Circulatory+Al-ASo

=__How Blood Travels Through the Body__=

Think of a figure eight, what does it look like? Our blood flow's pattern is similar to one. Located where the two loops connect or intersect, is our heart. The heart pumps blood to the lungs and the lungs send that blood back to the heart in the first loop. Our blood is pumped throughout our body all the way back to our heart in the second loop. How does this happen? It's all thanks to our body's three blood vessels, the arteries, the capillaries, and the veins. Our blood is pumped away from our heart inside the arteries. The arteries eventually lead to the tiny capillaries. The capillaries take the blood to our veins, which takes it back to the heart--completing the figure eight.

=__Why is the Circulatory System Important?__=

Our circulatory system pumps blood to all of our body, it helps our organs function. We wouldn't be alive if it weren't for our heart and the circulatory system. It doesn't just pump blood, however, with the blood it pumps substances our cells need, carries cells to fight disease, and carries wastes away from our cells. Blood carries hormones (chemical messengers) along with the oxygen from our lungs and glucose courtesy to our digestive system. Where do these things go? They are transported all throughout our body for cells. Our blood also removes wastes from our body cells like carbon dioxide. It's also a great friend, your circulatory system will stay by your side doing all of this until the day you die.