circulatory & cardiovascular system

• Pulmonary circuit


  1. Carries blood between the heart & lungs

  2. Transports oxygen-poor blood (CO₂ rich) from the right ventricle to the lungs

  3. The right side of the heart pumps blood through the pulmonary system
• Pulmonary vessels (veins)


  Carry deoxygenated blood (high CO2 content)
• Systemic circuit


  1. Carries blood between the heart & the rest of the body

  2. Carries oxygenated blood from the left ventricle through the arteries to the capillaries (CO₂ poor)

  3. The left side of the heart pumps blood through the systemic circuit
• Systemic vessels (arteries)


  Carry blood with high content of oxygen (low content of CO₂)
• Aorta


  The largest artery of the body that transports blood from the heart to the circulatory system
• Coronary arteries


  2 main branches from the base of the aorta, the left & right coronary arteries
• Venae cavae


  A large vein that carries blood to the heart from other areas of the body
• Blood functions

  • Transportation
  • Regulation
  • Coagulation
  • Immunity
  • Temperature stabilization
• Plasma


  Serves as the liquid base for whole blood, 55% of our blood, a mixture of 92% water, proteins, nutrients, electrolytes, & wastes
• Plasma proteins


  • Albumin
  • Globulin
  • Fibrinogen
• Hemoglobin


  A protein that binds oxygen in the lungs and releases it in the tissues, also carries CO₂ back to the lungs
• Leukocytes


  White blood cells that circulate throughout blood & fight disease & infections
• Platelets


  Cell fragments that aid in blood clotting
• Erythrocytes


  Red blood cells that transport oxygen, nutrients, hormones, & waste from & to all tissues of the body
• Spleen


  A brown, flat, abdominal organ that serves as an important part of the immune system, removes & recycles old or damaged RBC, acts as a blood reservoir, produces antibodies
• Lymph nodes


  Small bean-shaped organs located throughout the body that play a critical role in the body's immune system, contain large numbers of leukocytes that help filter bacteria, viruses, foreign particles, & cancer cells
• Hematopoiesis


  The process of creating a wide variety of blood & bone marrow cells, including erythropoiesis (RBC production), leukopoiesis (WBC production), & thrombopoiesis (platelet formation)
• Blood types


  Determined by the presence or absence of certain antigens on the surface of RBC, ABO types (A, B, AB, O) and Rh types (positive or negative)
• A hemolytic reaction will occur from a transfusion if the patient & donor's blood types don't match
• Acceptable blood type donations

  • O- can donate to all
  • AB can receive from all
• Blood disorders

  • Anemia
  • Polycythemia (erythrocytosis)
  • Leukemia
• Anemia


  When your blood has a lack of/fewer than normal number of RBC or hemoglobin, resulting in reduced oxygen delivery to tissues
• Polycythemia


  A condition where the volume of RBC mass in the body is too high, causing an overproduction of RBC in the bone marrow, making the blood thicker
• Leukemia


  A type of cancer that affects the blood & bone marrow, causing an overproduction & release of immature leukocytes that do not function properly
• Hemoglobin deficiency


  Leads to decreased oxygen-carrying capacity in the blood
• Vitamin deficiency anemia


  Can have a similar effect as iron deficiency anemia
• Sickle cell anemia


  A genetic disorder characterized by the presence of abnormal hemoglobin (HbS/hemoglobin S)
• Sickle cell anemia


  • Causes misshapen erythrocytes where RBC become stiff, sticky, crescent/sickle shaped
  • Sickle cells die early, causing a constant shortage of RBC
• Polycythemia


  • Caused by overproduction of RBC in the bone marrow
  • Makes the blood thicker
• Polycythemia


  Results in high blood pressure & blood clot formation
• Leukemia


  • Abnormal blood cells are produced in the bone marrow, causing an overproduction & release of immature leukocytes
  • These abnormal cells (leukemia cells) do not function properly
  • Can crowd out normal blood cells
• Leukemia


  Decreases production of functional WBC, increasing risk of infections
• Leukemia


  Indirectly affects erythropoiesis, leading to anemia
• Leukemia


  Causes thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) due to bone marrow crowding
• Hemophilia


  A hereditary disorder that impairs the body's ability to control blood clotting
• Hemophilia


  • Blood does not clot properly
  • Can lead to spontaneous bleeding & joint damage
• Thrombus


  A blood clot in a vessel that is not broken
• Embolus


  A thrombus that breaks off and floats in the bloodstream, travelling to another area and clogging a vessel
• Hematoma


  A swelling of clotted blood within a tissue, a fancy word for a bruise
• Bruise


  • The different colours are the result of hemoglobin gradually being broken down and reabsorbed