The circulatory system Flashcards
What is an artery
A tube that carries blood away from the heart
Most arteries carry oxygenated blood to body cells. Arteries also carry de-oxygenated blood to the lungs.
What is blood
The **fluid pumped by the heart **around the circulatory system
Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to cells, and removes wastes. It also spreads heat to maintain body temperature.
What is blood plasma
A blood component made of water with dissolved nutrients and wastes
As well as transporting nutrients, plasma helps blood flow easily through blood vessels.
What is a blood vessel
Any tube that blood flows through
Blood vessels come in three main types: arteries, veins and capillaries.
What is a **capillary **
**A tiny blood vessel **where substances pass to and from the blood
Capillaries connect arteries to veins, delivering oxygen to body cells and picking up carbon dioxide.
What is the circulatory system
The body system that moves blood throughout the body
The function of the circulatory system is to transport oxygen, nutrients, wastes, hormones, and heat around the body.
What is haemoglobin
A protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen
Blood gets its bright red colour when haemoglobin picks up oxygen in the lungs.
What is the heart
A** muscular organ that pumps blood **around the body
The heart is the central organ in the circulatory system. The human heart is divided into four chambers.
What is the **left athrium **
A heart chamber that receives blood from the lungs
A major vein carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart.
What is the** left ventricle**
A heart chamber with thick walls that pumps blood to the body
The left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood through arteries to body cells.
