Pig Circulatory System by Jessica Sigmon

Pig Circulatory System

By Jessica Sigmon

Purpose

The Circulation System

Blood Circulation Key

Deoxygenated Blood

The entire circulatory system in pigs can be classified into two parts, the pulmonary and systemic circulation. The pulmonary circulation is the circulation of blood between the heart and the lungs. Systemic circulation is the circulation of blood between the heart and the rest of the body, except the lungs.

The main function of the circulatory system is to transport blood and nutrients throughout the body of the pig. The circulatory system of a pig consists of the heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries. There are two parts to the system. There is the pulmonary circulation of blood to the lungs and the systemic circulation of blood to the rest of the pig's body.

Oxygen-Rich Blood

Oxygenated Blood

The oxygen-rich blood from the lungs is carried to the heart by the pulmonary veins. The blood enters the left atrium first, from where it is pumped into the left ventricle. Finally, the oxygenated blood is pumped out of the heart into the aorta or the main artery. It is then carried by the numerous arteries to the different parts of the body.

Deoxygenated Blood

The deoxygenated (oxygen-deprived) blood is collected from the body by the veins. The deoxygenated blood first reaches the right atrium of the heart, from there it is transported to the right ventricle. It is then transported to the lungs through the pulmonary arteries for oxygenation.

Blood

Blood is a body fluid composed of plasma, blood cells, and platelets (responsible for blood clotting). There are both white and red blood cells. The white blood cells fight disease-causing agents like bacteria and viruses. The red blood cells contain a protein known as hemoglobin, that transports oxygen to all parts of the body.

The Heart

The Heart Continued...

A pig's heart has four chambers. The top two chambers are the atria (singular atrium), while the bottom two chambers are the ventricles. The inner surface of the heart is lined by endocardium. This is a type of smooth tissue.

The heart acts like a pumping organ. The heart rate/pulse rate of an adult pig is usually 70 beats per minute. The heart rate of a young piglet can be about 200 beats per minute. You can feel the heart rate of a pig at the base of the ear or under the tail.

Blood Vessels

The blood vessels (including the arteries and veins) circulate the blood throughout the body. The arteries are responsible for carrying blood from the heart to the entire body. The veins job is to return the blood to the heart. The large arteries branch off into smaller arteries and arterioles, then they branch off into tiny microscopic capillaries. The capillaries can help the cells receive water, oxygen, and nutrients from blood, and get rid of waste products like carbon dioxide by interchanging fluids through their walls. The capillaries then combine and widen to become venules, and then veins, which carry blood to the heart.