Circulatory System in 3D: Arteries, Veins and Blood Flow
The circulatory system is the heart, the blood and the network of blood vessels that carries it. Arteries take oxygen-rich blood out from the heart, and veins bring it back. In the 3D Anatomy simulator you can show the circulatory system on its own, with arteries in red and veins in blue.
Explore in 3DCirculatory System quick facts
| Main parts | Heart, arteries, veins and capillaries |
|---|---|
| Blood in an adult | About 5 litres |
| Vessel length | About 100,000 km if laid end to end |
| Main artery | The aorta |
| Smallest vessels | Capillaries, thinner than a hair |
Interesting facts about the circulatory system
- Laid end to end, an adult's blood vessels would wrap around the Earth more than twice.
- Arteries have thick, stretchy walls to handle the pressure of each heartbeat.
- Veins have small valves that stop blood flowing backwards.
- Capillaries are so thin that red blood cells pass through them in single file.
- The aorta, the largest artery, leaves the left side of the heart.
What you can do in 3D
Switch to the Circulatory view to see red arteries and blue veins through the whole body, then zoom in on the chest to see how they meet at the heart.
More body systems in 3D
Tap any part to open its page.
Circulatory System questions
What is the difference between arteries and veins?
Arteries carry blood away from the heart and veins carry it back. In diagrams arteries are red and veins are blue.
How much blood is in the human body?
An adult has about 5 litres of blood.
What are capillaries?
The tiniest blood vessels, linking arteries and veins. Oxygen and food pass through their thin walls into the body's cells.
What is the largest artery?
The aorta. It leaves the left ventricle of the heart and carries blood to the rest of the body.
How long are all the blood vessels in the body?
About 100,000 km in an adult, enough to wrap around the Earth more than twice.
The 3D Anatomy simulator is made by Julian Neagu, a solo founder in London, as part of VisionVix Simulators. It is free to use in the browser on desktop and phone, with no sign-up. This page is for learning and is not medical advice.