The heart is divided into two sides, right and left. Each side consists of two
chambers; and upper atrium and a lower ventricle. Each side has a valve
that allows blood to flow from the atrium into the ventricle, but preventss
backflow. Blood is returned to the heart by two veins: the Vena Cava and
the Pulmonary Vein. Blood is pumped out of the heart though two arteries;
the Aorta and the Pulmonary Artery. Valves at the base of the pulmonary
artety and the aorta prevent the backflow of blood into the heart.
Double Circulation
Blood from the right ventricle is
pumped through the pulmonary
artery to the lungs.
In the lung tissue, oxygen diffuses into
the blood and carbon dioxide diffuses out.
This is nownoxygenated blood.
Oxygenated blood from the lungs then
returns via the pulmonary vein to the left
atrium.
Oxygenated blood is pumped
through the aorta and arteries
to the rest of the body.
In respiring tissues, oxygen diffuses fro the blood
into the body cells, and carbon dioxide diffuses
from body cells into the blood. The blood has
become deoxygenated.
Deoxygenated blood is returned to
by the vena cava to the right
atrium.
This is called a double circulatory system because
blood travels through the heart twice as it flows
around the body. By having a double circulation,
oxygenated blood is separated from deoxygenated
blood.
Blood Vessels
Arteries
These carry blood away from
the heart and the tissues.
Therefore the blood is at a high pressure.
The artery walls are thick, muscular and elastic to withstand the pressure surges.
The elastic tissue can recoil to maintain blood pressure between heart beats.
The arterial blood is oxygenated except in the pulmonary artery.
Veins
These return the blood from the tissues back to the heart.
The blood is at low pressure
Therefore the walls are much thinner than the artery walls, the lumen
is much bigger, there are semi-lunar valves to ensure the blood moves
the right way.
Veins carry deoxygenated blood except for the pulmonary vein
Capillaries
These join the arterioles to the venules at the
tissues.
There are many narrow vessels which are the site for exchange of substances.
Oxygen and glucose will leave the blood while carbon dioxide and other waste is
picked up and removed.
Therefore a capillary wall is only one cells thick.