The circulatory system is the transport system of the body and provides the

means by which materials are transported around the body. Within the system,
the blood is the transport medium and is confined to blood vessels (therefore it
is a closed system). The heart is the pump that moves the blood. This system
transports many things including oxygen, hormones and nutrients to all cells in
the body and carries away waste products.

This closed system consists of a network of blood vessels extending to all parts
of the body, as well as the heart acting as the pump for the system. There are
three types of blood vessels that carry the blood throughout the body: arteries,
veins and capillaries. All are different in structure and function.

Blood is complex in nature consisting of cells, cell fragments, liquid plasma and
dissolved substances and the major component, water.

Exchange occurs between the circulatory system and other systems. For
example, the digestive system exchanges the products of digestion; the
respiratory system exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide; the renal system
exchanges metabolic waste and the endocrine system exchanges hormones. All
these body systems work together to create one big system – the human body.

The materials that need to be transported aorund the

human body are:
Oxygen that is needed by all the cells in the human body to carry out the
process of respiration.
Nutrients are also transported around our bodies to the body's cells, and
in the same process waste materials is transported out of the body.
Antibodies are also transported to fight invading germs.
Hormones which are responsible for growth and development.

Water which helps to cool the body and allow fro chemical processes to
take place in it.

Carbon dioxide, a waste product of respiration which is transported in the

blood and is removed by the lung.