Which structure is part of the circulatory system?
a. Artery
b. Brain stem
c. Large intestine
The correct answer and explanation is :
The correct answer is: a. Artery
Explanation:
The circulatory system, also known as the cardiovascular system, is responsible for the transport of blood, nutrients, gases, and wastes throughout the body. It consists of the heart, blood vessels, and blood. The primary structures involved in the circulatory system include arteries, veins, capillaries, and the heart itself.
- Artery: An artery is a blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart. Arteries typically carry oxygenated blood, with the main exception being the pulmonary artery, which transports deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs. Arteries are crucial to the circulatory system as they distribute blood throughout the body, delivering oxygen and nutrients to tissues and organs while removing waste products. The structure of arteries allows them to handle high-pressure blood flow, as they have thick, muscular walls that can expand and contract to help push blood through the body.
- Brain stem: The brain stem is a part of the central nervous system, not the circulatory system. It connects the brain to the spinal cord and is responsible for regulating vital functions like heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure. While it plays a role in controlling the circulatory system by regulating heart rate and blood pressure through autonomic nervous system functions, it is not itself a part of the circulatory system.
- Large intestine: The large intestine is part of the digestive system, not the circulatory system. It is responsible for absorbing water and salts from the material that has not been digested as food, and it forms and eliminates waste from the body. Although the large intestine receives blood supply from arteries and veins, it is not directly involved in the circulatory system’s role of transporting blood.
In summary, the artery is the only structure listed that is a direct component of the circulatory system, as it plays a vital role in the transportation of blood throughout the body.