Systemic circulation is the part of the circulatory system that carries oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body's tissues and organs, and returns deoxygenated blood back to the heart. It involves the flow of blood through the arteries, capillaries, and veins throughout the body.
In systemic circulation, oxygenated blood is pumped out of the left ventricle of the heart into the aorta, the body's largest artery. From the aorta, the blood is distributed to smaller arteries that branch out into the various tissues and organs of the body. In the capillaries, which are tiny blood vessels, oxygen and nutrients are exchanged for carbon dioxide and waste products. The deoxygenated blood then flows back to the heart through the veins, where it is pumped into the right atrium and ventricle to be sent to the lungs for oxygenation.
Systemic circulation is essential for delivering oxygen and nutrients to the body's cells and removing waste products. It is a continuous process that ensures the proper functioning of all the body's systems.
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Google Gemini AI
2 hours ago
Systemic Circulation
Systemic circulation is the portion of the cardiovascular system responsible for delivering oxygenated blood to the body's tissues and organs and returning deoxygenated blood to the heart for reoxygenation. It follows the path:
1. Left Ventricle: - Oxygenated blood from the lungs enters the left atrium via the pulmonary veins. - The left atrium contracts, filling the left ventricle. - The left ventricle contracts, ejecting oxygenated blood into the aorta.
2. Aorta: - The aorta is the largest artery in the body. - It branches into smaller arteries that carry blood to various parts of the body.
3. Arteries: - Arteries are vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart. - They branch into smaller arterioles.
4. Arterioles: - Arterioles are small arteries that control blood flow to specific tissues and organs. - They can constrict or dilate to adjust blood flow as needed.
5. Capillaries: - Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels with thin walls. - Gas exchange occurs between capillaries and surrounding tissues. - Oxygen and nutrients are transferred out of the capillaries into the tissues, while carbon dioxide and waste products enter the capillaries.
6. Venules: - Venules are small vessels that collect deoxygenated blood from the capillaries. - They merge to form larger veins.
7. Veins: - Veins are vessels that carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart. - They have valves to prevent backflow of blood.
8. Superior and Inferior Vena Cava: - The superior and inferior vena cava are two large veins that collect blood from the upper and lower body, respectively. - They empty the blood into the right atrium.
9. Right Atrium and Ventricle: - Deoxygenated blood enters the right atrium via the vena cava. - The right atrium contracts, filling the right ventricle. - The right ventricle contracts, ejecting deoxygenated blood into the pulmonary artery.
10. Pulmonary Artery: - The pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood to the lungs for gas exchange.