schema of circulation

Propelled by the heart, blood circulates through the body by two distinct routes: through the lungs (where it collects oxygen) and through the rest of the body.

internal iliac artery

Branch of the aorta supplying blood to the pelvis and lower limbs; it divides into the internal and external iliac arteries.

kidney

Organ secreting urine; it eliminates toxic substances from the body.

intestine

Section of the digestive tract between the stomach and the anus where absorption of nutrients is carried out and waste is transformed into fecal matter.

stomach

Dilated section of the digestive tract preceding the intestine; it receives food to be digested.

spleen

Organ of the circulatory system where impurities in the blood are destroyed.

celiac trunk

Large branch of the descending aorta dividing into three arteries that flow to various abdominal organs (stomach, gallbladder, liver, pancreas).

liver

Viscera that secretes bile, among other substances; bile helps digestion.

portal vein

Large vein carrying blood from the abdominal organs (small intestine, stomach, gallbladder, pancreas and others) to the liver.

inferior vena cava

Vein carrying blood deoxygenated in the lower portion of the body (below the diaphragm) to the right atrium; it is the largest vein in the organism.

internal iliac vein

Vein carrying blood from the lower limb back to the inferior vena cava.

pelvic limb

Attached to the trunk at the hip, it is made up of the thigh, the leg and the foot; its role is to support the body.

pectoral limb

Attached to the trunk at the shoulder, it is made up of the arm, the forearm and the hand.

left ventricle

Thick-walled heart cavity receiving oxygenated blood from the left atrium; it then forces it into the aorta to circulate throughout the organism.

left atrium

Heart cavity receiving oxygenated blood from the lungs via four pulmonary veins; it then forces it into the left ventricle.

left lung

Respiratory organ divided into two lobes where blood from the pulmonary artery is cleansed of carbon dioxide and enriched with oxygen.

descending aorta

Third segment of the aorta flowing down the thorax to the diaphragm; it then branches into various arteries between the ribs.

arch of aorta

Second segment of the aorta, which branches into the arteries flowing to the head and upper limbs; with the ascending aorta, it forms the arch of the aorta.

ascending aorta

First segment of the artery leaving from the left ventricle; it branches into two coronary arteries that flow to the heart.

head

Upper portion of the body containing the main sensory organs and the brain.

hepatic vein

Vein carrying blood from the liver back to the inferior vena cava.

right ventricle

Thin-walled heart cavity receiving deoxygenated blood from the right atrium; it then forces it into the pulmonary artery leading to the lungs.

right atrium

Heart cavity receiving deoxygenated blood from the lower and upper venae cavae; it then forces it into the right ventricle.

right lung

Respiratory organ divided into three lobes in which blood from the pulmonary artery is cleansed of carbon dioxide and enriched with oxygen.

superior vena cava

Vein carrying deoxygenated blood from the upper body (above the diaphragm) back to the right atrium.