As the heart beats, it pumps blood through a system of blood vessels, called the circulatory system. The vessels are elastic, muscular tubes that carry blood to every part of the body. Blood is essential.
How does blood travel through the circulatory system?
Contact Us As the heart beats, it pumps blood through a system of blood vessels, called the circulatory system. The vessels are elastic tubes that carry blood to every part of the body.
What are blood vessels and how do they work?
Blood vessels are intricate networks of hollow tubes that transport blood throughout the entire body so that it can deliver valuable nutrients to and remove waste from cells. These tubes are constructed of layers of connective tissue and muscle with an inner layer formed of endothelial cells.
What carries blood from the heart to all areas of the body?
Blood vessels carry blood from the heart to all areas of the body. Blood travels from the heart via arteries to smaller arterioles, then to capillaries or sinusoids, then to venules, to veins, and back to the heart.
What is the function of the circulatory system?
As the heart beats, it pumps blood through a system of blood vessels, called the circulatory system. The vessels are elastic tubes that carry blood to every part of the body. It takes carbon dioxide and waste products away from the tissues. It is needed to sustain life and promote the health of all the body's tissues.
What are the small blood vessels that connect the arteries and veins?
Capillaries. Capillaries are small, thin blood vessels that connect the arteries and the veins. Their thin walls allow oxygen, nutrients, carbon dioxide and waste products to pass to and from the tissue cells.
How long is the blood vessel system?
This vast system of blood vessels - arteries, veins, and capillaries - is over 60,000 miles long. That's long enough to go around the world more than twice! Blood flows continuously through your body's blood vessels. Your heart is the pump that makes it all possible. Learn about Peripheral Artery Disease.
Why is blood important?
Blood is essential. It carries oxygen and nutrients to your body's tissues. It takes carbon dioxide and waste products away from the tissues. It is needed to sustain life and promote the health of all the body's tissues. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.
Which veins carry oxygen-poor blood back to the heart?
The veins (blue) take oxygen-poor blood back to the heart. Arteries begin with the aorta, the large artery leaving the heart. They carry oxygen-rich blood away from the heart to all of the body's tissues. They branch several times, becoming smaller and smaller as they carry blood further from the heart.
How does the superior vena cava work?
Veins become larger and larger as they get closer to the heart. The superior vena cava is the large vein that brings blood from the head and arms to the heart , and the inferior vena cava brings blood from the abdomen and legs into the heart. This vast system of blood vessels - arteries, veins, and capillaries - is over 60,000 miles long.
How is blood circulated?
Blood is circulated through the body by blood vessels via the cardiovascular system which is comprised of the heart and the circulatory system. Arteries move blood from the heart first to smaller arterioles, then capillaries or sinusoids, venules, veins, and back to the heart. Blood travels through pulmonary and ...
Which type of vessel delivers blood to the rest of the body?
Systemic arteries deliver blood to the rest of the body. Veins: These are also elastic vessels but they transport blood to the heart. The four types of veins are pulmonary, systemic, superficial, and deep veins. Capillaries: These are extremely small vessels located within the tissues of the body that transport blood from the arteries to the veins.
What is the path of blood flow?
Blood travels through pulmonary and systemic circuits, the pulmonary circuit being the path between the heart and lungs and the rest of the body the systemic circuit. Microcirculation is the flow of blood from arterioles to capillaries or sinusoids to venules—the smallest vessels of the circulatory systemic. As blood moves through capillaries, ...
Why do veins have thrombosis?
The formation of blood clots in superficial veins can cause superficial thrombophlebitis, which is characterized by clotted veins just beneath the surface of the skin. Blood clots in deep veins lead to a condition known as deep vein thrombosis. Varicose veins, which are enlarged veins that can lead to blood clots, may develop when damage to vein valves causes blood to accumulate.
Which layer of the blood vessel is the majority of the blood vessel?
In capillaries and sinusoids, endothelium comprises the majority of the vessel. Blood vessel endothelium is continuous with the inner tissue lining of organs such as the brain, lungs, skin, and heart. In the heart, this inner layer is called the endocardium .
How many types of blood vessels are there?
There are four main types of blood vessels that each play their own role:
What is the purpose of blood vessels?
Blood vessels are intricate networks of hollow tubes that transport blood throughout the entire body so that it can deliver valuable nutrients to and remove waste from cells. These tubes are constructed of layers of connective tissue and muscle with an inner layer formed of endothelial cells.