Mammals

Circulation Type

Picture
Mammals have a closed double circulatory system. ``Closed`` refers to blood travelling within vessels instead of flowing openly in the body. ``Double`` refers to two pathways that blood can take.   

Pulminary circulation is gas exchange with the environment. Arteries carry deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs. After breathing, the veins return the new oxygenated blood to the heart.

Systematic circulation deals with exchange of gas and nutrients within the body. In systematic circulation, arteries carry the oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body and the veins return deoxygenated blood to the heart.

The oxygen-rich blood on the left side of the heart is kept separate from the deoxygenated blood on the right. The heart consists of four chambers - two atria and two ventricles.