Organs of Human Circulatory System

The human circulatory system consists of the; heart, blood, blood vessels, and the lymphatic system.

Heart

The heart is the main blood-pumping organ of the circulatory system. It is a muscular organ made of cardiac tissues. It is almost the size of a closed fist. It is located in the thoracic cavity between the right and left lungs with its apex slightly tilted towards the left side. The human heart has four chambers. It is covered by a protective covering called the pericardium. The chambers of the right side and left side are separated by the septum whereas the atrium and ventricle are separated by the atrioventricular septum that has valves in them. The left side of the heart deals with the oxygenated blood whereas the right side of the heart deals with the deoxygenated blood.

Blood

Blood is a fluid connective tissue that acts as the medium of transport in the body. Blood consists of blood cells and fluid plasma. Blood cells include; red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Blood plasma is a straw-colored fluid that consists of water and other substances.

• Red Blood Cells: They are also known as erythrocytes that lack a nucleus. These cells consist of hemoglobin which is responsible for the transport of oxygen in the body and gives the red color of the blood. These cells also consist of antigens that determine the blood group of the person.
• White Blood Cells: They are also known as leukocytes which are responsible for the body’s immune system. They are of the following types; lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils.
• Platelets: They are also known as thrombocytes which are small disk-shaped fragments produced in the bone marrow. They help in the clotting of blood during any injury.

Blood Vessels

Blood vessels are a network of pipelines that spreads throughout the body. These pipelines are responsible for the transport of blood throughout the body. Blood vessels consist of; arteries, veins, and capillaries.

• Arteries: These are thick and elastic blood vessels that are responsible for transporting high-pressure blood that is pumped by the heart. It is responsible for transporting oxygenated blood to the tissues of the body and deoxygenated blood to the lungs.
• Veins: These are thin and less elastic blood vessels that are responsible for the transport of low-pressure blood to the heart. It is responsible for transporting deoxygenated blood to the heart and oxygenated blood to the lungs.
• Blood Capillaries: These are very delicate one-celled thick blood vessels that are found deeply embedded in the tissues and are responsible for the exchange of materials between the blood and tissue (cells).

Lymphatic System

Lymph is a body fluid derived from blood that appears pale yellow. It connects the blood circulatory system to tissues and acts as a transport medium between the two. It lacks red blood cells as it seeps out of the blood circulatory system and requires the help of lymphatic vessels to return to the blood circulatory system. Lymph nodes (components of the lymphatic system) help in detecting pathogens or antigens present in the body’s tissue system.

The human circulatory system is a complex system consisting of different types of tissues. The main organ of the human circulatory system is the heart which pumps blood throughout the body. The human circulatory system also consists of a vast network of vessels or pipelines that carry blood throughout the body. The main purpose of the human circulatory system is to transport various essential substances that are required for the survival of the body.