Overview

The circulatory system, also known as the cardiovascular system, circulates the blood from the heart and takes it to the lungs to get oxygen. Then, the heart enables the oxygenated blood, sends it through the arteries and spreads it throughout the body.

Our veins carry the poor blood back to our hearts so blood circulation can occur. This cycle repeats itself as they are crucial to have healthy tissues, muscles and organs.

Definition of the Circulatory System

The circulatory system comprises two of our body's most vital organs: the heart and blood vessels. The circulatory system's primary goal is to provide oxygen, hormones and nutrients to your body's tissues, organs and muscles. Another objective of the circulatory system is to eliminate waste from organs and cells so your body can dispose of the waste.

The arteries and the blood vessels or the veins are the leading network to pump blood from the heart to different areas of your body. Since cardio means your heart and vascular refers to the blood vessels, the circulatory system is also called the cardiovascular system. Our bodies' tissues can function because the circulatory system provides blood throughout the tissues.

Anatomy of the Circulatory System

Three major circulatory system parts take part in the process: –

Blood - blood comprises white and red blood cells, platelets and plasma.
Heart - an organ that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the body.
Blood Vessels - the blood vessels in the human body are composed of the veins, capillaries and arteries.

Function of the Circulatory System

The function of the circulatory system is to spread blood throughout your body. The body's organs, muscles, and tissues work properly as they get oxygenated blood through circulation.

Another function the circulatory system has is to eliminate wastes like carbon dioxide, some chemical byproducts generated in your organs and wastes from food and drinks.

How Does the Process of the Circulatory System Work?

The blood vessels consist of arteries, capillaries, and veins, which help the circulatory system function. These blood vessels work with your lungs and heart so that your body gets constant blood circulation throughout. The process of the circulatory system works like this —

The right ventricle, the bottom right of the heart, pumps low-oxygen blood to your lungs. The blood travels through the primary pulmonary artery.
The oxygen in the lungs is picked up by the blood cells.
The oxygenated blood gets carried by the pulmonary veins from the heart to the upper heart chamber or the left atrium of the heart.
The upper heart chamber sends the oxygenated blood to the lower chamber of the heart, the left ventricle. The blood gets pumped out from the heart through the arteries to the blood by this muscular part of the heart.
As the blood spreads throughout your body's organs and cells, it collects and sets down the hormones, nutrients, and wastes to their specific places.
The veins are the carriers of the deoxygenated blood. It also carries the carbon dioxide back to your heart. The blood then gets sent back to the lungs.
When we exhale, the carbon dioxide gets eliminated from our system.

When to Consult a Doctor

You can also get in touch with the expert cardiology doctors at Narayana Healthcare based in your city to get immediate attention and medical support during injuries, health disorders or any other health concern.

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Circulatory System

Conclusion

The circulatory system is a crucial part of your existence as it helps you to stay alive. Blood vessels carry blood to your lungs so oxygen can be absorbed. Then, the heart pumps back the oxygen-rich blood throughout the human body through the arteries.

Your circulation system is at risk if you have a heart condition such as high blood pressure or cholesterol. Discuss with your healthcare provider the necessary measurements you need to take to protect or improve your heart health.

FAQs

Q. Which type of blood do arteries carry?
A. Arteries mostly carry oxygenated blood. However, the pulmonary arteries and pulmonary veins are the exceptions to this. Pulmonary arteries are responsible for carrying deoxygenated blood to your lungs. On the other hand, pulmonary veins drive the oxygenated blood back to your heart.

Q. How large is the circulatory system?
A. Our bodies, on average, circulate 1.5 gallons of blood through more than sixty thousand blood vessels daily.

Q. What are the organs of the circulatory system?
A. The only circulatory system organ is the human heart because the lungs are considered part of the respiratory system. Blood travels from the heart to the lungs for oxygen. Now, your heart pumps the blood through your arteries to your entire body.

Q. Are there only three types of blood vessels?
A. There are only three types of blood vessels in the human body: veins, arteries, and capillaries.

Q. What is the function of the veins in the circulatory system?
A. Veins fulfil two purposes in the circulatory system. The first is accumulating low-oxygenated blood all over the body and dropping it off to your heart. The other purpose the veins fulfil is to carry oxygenated or oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the heart.

Reference Links

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21775-circulatory-system
https://www.healthline.com/human-body-maps/circulatory-system