Topic Summaries

The circulatory system

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  • The heart is an organ that pumps blood around the body in a double circulatory system (blood passes through the heart twice in one complete circuit of the body):

    • The right ventricle pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs for gas exchange.

    • Oxygen enters the blood and waste carbon dioxide leaves the blood.

    • The left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood around the rest of the body where body cells use the oxygen for aerobic respiration to provide energy.

    • Respiration also produces waste carbon dioxide, which is transported in the blood and exhaled via the lungs.

  • Heart rate: number of times a heart beats per minute.

  • Stroke volume: amount of blood ejected from the heart per heartbeat.

  • Cardiac output: volume of blood being pumped by the heart per minute (i.e. heart rate × stroke volume).

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