Circulatory System

The circulatory system, also known as the cardiovascular system, is a body system made up of a network of organs in charge of blood flow, nutrients, oxygen, and other hormones to and from the cells. This system contains key components that permit blood flow throughout the human body such as the heart (cardiovascular), the lungs (pulmonary), arteries, veins, coronary and portal vessels (systemic).

The main cells of the circulatory system are the red and white blood cells. The red blood cells pick up oxygen from the lungs and carries it all throughout our body. It then transports carbon dioxide back to the lungs to be released through exhalation. The white blood cells attack germs that entered the body and produce more white blood cells when a person has an infection.

The Red Blood Cells:

Red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow and are released into the bloodstream after they mature. Hemoglobin is an essential part of the red blood cell because it carries oxygen. In order to keep healthy blood cells some important vitamins to intake are vitamin E, vitamin B2, B2, and B12. A common disease that damages the red blood cells are anemia. Anemia is caused when the body is unable to produce enough "normal" red blood cells to carry a substantial amount of oxygen throughout the body. Some common forms of anemia are Sickle Cell Anemia and Iron-deficiency Anemia. Sickle Cell Anemia is an inherited disease that causes the red blood cells to form an irregular shape instead of a circular shape and causes a shortage of red blood cells. The cells can then become "sticky" and unable to properly flow through blood vessels which causes a blockage in blood flow. Iron-deficiency Anemia is caused when the body is unable to obtain enough iron from food which prevents the body from producing hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is essential for the body because it allows the red blood cells carry oxygen.

The White Blood Cells:

White blood cells, also known as Leukocytes, are an essential part of the immune system because they fight infections, viruses, bacteria, or an other pathogens that may enter the body. These cells are also produced in the bone marrow and are stored inside the blood and lymphatic tissues. Some types of white blood cells are Lymphocytes and Neutrophils. Lymphocytes are necessary because they produce antibodies to protect our body against any harmful bacteria or viruses. Neutrophilis are an important line of defense to help fight infections because they kill and digest bacteria and fungi.

Some diseases that can destroy the white blood cells are Leukemia and Lymphoma which causes an abnormal type of blood cells to form in the bone marrow. Some treatments for theses diseases are chemotherapy or radiation therapy, unfortunately, this causes the white blood cells to be destroyed and causes a person's body to be susceptible to infection.