The circulatory system

Question

using this diagram

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Obwvpc-KSC4/S7_cIBqIOKI/AAAAAAAAAZA/ASV_3vwTe00/s1600/system+circulation.JPG

write down where the blood flows. Starting from the small intestines going through the head and then going through the kidneys.

Answer 1

This is a bit tricky because you have to remember the blood takes a trip back to the heart each time after it has delivered nutrients in the correct place. Veins bring blood to the heart, and arteries bring blood away. If we start in the small intestine we have to make our way back to the heart to get reoxygenated blood so we can supply the head.

We do that by passing through the

hepatic portal vein --> liver --> hepatic vein.

Now we are at the inferior vena cava. The vena cava are major veins that go directly to the heart.

Inferior vena cava --> right atrium --> right ventricle

Remember blood always goes atrium to the ventricle (you can think as the alphabet goes from a -->v, so does the blood flow in the heart). Now we have to go to the lungs to pick up that new fresh oxygen.

Pulmonary artery --> lungs --> pulmonary vein

Now we have the oxygen and we have to go back to the heart to be distributed to the right place

Left atrium --> left ventricle --> aorta

The aorta is the primary artery for distributing blood throughout your body. Now we can make our way to the head

Aorta --> carotid artery --> Head

The carotid artery is located in your neck and if you have ever seen a TV show where someone is passed out and a healthcare professional applies their fingers to that person's neck; they are actually feeling the carotid artery and seeing if it pulses.