Dorothy FarrarBlood circulation
The circulatory system is the blood flow system formed by the blood vessels and the heart . This cycle ensures survival because every cell in the body is supplied with nutrients and oxygen .
Definition
With the help of the circulatory system, arterial or venous blood is transported through the cardiovascular system, which consists of the heart or the vascular system. The bloodstream is involved in vital tasks such as digestion and respiration. If diseases occur in the circulatory system, they can therefore be life-threatening.
Anatomy
Basically, the blood vessel system can be divided into the venous and the arterial system. The human blood circulation is also divided into two areas: the systemic circulation and the pulmonary circulation. The pulmonary circulation begins in the right ventricle. Oxygen-poor blood reaches the lungs through them, where the blood vessels branch into capillaries (fine capillaries). These surround the so-called alveoli (air sacs in the lungs).
Gas exchange takes place between the blood in the capillaries and the air in the alveoli. Carbon dioxide is released into the alveoli through the thin wall between the pulmonary capillaries and the alveoli, and the oxygen-poor blood absorbs the oxygen from the air. After gas exchange, the pulmonary veins transport the blood, which is enriched with oxygen, back to the left ventricle. There is the beginning of the body cycle.
The left ventricle pumps the oxygen-rich blood into the aorta, which divides into several arteries . These lead to the various parts of the body and organ systems, so that the entire organism is supplied. The arteries branch into arterioles and capillaries , which traverse the tissues and all organs and deliver nutrients or oxygen to the cells and take up the end products of metabolism or carbon dioxide.
The capillaries branch into venules (small vein branches) in which the deoxygenated blood is collected. The venules eventually join to form veins that empty into the inferior and superior vena cava. This is how the blood returns to the heart. The so-called portal vein system has a special position. The blood from the intestine , stomach , pancreas and spleen collects in the portal vein . This blood is rich in nutrients but low in oxygen. The portal vein leads to the liver , where the nutrient-rich blood mixes with the oxygen-rich blood coming from the hepatic artery. With the help of the liver cells, the nutrients are stored or converted.
Function
Oxygen, nutrients and messenger substances reach the body cells via the bloodstream. In addition, the end products of metabolism are transported to the excretory organs. In addition to the transport function, the vessels also have other tasks: They are involved in controlling blood pressure and also play an important role in maintaining the electrolyte and water balance and body temperature.
In addition, the bloodstream also transports hormones throughout the body and is involved in building the immune system. Another task is thermoregulation: Depending on the strength of the blood circulation in the skin, heat is released to the outside.
Diseases
With increasing age, a wide variety of diseases can also occur, which can be traced back to disorders of the blood circulation. Congenital heart defects can occur in children or young adults, and heart attacks, which are caused by arteriosclerosis (deposits in the arteries), are a very common disease in older people.
Due to permanent circulatory disorders, a stroke can also occur, which results in serious disorders in the central nervous system or in the brain.
Another cardiovascular disease is the so-called cardiac insufficiency or myocardial insufficiency, which primarily affects the blood circulation. The organs can no longer be adequately supplied with blood and shortness of breath , general weakness and fatigue occur. The causes of heart failure are high blood pressure , arteriosclerosis and inflammation of the heart muscle.
Important blood circulation functions are also no longer fulfilled in the case of coronary heart disease. There is an insufficient supply of oxygen to the heart and, as a result, a heart attack. Coronary heart disease is always chronic and is also due to arteriosclerosis.
If a blood vessel is blocked, a thrombosis (blood clot) can occur. This occurs mainly in older people or due to a lack of exercise. A thrombosis is also promoted by smoking, by taking estrogens or by infections. There is danger if the blood clot breaks loose and causes an embolism in the lungs.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.