Blood Circulatory System
Nov 11, 2022, 16:45 IST
The blood circulatory system is also known as the cardiovascular system. This system provides oxygen and nutrients to every cell in the organism's body.
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Components of the Blood Circulatory System
The system consists of the heart and a body-wide network of blood vessels. The blood vessels that take blood away from the heart are called arteries, while the blood vessels that bring blood back to the heart are called veins. The aorta is the main artery of the body, and its smaller arteries, then lead to smaller and smaller vessels. The smallest arteries end in a small network of tiny blood vessels known as the capillary network.
Types of Circulatory Systems
Our body has two types of circulatory systems-
- Systemic circulation - It is responsible for providing the blood for the oxygen and the other vital nutrients for organs and tissues.
- Pulmonary circulation - It is a type of circulation where the fresh oxygen enters the bloodstream, and then carbon dioxide is removed from the bloodstream.
How Blood Circulates
When the heart relaxes between two heartbeats, circulation is said to begin. Blood flows from upper two chambers to the lower two chambers, expanding. The ventricles then pump blood into the great arteries during the period of ejection.
The left ventricle pumps the oxygen-rich blood into the aorta in systemic circulation. From there, the blood travels to larger arteries and ends up in the capillary network. The blood releases the necessary nutrients, oxygen, and other important substances. Blood also traps waste products, carbon dioxide, and other unwanted substances. At this point, blood that is low in oxygen is collected in the veins and sent to the right ventricle and the right atrium.
This condition marks the beginning of the pulmonary circulation when the right ventricle pumps oxygen-poor blood into the pulmonary artery. This artery branches into smaller arteries and possibly capillaries. In the lungs, capillaries form a tiny network around air sacs called alveoli. The carbon dioxide is released from the bloodstream and then into the air in the alveoli.
The carbon dioxide leaves our body when we exhale. When you inhale, the fresh oxygen enters the bloodstream through the alveoli, and then the blood becomes rich in oxygen. The oxygen-rich blood travels from the lungs through the pulmonary veins to the left ventricle—the subsequent heartbeat results in a new systemic circulatory cycle.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)
Q1. Why is blood circulatory important?
Ans. Proper circulation is the key for maintaining the optimal health. It ensures that the blood and the oxygen continuously flow throughout the body, allowing the every organ to function properly. It helps to heal wounds faster and also keeps the brain sharp. It keeps the heart healthy, and it even gives the complexion a natural flush.
Q2. What is smallest type of blood vessel?
Ans. The smallest blood vessels in the body is Capillaries.
Q3. Which is the largest vein?
Ans. "Vena Cava" is the largest vein that consists of superior and inferior vena cava.
Q4. What is the largest blood vessel?
Ans. The aorta
Q5. What drugs increase blood flow?
Ans. Vasodilators are medications that open blood vessels. They usually affect the muscles in the walls of the veins and arteries, preventing the muscles from tightening and also the walls from narrowing. Thus, blood flows more easily through the vessels.
