Research round#1: How digestive system works with the circulatory system

The digestive system and circulatory system are very connected. The systems are connected to ensure that the body receives everything it needs for it to function. The circulatory system is responsible for the flow of blood while the digestive system is responsible for ingestion, breakdown, absorption and assimilation of food. Both systems interact to supply the body with essential nutrients(1). Blood from circulatory system takes nutrients from broken food from the digestive system and takes them to cells all over the body(2). Absorbed nutrients pass through the thin walls of small intestine to join in the blood stream (2). The circulatory system supports the digestive system by carrying glucose molecules from small intestine to body cells and by carrying chemical signals from endocrine system that control the speed of digestion(3). The digestive and circulatory interact directly in two points; (i)in the small intestine,(ii) in the liver (3).

In the small intestine there is small finger-like projections called villi. In the villi there is micro-villi and lacteal surface that increases the rate of absorption of nutrients(3). In the micro-villi there is blood capillaries which takes the absorbed nutrients to the blood capillaries where is taken to the rest of the body(3). The heart pumps 5 litres of blood per minute, and 700 ml is taken into the liver(4). Blood veins within circulatory system is connected to digestive system by hepatic portal vein which the first pass effect where liver metabolizes molecules from digestive tract before they get into circulatory system(4).

Both the digestive and circulatory systems are important to our bodies, but unless they work together, there’s no way the nutrients can get to our cells.