The Circulatory System
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Components of the Circulatory System
This guide provides an overview of the circulatory system, focusing on the composition of blood, the structure of the heart, and the role of blood vessels in circulation.
Blood Composition
Blood comprises four main components:
- Red blood cells (RBCs)
- White blood cells (WBCs)
- Platelets
- Plasma
Anatomy of the Heart
The heart, located slightly to the left center of the chest and about the size of a fist, has four chambers:
- Two upper chambers called the atria
- Two lower chambers called the ventricles
Heart Valves
The heart contains several types of valves:
- Atrial-ventricular valves between the atria and ventricles
- Semilunar valves and pulmonary valves
Heart Circulation Model
The heart circulates blood in two main pathways:
- The right side receives deoxygenated blood from the body and sends it to the lungs via the pulmonary artery.
- The left side receives oxygenated blood from the lungs via the pulmonary vein and distributes it throughout the body via the aorta.