The Circulatory System

The heart

The blood vessels (arteries, capillaries, veins)

The blood (plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets)

Systemic Circulation carries blood from the left side of the heart to all the systems of the body and back to the heart.

Pulmonary Circulation carries blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs and back to the heart.

Blood leaves the heart through arteries, to be delivered to capillaries in the cells and continue through veins, back to the heart

Blood delivered to cells in systemic circulation is oxygenated and bright red in colour.

Blood leaving systemic circulation is deoxygenated and dark red in colour.

In pulmonary circulation, the blood delivered to the lungs is deoxygenated, but the blood leaving the lungs is oxygenated.