Distinguish between systemic circulation and pulmonary circulation
Systemic circulation refers to the circulation of blood throughout the body, from the heart to various organs and tissues, and back to the heart again. This circulation delivers oxygen and nutrients to the body's cells and removes waste products and carbon dioxide from them.
Pulmonary circulation, on the other hand, refers to the circulation of blood between the heart and the lungs. This circulation delivers deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs for oxygenation and removes carbon dioxide from the blood. Then, it delivers oxygenated blood from the lungs back to the heart to be pumped out to the rest of the body in systemic circulation.
Systemic circulation and pulmonary circulation are two separate pathways through which blood flows in the human body. Here is a step-by-step breakdown of the differences between the two:
Systemic Circulation:
1. Systemic circulation refers to the movement of oxygenated blood from the heart to the entire body, delivering oxygen and nutrients to the body tissues.
2. The process begins when oxygenated blood leaves the left side of the heart through the aorta, the largest artery in the body.
3. The oxygenated blood is distributed to various arteries that branch out, carrying it to organs, tissues, and cells throughout the body.
4. In organs and tissues, oxygen and nutrients are delivered, while waste products such as carbon dioxide and metabolic byproducts are collected.
5. Deoxygenated blood, now carrying waste products, returns to the heart through veins, mainly via the superior and inferior vena cavae.
6. The deoxygenated blood is then pumped to the right atrium of the heart, and the process starts again.
Pulmonary Circulation:
1. Pulmonary circulation refers to the movement of deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs and the return of oxygenated blood back to the heart.
2. The process begins when deoxygenated blood enters the right atrium of the heart from the body through the superior and inferior vena cavae.
3. From the right atrium, the deoxygenated blood is then pumped to the right ventricle.
4. The right ventricle contracts, pumping the deoxygenated blood into the pulmonary artery.
5. The pulmonary artery branches into the left and right pulmonary arteries, carrying the deoxygenated blood to the lungs.
6. In the lungs, carbon dioxide is exchanged for oxygen through the process of gas exchange in the pulmonary capillaries.
7. Oxygenated blood now returns to the heart through the pulmonary veins, moving into the left atrium.
8. The left atrium contracts, pumping the oxygenated blood into the left ventricle.
9. Lastly, the left ventricle contracts, pumping the oxygenated blood to the rest of the body through the systemic circulation pathway.
In summary, systemic circulation involves the circulation of oxygenated blood to the body's tissues, while pulmonary circulation involves the circulation of deoxygenated blood to the lungs for oxygenation and the return of oxygenated blood to the heart.
Systemic circulation and pulmonary circulation are two separate pathways that are responsible for transporting blood throughout the body. Let's distinguish between them:
1. Systemic Circulation:
- Definition: Systemic circulation refers to the circulation of oxygenated blood from the heart's left ventricle to the rest of the body and the return of deoxygenated blood back to the heart's right atrium.
- Process:
a. Oxygenated blood is pumped out of the left ventricle of the heart into the aorta, the largest artery in the body.
b. The aorta branches into smaller arteries, which further divide into arterioles and capillaries.
c. In the capillaries, oxygen and nutrients are delivered to body tissues, while waste products, such as carbon dioxide, are collected.
d. Deoxygenated blood, along with waste products, is collected by venules, which merge to form veins.
e. The veins progressively merge, ultimately returning the deoxygenated blood back to the right atrium of the heart.
2. Pulmonary Circulation:
- Definition: Pulmonary circulation refers to the circulation of blood between the heart and the lungs. The purpose of this circulation is to oxygenate the blood and remove carbon dioxide.
- Process:
a. Deoxygenated blood from the right atrium of the heart is pumped into the right ventricle.
b. From the right ventricle, the blood is pumped into the pulmonary artery.
c. The pulmonary artery splits into two branches, leading to the left and right lungs.
d. In the lungs, the blood releases carbon dioxide and picks up oxygen through the process of gas exchange in the alveoli.
e. Oxygenated blood returns to the heart through the pulmonary veins and enters the left atrium.
f. From the left atrium, the oxygenated blood is pumped into the left ventricle to begin systemic circulation.
In summary, systemic circulation refers to the pathway by which oxygenated blood is distributed to body tissues and deoxygenated blood is returned to the heart. Pulmonary circulation, on the other hand, describes the pathway of blood between the heart and the lungs, where oxygenation occurs and carbon dioxide is removed.