blood vascular system
Quick Summary
The blood vascular system, also known as the circulatory system, is a network of tissues and blood vessels responsible for transporting nutrients, gases, and waste products throughout the body. In vertebrates, this system is closed, meaning blood circulates within a network of vessels, including arteries, veins, and capillaries.12
Systemic circulation carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the body's tissues and returns deoxygenated blood to the heart. Arteries carry blood away from the heart under high pressure, branching into smaller arterioles and then into capillaries. Capillaries are tiny vessels with thin walls where the exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and waste products occurs between the blood and tissues. Blood then flows into venules, which merge into veins that return blood to the heart at lower pressure.3245
Blood itself is a fluid tissue composed of plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. This system is vital for maintaining homeostasis and supporting organ function.673
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