Detailed Notes on the Circulatory System – Class 10
1) Blood Vessels – Overview and Types
Blood vessels are tube-like structures that carry blood throughout the body. They
are an essential part of the circulatory system. There are three main types of blood
vessels:
- **Arteries**: These carry blood away from the heart. Most arteries carry oxygen-
rich blood. They have thick, muscular walls to handle high pressure.
- **Veins**: These carry blood back to the heart. Most veins carry oxygen-poor
blood. They have thinner walls and often contain valves to prevent backflow.
- **Capillaries**: These are the smallest blood vessels. They connect arteries and
veins and allow exchange of oxygen, nutrients, carbon dioxide, and waste between
blood and tissues.
2) Pulmonary Artery and Pulmonary Vein
- **Pulmonary Artery**: This is the only artery in the body that carries
deoxygenated blood. It carries blood from the right ventricle of the heart to the
lungs for oxygenation.
- **Pulmonary Vein**: This is the only vein in the body that carries oxygenated
blood. It brings oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart.
3) Capillaries – Simple Overview
Capillaries are very thin blood vessels – just one cell thick. Their main role is to
allow the exchange of gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide), nutrients, and waste
between the blood and surrounding tissues. They form a vast network throughout
the body to reach every cell.
4) Oxygenated and Deoxygenated Blood
- **Oxygenated Blood**: Blood rich in oxygen. It is bright red and found in arteries
(except pulmonary artery) and the left side of the heart.
- **Deoxygenated Blood**: Blood low in oxygen and rich in carbon dioxide. It is dark
red and found in veins (except pulmonary vein) and the right side of the heart.
5) Role of Lungs in Circulatory System
The lungs are where blood gets oxygen and releases carbon dioxide. When
deoxygenated blood from the right side of the heart reaches the lungs through the
pulmonary artery, it releases CO₂ and picks up O₂. This oxygenated blood is then
returned to the heart through the pulmonary veins, ready to be pumped to the body.
6) Human Heart – Complete Description
The heart is a muscular organ about the size of a fist. It is located slightly left in the
chest cavity and has four chambers:
- **Right atrium** receives deoxygenated blood from the body.
- **Right ventricle** pumps it to the lungs.
- **Left atrium** receives oxygenated blood from the lungs.
- **Left ventricle** pumps it to the rest of the body.
The heart has valves (tricuspid, bicuspid/mitral, and semilunar) that ensure blood
flows in one direction and doesn’t mix. The heart's wall is made of cardiac muscle
which works continuously throughout life.
7) Cardiac Cycle – Summary
The cardiac cycle is the sequence of events in one heartbeat. It includes:
1. **Atrial systole** – Atria contract and push blood into ventricles.
2. **Ventricular systole** – Ventricles contract and pump blood to lungs and body.
3. **Diastole** – Heart muscles relax and the chambers refill with blood.
This cycle takes about 0.8 seconds and occurs ~72 times per minute in a healthy
adult.
8) Pathway of Blood Circulation
The complete path blood follows in the body:
1. Deoxygenated blood from body → Right atrium → Right ventricle → Pulmonary
artery → Lungs
2. Oxygenated blood from lungs → Pulmonary veins → Left atrium → Left ventricle →
Aorta → Body
This is called **double circulation** because blood passes through the heart
**twice** in one full body-lung cycle.
9) Role of Hemoglobin
Hemoglobin is a red pigment found in RBCs. It binds with oxygen in the lungs and
carries it to tissues. It also helps carry some carbon dioxide back to the lungs.
Hemoglobin gives blood its red color and is essential for respiration at the cellular
level.
10) Purpose of Circulation
- To supply oxygen and nutrients to body cells.
- To remove waste products like CO₂ and urea.
- To maintain body temperature and pH.
- To protect against diseases using WBCs and antibodies.
11) Blood Groups – Just the Basics
There are 4 main blood groups: A, B, AB, and O. Each group can be either Rh-positive
(+) or Rh-negative (−). So, the full blood types are: A+, A−, B+, B−, AB+, AB−, O+, and
O−.
- **Group O** is the universal donor.
- **Group AB** is the universal recipient.
Blood group compatibility is important for safe blood transfusion.
12) Some Common Heart Disorders
1. **Angina** – Chest pain due to reduced blood flow to the heart muscles. It is a
warning sign of heart disease.
2. **Heart Failure** – When the heart is too weak to pump blood properly. It causes
tiredness, breathlessness, and fluid buildup.
3. **Heart Attack (Cardiac Arrest)** – Happens when blood flow to part of the heart
is blocked, leading to damage or death of heart muscle. It is a medical emergency.
