The references for the blood circulatory system consists of small tubular structures responsible for carrying blood known as blood vessels
Indeed, the references you are looking for describe the blood circulatory system, which includes a network of blood vessels responsible for transporting blood throughout the body. Here are the major types of blood vessels that comprise the human circulatory system:
1. **Arteries**: These are large vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the tissues and organs of the body. The largest artery in the body is the aorta, which branches out into smaller arteries. Arteries have thick, elastic walls that can withstand the high pressure of blood being pumped by the heart.
2. **Arterioles**: These are smaller branches of arteries that lead to capillary beds. Arterioles are responsible for controlling blood flow to different regions of the body by constricting or dilating, which is regulated by nerve and hormonal signals.
3. **Capillaries**: These are the smallest blood vessels and are the site of exchange between the blood and tissues. Capillaries have very thin walls that allow for the exchange of gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide), nutrients, and waste products between the blood and surrounding cells.
4. **Venules**: After blood passes through the capillary beds, it enters these small vessels, which gradually merge to form larger veins. Venules collect deoxygenated blood from the capillaries and transport it to veins.
5. **Veins**: These are larger vessels that return deoxygenated blood from the body back to the heart. Veins have thinner walls than arteries and often contain valves that prevent the backflow of blood as it moves against gravity, especially in the limbs.
The circulatory system is vital for maintaining homeostasis, delivering oxygen and nutrients to cells, and removing carbon dioxide and metabolic wastes. It also plays a role in the immune response, temperature regulation, and hormone distribution throughout the body.
For comprehensive information on the circulatory system, reliable references include textbooks of human anatomy and physiology, medical journals, health websites run by medical institutions, and publications by organizations such as the American Heart Association.