3.2 transport (SL)

Circulatory System

A system that transports blood, nutrients, oxygen, and waste products throughout the body.

Heart

The organ that pumps blood to various parts of the body.

Arteries

Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.

Veins

Blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart.

Capillaries

Tiny blood vessels where exchange of materials occurs between blood and tissues.

Diffusion

The process by which substances move across cell membranes from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

Oxygen

A gas that is essential for cellular respiration and is delivered to tissues by the blood.

Waste Products

Substances like carbon dioxide that are produced during metabolism and are transported away from cells.

Occlusion

The blockage of a blood vessel, often due to plaque buildup.

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

A condition caused by the narrowing of coronary arteries leading to decreased blood flow to the heart.

Pulse

The rhythmical throbbing of the arteries as blood is propelled through them.

Skeletal Muscles

Muscles that surround veins and help in moving blood back to the heart.

Valves

Structures in veins that prevent the backflow of blood.

Nutrient

A substance that provides nourishment essential for growth and the maintenance of life.

Myocardial Infarction

Also known as a heart attack, it occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked.

Plaque

A build-up of cholesterol and lipids in arteries that can lead to occlusion.

1. Oxygen Intake

Oxygen is inhaled into the lungs through the respiratory system.

2. Oxygen Diffusion

In the lungs, oxygen diffuses from the alveoli into the bloodstream.

3. Heart Pumping

The heart pumps oxygenated blood from the lungs through the pulmonary veins into the left atrium.

4. Distribution of Oxygen

Blood moves from the left atrium to the left ventricle, which then pumps it into the aorta and distributes oxygenated blood throughout the body.

5. Nutrient Delivery and Waste Collection

As blood flows through arteries and into smaller arterioles and capillaries, oxygen and nutrients diffuse into surrounding tissues while cells release waste.

6. Waste Removal

Waste products diffuse from the tissues into the capillaries and are carried back toward the heart through venules and veins.

7. Return to the Heart

Deoxygenated blood returns to the heart via the superior and inferior vena cavae, entering the right atrium.

8. Blood Pumping for Oxygenation

The right atrium pumps the deoxygenated blood into the right ventricle, which then sends it to the lungs through the pulmonary arteries.

9. Cycle Repeats

The cycle continues to ensure that cells receive oxygen and nutrients while efficiently removing waste products, maintaining homeostasis.