Circulatory System

The circulatory system (cardiovascular system) pumps blood from the

heart to the lungs to get oxygen. The heart then sends oxygenated blood
through arteries to the rest of the body. The veins carry oxygen-poor
blood back to the heart to start the circulation process over. Your
circulatory system is critical to healthy organs, muscles and tissues.

 Appointm
 APPO

L
 TALK

 CO

 Function

 Anatomy

 Conditions and Disorders

 Care

 Frequently Asked Questions

OVERVIEW
What is the circulatory system?

Your heart and blood vessels make up the circulatory system. The main
function of the circulatory system is to provide oxygen, nutrients and
hormones to muscles, tissues and organs throughout your body.
Another part of the circulatory system is to remove waste from cells and
organs so your body can dispose of it.

Your heart pumps blood to the body through a network of arteries and

veins (blood vessels). Your circulatory system can also be defined as
your cardiovascular system. Cardio means heart, and vascular refers to
blood vessels.
The circulatory system provides blood to all the body's tissues so they
can function.

FUNCTION
What does the circulatory system do?

The circulatory system’s function is to move blood throughout the body.

This blood circulation keeps organs, muscles and tissues healthy and
working to keep you alive.

The circulatory system also helps your body get rid of waste products.
This waste includes:

 Carbon dioxide from respiration (breathing).

 Other chemical byproducts from your organs.
 Waste from things you eat and drink.

How does the circulatory system work?

Your circulatory system functions with the help of blood vessels that
include arteries, veins and capillaries. These blood vessels work with
your heart and lungs to continuously circulate blood through your body.
Here’s how:

1. The heart’s bottom right pumping chamber (right ventricle) sends

blood that’s low in oxygen (oxygen-poor blood) to the lungs. Blood
travels through the pulmonary trunk (the main pulmonary artery).
2. Blood cells pick up oxygen in the lungs.
3. Pulmonary veins carry the oxygenated blood from the lungs to the
heart’s left atrium (upper heart chamber).
4. The left atrium sends the oxygenated blood into the left ventricle
(lower chamber). This muscular part of the heart pumps blood out
to the body through the arteries.
 5. As it moves through your body and organs, blood collects and
drops off nutrients, hormones and waste products.
6. The veins carry deoxygenated blood and carbon dioxide back to
the heart, which sends the blood to the lungs.
7. Your lungs get rid of the carbon dioxide when you exhale.

ANATOMY
What are the circulatory system parts?

The parts of your circulatory system are your:

 Heart, a muscular organ that pumps blood throughout your body.

 Blood vessels, which include your arteries, veins and capillaries.
 Blood, made up of red and white blood cells, plasma and
platelets.

What are the circulatory system circuits?

Your circulatory system has three circuits. Blood circulates through your
heart and through these circuits in a continuous pattern:

 The pulmonary circuit: This circuit carries blood without oxygen

from the heart to the lungs. The pulmonary veins return
oxygenated blood to the heart.
 The systemic circuit: In this circuit, blood with oxygen, nutrients
and hormones travels from the heart to the rest of the body. In the
veins, the blood picks up waste products as the body uses up the
oxygen, nutrients and hormones.
 The coronary circuit: Coronary refers to your heart’s arteries. This
circuit provides the heart muscle with oxygenated blood. The
coronary circuit then returns oxygen-poor blood to the heart’s
right upper chamber (atrium) to send to the lungs for oxygen.

What are the types of blood vessels?

There are three main types of blood vessels:

 Arteries: Arteries are thin, muscular tubes that carry oxygenated

blood away from the heart and to every part of your body. The
aorta is the body’s largest artery. It starts at the heart and travels
up the chest (ascending aorta) and then down into the stomach
(descending aorta). The coronary arteries branch off the aorta,
which then branch into smaller arteries (arterioles) as they get
farther from your heart.
 Veins: These blood vessels return oxygen-depleted blood to the
heart. Veins start small (venules) and get larger as they approach
your heart. Two central veins deliver blood to your heart. The
superior vena cava carries blood from the upper body (head and
arms) to the heart. The inferior vena cava brings blood up from the
lower body (stomach, pelvis and legs) to the heart. Veins in the
legs have valves to keep blood from flowing backward.
 Capillaries: These blood vessels connect very small arteries
(arterioles) and veins (venules). Capillaries have thin walls that
allow oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients and waste products to
pass into and out of cells.

What are the circulatory system organs?

Your heart is the only circulatory system organ. Blood goes from the
heart to the lungs to get oxygen. The lungs are part of the respiratory
system. Your heart then pumps oxygenated blood through arteries to
the rest of the body.

CONDITIONS AND DISORDERS

What conditions affect the circulatory system?

Many conditions can affect the health of your circulatory system,

including:
  Aneurysms: Aneurysms occur when an artery wall weakens and
enlarges. The weak spot can bulge as blood moves through the
artery. The weak spot may tear, causing a life-threatening rupture.
Aneurysms can affect any artery, but aortic aneurysms, abdominal
aortic aneurysms and brain aneurysms are the most common.
 High blood pressure: Your arteries work hard to circulate blood
throughout the body. When the pressure (force of blood against
the blood vessel walls) gets too high, you develop high blood
pressure. When the arteries become less elastic (stretchy), less
blood and oxygen reaches organs like the heart. High blood
pressure puts you at risk for cardiovascular disease, heart
attacks and strokes.
 Plaque deposits: High cholesterol and diabetes can lead to fat
and other substances collecting in the blood. These substances
form deposits called plaques on artery walls. This condition
is atherosclerosis, or narrowed or hardened arteries.
Atherosclerosis increases the risk of blood clots and
strokes, coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease (and
other artery diseases), heart attacks and kidney disease.
 Venous disease: Venous diseases tend to affect veins in the lower
body. Problems like chronic venous insufficiency and varicose
veins occur when blood can’t flow back to the heart and pools in
leg veins. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot in the legs, can
lead to a life-threatening pulmonary embolism.

CARE
How can I prevent circulatory system problems?

These steps can protect the health of your circulatory system:

 Aim for at least 150 minutes of physical activity every week.

 Eat a heart-healthy diet rich in vegetables and fiber and low in
saturated fats and processed foods. Consider a Mediterranean-
 style diets or plant-based diet, as they appear to be the most heart
healthy.
 Find healthy ways to ease stress.
 Maintain a healthy weight.
 Manage conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and high
cholesterol.
 Get help to quit smoking.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How big is the circulatory system?

Your body has more than 60,000 miles of blood vessels that circulate
about 1.5 gallons of blood every day.

What is red blood and blue blood?

All blood is red. Hemoglobin, an iron-rich protein in red blood cells,

mixes with oxygen to give blood its red color. Blood that’s rich in oxygen
is known as red blood.

Your veins carry oxygen-poor blood. This is sometimes called blue blood
because your veins can look blue underneath the skin. The blood is
actually red, but the low oxygen levels give veins a bluish hue.

Do arteries always carry oxygenated blood?

For the most part, yes. The exceptions are pulmonary arteries and veins.
Pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood to the lungs. Pulmonary
veins return the oxygenated blood to the heart.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Your circulatory system plays a critical role in keeping you alive. Blood
vessels carry blood to the lungs for oxygen. Then your heart pumps
oxygen-rich blood through arteries to the rest of the body. Your veins
help your body get rid of waste products. Conditions like high blood
pressure, high cholesterol and atherosclerosis can affect the health of
your circulatory system. If you have one of these conditions, talk to your
healthcare provider about steps you can take to protect your
cardiovascular health.

SHARE  Facebook Twitter LinkedIn EmailPrint

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 09/21/2021.

References

Get useful, helpful and relevant health + wellness information

ENEWS
Get useful, helpful and relevant health + wellness information
SIGN UP!
Related Institutes & Services

Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute (Miller Family)

The latest information about heart & vascular disorders, treatments,

tests and prevention from the No. 1-ranked heart program in the United
States.
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on
our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland
Clinic products or services. Policy
More health news + info

S HO W M O R E

Appointments800.659.7822
 APPOINTMENTS & LOCATIONS
 TALK TO A HEART NURSE
 CONTACT US


Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram LinkedIn Pinterest Snapchat
Actions

Appointments & AccessAccepted InsuranceEvents CalendarFinancial

AssistanceGive to Cleveland ClinicPay Your Bill OnlineRefer a
PatientPhone DirectoryVirtual Second OpinionsVirtual Visits
Blog, News & Apps

Consult QDHealth EssentialsNewsroomMyClevelandClinicMyChart

About Cleveland Clinic

100 Years of Cleveland ClinicAbout UsLocationsQuality & Patient

SafetyOffice of Diversity & InclusionPatient ExperienceResearch &
InnovationsCommunity CommitmentCareersFor EmployeesResources
for Medical Professionals
Site Information & Policies

Send Us FeedbackSite MapAbout this WebsiteCopyright, Reprint &

LicensingWebsite Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyNotice of Privacy
PracticesNon-Discrimination Notice
9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195 | 800.223.2273 | © 2022
Cleveland Clinic. All Rights Reserved.