Systemic loop

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The systemic loop of the circulatory system delivers oxygen enriched blood to the tissues of the body. Blood is delivered through a closed loop system, first proposed by Dr. William Harvey. The systemic loop is fed by the left ventricle, through the aortic semilunar valve, into the aorta. The aorta is the largest and strongest artery in the body that supplies blood to the tissue and individual cells of the upper and lower portions of the body. The progression in vessels is: arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins. The capillary beds are the functional part of the blood delivery system. They deliver oxygen, nutrients, and hormone messengers to the tissue. Once the delivery is made, the capillaries attract carbon dioxide, ammonia, and other waste products, transporting them to the liver and lungs, pulmonary loop for removal. The systemic loop ends with the return of deoxygenated blood to the right atrium.