2.3.8

Double Circulatory System

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Double Circulatory System

The human circulatory system has three key components: blood vessels, blood and the heart. It is called a double circulatory system because blood passes through the heart 2 times on each circuit.

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Blood enters the heart

  • Deoxygenated blood from the body enters into the right atrium of the heart.
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Blood pumped to lungs

  • This deoxygenated blood is pumped out of the heart and towards the lungs by the right ventricle.
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Lungs oxygenate the blood

  • At the lungs, the deoxygenated blood exchanges carbon dioxide for oxygen. This is how it becomes oxygenated (contains oxygen).
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Blood returns to heart

  • Oxygenated blood returns to the left atrium of the heart.
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Blood pumped to the body

  • This oxygenated blood is pumped out of the heart and to the body by the left ventricle.
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Blood returns to the heart

  • The oxygenated blood gives its oxygen to body cells in exchange for carbon dioxide.
  • The blood becomes deoxygenated and returns to the heart.

Jump to other topics

1Cell Biology

2Organisation

2.1Principles of Organisation

2.2Enzymes

2.3Circulatory System

2.4Non-Communicable Diseases

2.5Plant Tissues, Organs & Systems

3Infection & Response

4Bioenergetics

5Homeostasis & Response

6Inheritance, Variation & Evolution

7Ecology

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