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What are the Main Types of Circulatory Systems?

Daniel Liden
Daniel Liden

The circulatory system is the physiological system within organisms that is responsible for providing necessary nutrients and gases to different parts of an organism's body. Different organisms may have different types of circulatory systems. The two main types of circulatory systems are the open circulatory system and the closed circulatory system. Vertebrates and other complex organisms tend to have a closed circulatory system, while many small invertebrates have an open circulatory system.

Distribution of nutrients and oxygen is achieved through a closed circulatory system in humans and in other vertebrates. Closed circulatory systems are systems in which the blood or circulatory fluid is contained in a network of blood vessels that carry the nutrient- and oxygen-rich blood where it needs to go within the body. There are two primary parts to the human circulatory system. Pulmonary circulation occurs when the heart pumps blood to the lungs in order to oxygenate the blood. In systemic circulation, the heart pumps the oxygenated blood through the blood vessels to the rest of the body, which needs oxygen to carry out cellular metabolism.

The circulatory system.
The circulatory system.

In open circulatory systems, by contrast, a fluid called hemolymph is present in a body cavity. To receive oxygen and nutrients, organs are bathed directly in this fluid, which is essentially a mix of blood, proteins, water, hormones, sugars, fats, and other biological substances. Hemolymph cannot be directed to specific parts of the body in open circulatory systems, as there is no system of blood vessels in place to direct the movement of the fluid. Muscular movements, as when the organism is moving through its environment, are generally able to shift the hemolymph around within the organism's body.

The structure of the aorta, part of the circulatory system.
The structure of the aorta, part of the circulatory system.

There are some simple organisms, such as flatworms, that entirely lack circulatory systems of any form. The nutrients obtained through digestion diffuse directly to the cells that need them. Some more complex creatures lacking circulatory systems have highly branched digestive systems so that the nutrients obtained can still be diffused to cells throughout the body, even to parts that are greatly removed from the digestive system.

A diagram of the human head and neck, including the arteries in red.
A diagram of the human head and neck, including the arteries in red.

Circulatory systems can serve purposes other than oxygen and nutrient transportation, particularly in complex organisms. Blood flow in vertebrates, for example, can help control body temperature. This is especially evident in cold environments when blood warmed by the body's internal heat is pumped to the extremities. The lack of blood transportation greatly inhibits this function in organisms with an open circulatory system.

Discussion Comments

Laotionne

Do you know that varicose veins are one of the more common problems related to the circulatory system? When the veins become twisted or swollen this slows the flow of blood through the body. Some people think they just look bad, but varicose veins can also be very painful.

Drentel

Have you ever seen a movie where somebody gets his heart ripped out of his chest? One of the characters in one of the Indiana Jones movies did this. I think the movie was The Temple of Doom, but I'm not certain. Anyway, when the guy would rip out someone's heart, the heart would continue to beat, even as the guy held it in his hand.

I always thought this was just Hollywood making stuff up, but I learned that the heart will actually continue to pulse as long as it has oxygen, even when it is no longer in the body and connected to the rest of the circulatory system.

Feryll

I don't remember much about the health classes I took in school, but I remember a book I checked out from the library. The book contained a lot of interesting and sometimes unbelievable facts about the human body. The one that really stuck in my mind is about the human circulatory system.

According to the book, if you were to take all of the blood vessels in one person's body and put them end to end then they would wrap around the world two times and you would still have some blood vessels left over. I know it sounds impossible that they could all fit into the human body, but it works because they are so small and thin.

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    • The circulatory system.
      By: Roman Dekan
      The circulatory system.
    • The structure of the aorta, part of the circulatory system.
      By: bilderzwerg
      The structure of the aorta, part of the circulatory system.
    • A diagram of the human head and neck, including the arteries in red.
      By: Alila
      A diagram of the human head and neck, including the arteries in red.
    • A person with visible blood vessels, which are part of the circulatory system.
      By: dimedrol68
      A person with visible blood vessels, which are part of the circulatory system.