One of the most important systems of the body, which keeps it alive, is the cardiovascular system. As part of the circulatory system, the cardiovascular system pumps blood throughout the body through a network of numerous arteries and veins, supplying it with nutrients and oxygen. Additionally, the cardiovascular system fights infections and diseases in the body and creates blood cells. However, blood acts as a filter system for the body and removes waste, cellular debris, or bacteria from the bloodstream. As blood travels through the circulatory system, it is first pumped from the right side of the heart to the lungs through the circulatory system. pulmonary arteries and then separates into arterioles which divide into capillaries. Here, the deoxygenated blood receives diffused oxygen in the lungs due to the large surface area and returns through the venules and then the pulmonary veins to the left side of the heart. From here, oxygen-rich blood is pumped throughout the body into arteries, arterioles and capillaries, supplying the body and cells with nutrients through osmosis. Next, the now deoxygenated blood returns to the right side of the heart containing deoxygenated blood, via venules and veins to repeat the cycle again. Additionally, the heart is nourished by the coronary circulation through the right and left main coronary arteries. The body's blood is made up of many components, red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma and platelets. Red blood cells supply oxygen to the body and remove waste. Without them, your body would slowly die. They contain a protein chemical called hemoglobin, which gives them their red color. Additionally, hemoglobin contains iron, which causes oxygen molecules to stick to it so that blood passes through tissues... center of paper... siteCommentsLinkTagsParentheticalEditDelete"Heart and circulatory system." KidsHealth: The most visited children's health site on the web. Ed. Yamini Durani. The Nemours Foundation, 01 January 2013. Web. 21 January 2014. WebsiteCommentsLinkTagsParentheticalEditDelete"High blood pressure (hypertension)." Symptoms. Np, nd Web. January 29, 2014.WebsiteCommentsLinkTagsParentheticalEditDelete"Home: where the heart is." The Human Heart: An Online Exploration of the Franklin Institute, made possible by Unisys. Np, nd Web. January 27, 2014.WebsiteCommentsLinkTagsParentheticalEditDelete"INTRO TO THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM.wmv." YouTube. YouTube, January 1, 2010. Web. January 26, 2014. WebsiteCommentsLinkTagParentheticalEditDeleteOwyoung, Palmer. "What is the role of the spleen and medulla in the circulatory system? | EHow." EHow. Demand Media, October 30, 2009. Web. January 29. 2014.