The continuous movement of blood through the heart and blood vessels to deliver oxygen and nutrients and remove waste products.
Circulation depends on coordinated function of the heart, arteries, veins, and smaller blood vessels. The cardiovascular system includes two major circuits: pulmonary circulation, which moves blood between the heart and lungs, and systemic circulation, which moves blood between the heart and the rest of the body.
Adequate circulation is essential for supplying tissues with oxygen and nutrients and carrying away metabolic waste.
QUICK FACT
Blood does not simply travel in one continuous loop through the body; it moves through different interconnected circuits.
COMMONLY CONFUSED WITH
Blood flow: the movement of blood through a particular vessel, tissue, or region; circulation refers more broadly to the overall movement of blood through the cardiovascular system.
SEE ALSO