Circulation
 The circulatory system is an aspect related to animals that have a large body size. Animals of a certain size faces a challenge in terms of transporting fluids, molecules and ions throughout the body. Some animals (especially smaller and/or inactive ones) lack the system while others have system (esp. larger and/or more active) allowing them to circulate fluid throughout the body aided by a muscular pump. This part of the class will give you a chance to take a comparative look at circulation in a variety of animals, but will emphasize circulation as encountered in the human species. This organ system is also the one that gives rise to numerous problems in our species in the form of cardivascular diseases. Five of the most common reasons for why people get hospitalized is linked to heart problems. 

The following questions will help you to review the material from the lecture and the text.
  1. What is the function of the circulatory system in animals? What kinds of physiological tasks are accomplished by the system?
  2. Give five examples of molecules/compunds transported by the circulatory system in animals?
  3. Some animals do not have a circulatory system. Why is that?
  4. Discuss the relationship between surface area and volume. How does this concept apply to the circulatory system?
  5. What is the difference between an open and a closed circulatory system? Give examples of animals in which these systems are found.
  6. Describe the circulatory system in fishes, amphibians, reptiles (recall that Crocodilians have system more similar to birds/mammals), birds and mammals.
  7. How does the blood flow in the circulatory system of a fish? A frog? A lizard? A crocodile? A hawk? A zebra?
  8. Describe the different types of blood vessels that you encounter in a vertebrate. How do these vessels differ from each other from an anatomical perspective? Can you relate their anatomy to their specific function in the circulatory system?
  9. What is blood pressure? How is it measured? What are you actually measuring when you measure the blood pressure of an individual?
  10. How does the blood pressure vary between arteries, capillaries and veins? Explain.
  11. What is the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure?
  12. Why do large arteries contain a large amount of elastic connective tissue?
  13. What is the function of valves in veins? Describe how they function in the circulatory system.
  14. Tissues and organs do not need the same amount of blood flow. The demand can also vary depending on movement or other processes occurring in the body. How is the flow of blood controlled?
  15. Which type of blood vessel contain the highest volume of blood at any given time?
  16. Describe the overall anatomy of a human heart in terms of its location in the human body.
  17. Describe the anatomy of a human heart. Name chambers, large vessels as well as the names of the valves.
  18. What is the function of the valves in the heart?
  19. What is heart murmur?
  20. Describe the flow of blood in the heart.
  21. Imagine a red blood cell present in your brain. The cell returns towards the heart. Which chamber of the heart will this blood cell first encounter?
  22. Imagine a red blood cell in the pulmonary artery. Which chamber of the heart will this blood cell first encounter?
  23. What are plaques? How do they form and what is the connection to cardiovascular diseases?
  24. Explain the importance of the coronary arteries. 
  25. What causes a heart attack? What are its symptoms? 
  26. Is there a connection between nutrition and the rising incidence of heart disease in our nation?
  27. What is a stroke? Distinguish a stroke from a heart attack.
  28. Is there anything one can do as an individual to reduce the risk of heart diseases? Explain.

Illustrations and Films:

Return to the Biology 10 Study Guides Index
West Valley College  
Page created by: Peter Svensson
Updated: November 9,  2009