Order of blood transfer

Deoxygenated Blood enters through the

1) Vena Cava

2) Right Atrium

Tricuspid Valve

3) Right ventricle

Semilunar Valve

4) Pulmonary Artery

Oxygenated Blood enters through the

5) Pulmonary Vein

6) Left Atrium

Bicuspid Valve

7) Left Ventricle

Semilunar Valve

8) Aorta

Blood Vessels

Arteries

• Elastic fibres and thick walls allow even higher pressure

• Small lumen for higher pressure

• High Pressure so that the arteries can handle the high velocity that the blood is travelling away from the heart at

• Aorta has blood under highest pressure as it’s going all over the body

Veins

• Elastic fibres and thin walls

• Large lumens

• Low Pressure

• Valves to prevent backflow of blood

Capillaries

• Thin wall - Only one cell think

• Very small luman

• Low Pressure

• Permeable Wall

Capillaries adaptations for exchange:

• Permeable walls for diffusion

• Walls are once cell think so a short diffusion distance

Blood Components

Plasma - Carries plasma components. (Vitamins, minerals, hormones, urea)

Red Blood Cells - Carry Oxygen.

Platelets - Form blood clots

Structure and function of RBC:

• Biconcave shape so a large surface area for diffusion of oxygen

• No nucleus so more space for haemoglobin to carry oxygen

Normal Blood:

• 55% Plasma

• 5% White Blood Cells and platelets

• 40% Red Blood Cells

Aneamic Blood:

• 75% Plasma

• 5% White Blood Cells

• 20% Red Blood Cells

Anaemia

Iron Deficiency

Symptoms:

• Shortness of breath

• Tiredness

This is due to less iron to make haemoglobin in red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen to cells around the body for respiration to produce energy. If less red blood cells due to anaemia then less energy produced causing symptoms of tiredness.

High Altitude Impact On Exercise

• High altitudes have low oxygen levels

• Causes the body to produce more red blood cells

This makes people more efficient at transporting oxygen in red blood cells to muscle cells needed for aerobic respiration

White Blood Cells

White blood cells fight disease.

There are two types:

• Phagocytes : Large white blood cells that engulf pathogens. They send digestive enzymes that break down the pathogen and then release it when it’s done

• Lymphocytes : Produce antibodies that stick to antigens (something your immune system doesn’t recognize) on pathogens to destroy them

Coronary Heart Disease

When coronary arteries become blocked with plaque (fat), it causes a lack of oxygen and then a heart attack.

Risk factors include:

• Diet high in saturated fat

• High blood pressure

• Inactivity

• Smoking

Diagram of circulatory system