Functioning as a System
The circulatory system begins with the heart and its four chambers: the right atrium, the left atrium, the right ventricle, and the left ventricle. This division of the heart prevents oxygen rich blood and oxygen poor blood from mixing. The process begins when the veins bring the blood into the right atrium. It is then pumped through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle. This chamber pumps the blood through the pulmonary valve into the pulmonary arteries where the red blood cells receive oxygen from the lungs and get rid of carbon dioxide through diffusion.
After the blood passes through the pulmonary arteries it enters the left atrium, passes through the mitral valve, and then fills the left ventricle. The blood exits the left ventricle through the aortic valve and then enters the aorta, which you will hopefully remember is the largest artery. The aorta branches out into many more arteries which are able to deliver the blood all through the body.
After the blood passes through the pulmonary arteries it enters the left atrium, passes through the mitral valve, and then fills the left ventricle. The blood exits the left ventricle through the aortic valve and then enters the aorta, which you will hopefully remember is the largest artery. The aorta branches out into many more arteries which are able to deliver the blood all through the body.
Once the blood reaches the end of an artery, it travels into the capillaries. The walls of the capillaries are semi-permeable and they allow oxygen and nutrients to diffuse from the red blood cells to nourish the organs and tissues. At this time the red blood cells also pick up wastes such as carbon dioxide through diffusion. Once this is complete, the blood continues through the capillaries into the veins.
The now oxygen-deprived blood is pumped back to the heart and lungs through the veins for a fresh supply of oxygen. The cycle begins again.
Here are some YouTube videos that I found very helpful while I was learning about the function of the circulatory system:
|
|