The cells of all living organisms need a constant supply of reactants for metabolism, e.g. oxygen and glucose
Single celled organisms can gain oxygen and glucose directly from their surroundings, and the molecules can diffuse to all parts of the cell quickly due to short diffusion distances
Larger organisms, however, are made up of many layers of cells, meaning that the time taken for substances such as glucose and oxygen to diffuse to every cell in the body would be far too long
The diffusion distances involved are too great
To solve this problem their exchange surfaces are connected to a mass transport system, for example
The digestive system is connected to the circulatory system
The lungs are connected to the circulatory system
Mass transport is the bulk movement of gases or liquids in one direction, usually via a system of vessels and tubes
The circulatory system in mammals is a well-studied example of a mass transport system; the one-way flow of blood within the blood vessels carries essential nutrients and gases to all the cells of the body
Open & closed systems
Circulatory systems are either described as being open or closed
In a closed circulatory system, blood is pumped around the body and is always contained within a network of blood vessels
All vertebrates and many invertebrates have closed circulatory systems
In an open circulatory system, blood is not contained within blood vessels but is pumped directly into body cavities
Organisms such as arthropods and molluscs have open circulatory systems.
Humans have a closed double circulatory system: in one complete circuit of the body, blood passes through the heart (the pump) twice
The right side of the heart pumps blood deoxygenated blood to the lungs for gas exchange; this is the pulmonary circulatory system
Blood then returns to the left side of the heart, so that oxygenated blood can be pumped efficiently (at high pressure) around the body; this is the systemic circulatory system
The double circulatory system in mammals
Main Circulatory System Structures Table
The main blood vessels
Pulmonary artery - carries deoxygenated blood away from the heart, towards the lungs
Pulmonary vein - carries oxygenated blood away from the lungs, towards the heart
Coronary arteries - supply the heart with oxygenated blood
Aorta - carries oxygenated blood out of the heart and to the rest of the body
Vena cava - carries deoxygenated blood into the heart
Renal artery - supplies the kidneys with oxygenated blood
Renal vein - carries deoxygenated blood away from the kidneys, towards the heart