Circulatory System

Purpose of the circulatory system

to transport blood, oxygen, nutrients, and hormones to cells throughout the body while removing waste products like carbon dioxide

Main parts of the circulatory system

heart, blood vessels, blood

Atrium

receives blood entering the heart

right atrium

receives deoxygenated blood from the body

left atrium

receives oxygenated blood from the lungs

ventricles

pump blood out of the heart

right ventricle

pumps blood to the lungs for oxygenation

left ventricle

pumps oxygenated blood to the rest of the body

valves

prevent backward flow of blood ensuring it moves in one direction through the hearts chambers

arteries

transport oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body’s tissues

pulmonary artery

carries deoxygenated blood to the lungs

veins

collects deoxygenated blood from tissues and transports back toward the heart

pulmonary veins

carry oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the heart

capillaries

exchange of oxygen, nutrients and waste products between the bloodstream through thin walls

red blood cells

transports oxygen from the lungs to body tissues and carbon dioxide back to the lungs to be exhaled

white blood cells

defends body against infections and diseases

platelets

form clots at the site of a blood vessel injury to stop bleeding/initiate healing

plasma

liquid that transports blood cells, hormones, nutrients, waste products and proteins throughout body