circulatory system (week 14)

Question 1

what is the main function of the circulatory system?

Answer 1

to transport oxygen, nutrients, and waste products

Question 2

name three types of blood vessels?

Answer 2

arteries, veins, capillaries

Question 3

what do arteries do?

Answer 3

carry blood away from the heart

Question 4

what do veins do?

Answer 4

carry blood toward the heart

Question 5

what are capillaries?

Answer 5

tiny blood vessels where gas and nutrient exchange occurs

Question 6

what organ pumps blood throughout the body?

Answer 6

the heart

Question 7

how many chambers does the human heart have?

Answer 7

four - left and right atria, left and right ventricles. is essentially two different pumps, beating simultaneously

Question 8

what is the role of red blood cells?

Answer 8

aka erythrocytes, red blood corpuscles
carry oxygen, using haemoglobin

Question 9

what is the role of white blood cells?

Answer 9

aka leucocyte
produce antibodies, which help defend the body against infection
multiple types, each with different roles in the immune system

Question 10

what is plasma?

Answer 10

the fluid that RBC, WBC, platelets travel in. also transports many other materials around the body, e.g., proteins, minerals, vitamins

Question 11

what helps blood to clot?

Answer 11

platelets
clotting happens when platelets clump together, at the site of injury

Question 12

what is the largest artery in the body?

Answer 12

the aorta

Question 13

what is systemic circulation?

Answer 13

blood flow between the heart and the body

Question 14

what is pulmonary circulation?

Answer 14

blood flow between the heart and lungs

Question 15

what is blood made up of?

Answer 15

55% plasma
45% red blood cells
0.1% white blood cells
0.01% platelets

Question 16

what does blood do

Answer 16

• keeps us alive
• transports nutrients and gases from the external environment
• transports wastes away from the cells, to specific areas for disposal

Question 18

what does the right side of the heart do?

Answer 18

right atrium and right ventricle
- deals with deoxygenated blood, returning to the heart from the rest of the body
- blood enters through the vena cava
- blood is pumped to the lungs through the pulmonary artery

Question 19

what does the left side of the heart do?

Answer 19

left atrium and left ventricle
- deals with oxygenated blood, returning from the lungs
- blood enters through the pulmonary vein
- blood is pumped out of the heart to the rest of the body through the aorta

Question 20

how is blood kept moving in the right direction

Answer 20

by valves which prevent the backflow of blood