Circulatory System — Anatomy & Physiology Practice Worksheet

Grades 10–12 Medium difficulty 10 problems

The circulatory system transports oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and waste throughout the body. The heart pumps blood through arteries (away from heart), capillaries (exchange sites), and veins (back to heart).

The heart has four chambers: right atrium and ventricle pump blood to the lungs (pulmonary circuit); left atrium and ventricle pump blood to the body (systemic circuit). Valves prevent backflow.

Blood contains red blood cells (oxygen transport), white blood cells (immune defense), platelets (clotting), and plasma (liquid carrying nutrients and waste).

Skills practiced

  • Tracing blood flow through the heart
  • Distinguishing arteries, veins, and capillaries
  • Identifying blood component functions
  • Comparing pulmonary and systemic circuits
Name: Date: Period:

Practice Worksheet: Circulatory System

Instructions: Solve each problem carefully. Show all work clearly. Write your final answer in the space provided or on a separate sheet as directed.

  1. 1.Multiple Choice: Which chamber of the heart receives oxygenated blood from the lungs?
    1. A. Right atrium
    2. B. Right ventricle
    3. C. Left atrium
    4. D. Left ventricle
  2. 2.Short Answer: What is the function of the pulmonary arteries? Where do they carry blood?
  3. 3.Labeling: Identify the numbered structures on the diagram of the heart below. Use the word bank: aorta, superior vena cava, right atrium, left ventricle, pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein, mitral valve, aortic valve.
    1. 2. 3. ; 4. 5. 6. ; 7. 8.
  4. 4.Multiple Choice: Which blood vessels have the thinnest walls, allowing for gas and nutrient exchange?
    1. A. Arteries
    2. B. Arterioles
    3. C. Capillaries
    4. D. Veins
  5. 5.Short Answer: Describe the path of a red blood cell from the superior vena cava to the aorta. Name the chambers and valves it passes through.
  6. 6.Multiple Choice: What is the main function of red blood cells?
    1. A. Fighting infection
    2. B. Carrying oxygen
    3. C. Clotting blood
    4. D. Transporting nutrients
  7. 7.Short Answer: Explain the difference between systole and diastole in the cardiac cycle.
  8. 8.Multiple Choice: Which of the following is the correct order of blood flow through the heart?
    1. A. Right atrium →\rightarrow right ventricle →\rightarrow lungs →\rightarrow left atrium →\rightarrow left ventricle →\rightarrow body
    2. B. Right atrium →\rightarrow left atrium →\rightarrow lungs →\rightarrow right ventricle →\rightarrow left ventricle →\rightarrow body
    3. C. Left atrium →\rightarrow left ventricle →\rightarrow lungs →\rightarrow right atrium →\rightarrow right ventricle →\rightarrow body
    4. D. Right ventricle →\rightarrow right atrium →\rightarrow lungs →\rightarrow left ventricle →\rightarrow left atrium →\rightarrow body
  9. 9.Short Answer: What is the role of the sinoatrial (SA) node in the heart?
  10. 10.Labeling: Identify the following blood vessels as either an artery or a vein, and state whether they carry oxygenated or deoxygenated blood. Blood Vessel — Artery or Vein? — Oxygenated or Deoxygenated? ; Aorta — — ; Pulmonary artery — — ; Pulmonary vein — — ; Superior vena cava — — ;

Answer Key

  1. 1.
    The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs via the pulmonary veins.
    Final answer: c) Left atrium
  2. 2.
    Final answer: The pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs for gas exchange (oxygenation).
  3. 3.
    Final answer: 1. Superior vena cava, 2. Right atrium, 3. Pulmonary artery, 4. Aorta, 5. Pulmonary vein, 6. Mitral valve, 7. Aortic valve, 8. Left ventricle
  4. 4.
    Capillaries are one cell thick to allow diffusion of gases and nutrients.
    Final answer: c) Capillaries
  5. 5.
    Final answer: Superior vena cava →\rightarrow right atrium →\rightarrow tricuspid valve →\rightarrow right ventricle →\rightarrow pulmonary valve →\rightarrow pulmonary artery →\rightarrow lungs →\rightarrow pulmonary vein →\rightarrow left atrium →\rightarrow mitral valve →\rightarrow left ventricle →\rightarrow aortic valve →\rightarrow aorta.
  6. 6.
    Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which binds oxygen in the lungs and releases it to tissues.
    Final answer: b) Carrying oxygen
  7. 7.
    Final answer: Systole is the contraction phase of the cardiac cycle, when the heart pumps blood out. Diastole is the relaxation phase, when the heart fills with blood.
  8. 8.
    Final answer: a) Right atrium →\rightarrow right ventricle →\rightarrow lungs →\rightarrow left atrium →\rightarrow left ventricle →\rightarrow body
  9. 9.
    Final answer: The SA node is the natural pacemaker of the heart. It generates electrical impulses that initiate each heartbeat and set the heart rate.
  10. 10.
    Final answer: Aorta: Artery, Oxygenated; Pulmonary artery: Artery, Deoxygenated; Pulmonary vein: Vein, Oxygenated; Superior vena cava: Vein, Deoxygenated
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Common mistakes to avoid

  • Thinking arteries always carry oxygenated blood (pulmonary artery is deoxygenated)
  • Confusing atria and ventricles
  • Mixing up pulmonary and systemic circuits
  • Believing blood is blue in veins (it is dark red)

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