SUMMARY
This section encapsulates the study of body fluids, focusing particularly on blood and lymph and their roles within the circulatory system. Blood, classified as a connective tissue, comprises a liquid component called plasma and formed elements including red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets. Key functions of these components are highlighted, such as oxygen transport by RBCs and immune responses mediated by WBCs.
The section explains the classification of blood into different groups (A, B, AB, O and Rh factor), essential for safe blood transfusions. In parallel, lymphatic fluid is discussed, showcasing its role in transporting substances and immune functions, underscoring the interrelationship between blood and lymph.
Additionally, the circulatory system's structure and function are detailed, explaining that vertebrates possess a closed circulatory system, which includes a muscular heart that pumps blood through a network of vessels. The heart's electrical conduction system, notably the sino-atrial node (SAN) as the pacemaker, regulates cardiac rhythm, allowing for the cardiac cycle that constitutes the repetitive contraction and relaxation of heart chambers.
Finally, the significance of double circulation is emphasized, detailing the pathways of pulmonary and systemic circulation, and the regulation of heart activity through both intrinsic factors and external neural or hormonal signals all working to maintain homeostasis.