Chapter 39 Circulatory System

Throughout Chapter 39, you are introduced into the major concepts of the circulatory system, the lymphatic system, the heart and how blood flows through it, and the respiratory system as well as the path of airflow through the respiratory system. In Section 1, you are introduced to arteries, capillaries, and veins as well as what consists of blood plasma. You are also introduced to the different blood cells and cell fragments such as red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. In Section 2, you are introduced to both the pulmonary circulation loop as well as the systemic circulation loop. You are also introduced to how blood flows through the heart, as well as how contractions take place throughout the heart. Lastly, in this section you

are introduced to how a heart attack and a stroke take place, as well as how to monitor the heart’s condition. The difference between a heart attack and a stroke is that a heart attack takes place when an area of the heart dies and stops functioning properly while a stroke takes place when an area of the brain dies. In Section 3, you are introduced to the respiratory system and the path that air follows through your body. You are also introduced to the factors that affect breathing rate such as carbon dioxide levels, stress, fear, and pain. Lastly, in this section you are introduced to the oxygen transport as well as the carbon dioxide transport, and the respiratory diseases that limit the function of the body’s lungs. Therefore, Chapter 39 is mainly about the circulatory and respiratory systems and the important role that they play as well as how our heart functions.