain may lasts for about 10 minutes.
Arrhythmia: Arrhythmia is a heart problem, characterized by irregularity in the heart rhythm. Symptoms may vary from very slow to fast heart rhythm. Arrhythmia can be a congenital or an acquired problem. In case of acquired arrhythmia, it can occur at any stage of life.
Atherosclerosis: Atherosclerosis is hardening of the arterial wall (usually medium and large arteries) due to formation of plaque or atheroma. The plaque may be composed of cholesterol, calcium and fatty deposits. Atherosclerosis may hamper the blood circulation or at times, it can even stop the blood flow. A person suffering from this problem experiences sharp pain in the affected area.
High Blood Pressure: High blood pressure or hypertension is a condition, when the systolic pressure exceeds 140 mmHg and diastolic pressure exceeds 90 mmHg. It is mostly caused due to hereditary reasons or unhealthy lifestyle habits such as heavy drinking and smoking.
Peripheral Vascular Disease: Peripheral vascular disease is disorder in the blood vessels that are not part of the brain and heart. This disease is caused due to fatty acid deposits in the arteries of the leg portion. It can be hereditary or develop as a complication of obesity, high blood pressure and smoking.
In severe cases, heart disease can cause heart attack, heart failure and several other fatal health problems. One word of advice for those people who smoke cigarette and have circulatory problem would be to quit smoking, as it can worsen the existing condition, by constricting the blood vessels. Circulatory problems and diseases may also be caused due to intake of certain drugs like oral contraceptives and diuretics. It is always advisable to consult and seek advice from a qualified health practitioner before using any drugs and/or medications, in order to know the pros and cons of the same.
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