Circulatory System
Circulatory System
The Circulatory System (pronunciation: /sərˈkyo͝oləˌterē ˈsistəm/), also known as the Cardiovascular System, is a complex network that facilitates the movement of blood, oxygen, and nutrients throughout the body.
Etymology
The term "circulatory system" is derived from the Latin word 'circulatorius', meaning 'going in a circle', and the Greek word 'systēma', meaning 'whole compounded of several parts or members'.
Function
The primary function of the circulatory system is to transport blood to and from the heart and throughout the body. This system is responsible for delivering oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and other essential substances to cells and removing waste products like carbon dioxide.
The circulatory system is divided into two main parts: the systemic circulation and the pulmonary circulation.
- Systemic circulation is the part of the circulatory system that carries oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body, and returns deoxygenated blood back to the heart.
- Pulmonary circulation is the portion of the circulatory system which carries deoxygenated blood away from the heart, to the lungs, and returns oxygenated blood back to the heart.
Components
The circulatory system is composed of the heart, blood vessels, and blood.
- Heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood through the blood vessels of the circulatory system.
- Blood vessels include arteries, veins, and capillaries. Arteries carry blood away from the heart, veins carry blood back to the heart, and capillaries connect arteries and veins.
- Blood is the body fluid that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells.
Related Terms
- Hematology - the study of the physiology of the blood.
- Cardiology - the study and treatment of disorders of the heart and the parts of the circulatory system.
- Vascular system - the network of blood vessels in the body.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Circulatory System
- Wikipedia's article - Circulatory System
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