Circulatory System Functions and Structures

The process of moving blood throughout the body.

A circulatory system where blood flows freely throughout the body cavity without dedicated blood vessels, often found in invertebrates.

A circulatory system where blood flows through a closed network of blood vessels, including veins and arteries, common in vertebrates.

The right side of the heart receives deoxygenated blood from the body and pumps it to the lungs for oxygenation.

The left side of the heart receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it to the body to deliver oxygen.

A wall that separates the right and left sides of the heart, preventing oxygenated and deoxygenated blood from mixing.

Chambers in the heart that hold blood before sending it to the ventricles.

Valves that prevent blood from flowing back into the atria after being pumped out of the ventricles.

Tiny, thin-walled blood vessels that allow for the exchange of gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide), nutrients, and waste products between blood and cells.

Blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart, branching into smaller vessels to reach all parts of the body.

Blood vessels that carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart, with thin walls and valves to prevent backflow.

The circulation of blood through the lungs, where it picks up oxygen and releases carbon dioxide.

The circulation of oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body and back to the heart.

The fluid component of blood, made up of proteins, electrolytes, and other substances.

Red blood cells, responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body.

White blood cells, part of the immune system, responsible for fighting infections.

Small cell fragments that help with blood clotting, preventing excessive bleeding.

The process of forming a blood clot to stop bleeding.

The narrowing of blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the surface of the body, helping conserve heat.

The widening of blood vessels, increasing blood flow to the surface of the body, helping to release heat.

The force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries.

The pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts (pumps blood out).

The pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes (fills with blood) between beats.

A device used to measure blood pressure, usually involving an inflatable cuff on the arm.

High blood pressure, where the pressure in the arteries is consistently too high.

The amount of blood pumped by the heart per minute.

The amount of blood ejected from the heart's ventricle during each heartbeat.

Large, complex assemblies of organic molecules such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

The sum of all chemical reactions that occur within a living organism to maintain life.

Essential nutrients are basic raw materials, such as vitamins, minerals, and certain amino acids, that are required by an organism for survival but cannot be synthesized by the organism itself.

A large molecule assembled from repeating subunits called monomers.

A small repeating unit that makes up larger molecules called polymers.

The chemical breakdown of a polymer into monomers using water.

Proteins that catalyze (speed up) specific biochemical reactions in the body.