Verenkierrotta

Verenkierrotta, literally "blood circulation" in Finnish, refers to the body's cardiovascular system responsible for circulating blood through vessels. The system supplies oxygen and nutrients to tissues, removes carbon dioxide and metabolic wastes, and supports immune and hormonal transport as part of overall homeostasis.

The circulation is organized into two main circuits. The pulmonary circulation moves blood between the heart and the lungs for gas exchange, while the systemic circulation distributes oxygenated blood to the body's tissues. The heart, acting as a muscular pump, contains four chambers and four main valves that regulate blood flow.

Blood follows a synchronized path: deoxygenated blood returns to the right atrium via the superior and inferior vena cavae, passes to the right ventricle through the tricuspid valve, is sent to the lungs via the pulmonary artery, returns oxygenated through the pulmonary veins to the left atrium, then moves through the mitral valve into the left ventricle and out to the body via the aorta.

Microcirculation in capillary networks enables exchange at the tissue level. Cardiac output, the product of heart rate and stroke volume, adjusts to metabolic demand. Regulatory mechanisms include autonomic nerves, hormones, and local factors that influence heart rate, contractility, and vascular tone.

Disorders of the blood circulation include hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure, and peripheral arterial disease. Diagnosis relies on measurements such as blood pressure, heart rate, and imaging or functional tests of heart and vessel function. Management emphasizes lifestyle, medications, and, when needed, interventional procedures.