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The main function of the chicken's circulatory system is to provide all cells with oxygen and essential compounds while removing metabolic wastes and carbon dioxide throughout the body.
The circulatory system keeps the chicken's body temperature between 105 and 107 degrees.
Pericardial sac
Pericardial sac
The fibrous pericardial sac encloses the chicken's heart with a small of fluid for lubrication.
The sac provides protection for the heart and the fluid reduces friction between the heart and its surrounding structures.
The sac is also loosely connected to the hepatic peritoneal cavity (sternum, liver, and vertebral column) which allows it to resist large volume expansions.
Heart Chambers
Heart Chambers
The chicken heart has four chambers.
The heart receives the body's deoxygenated blood through the right atrium and ventricle and sends it off to the lungs. The left atrium and ventricle receive oxygenated blood and send it off to the body.
The chicken has a much higher metabolic rate than humans which results in a heart rate that beats about 200-300+ per minute.
Brachiocephalic Arteries
Brachiocephalic Arteries
The brachiocephalic arteries in chickens arise in the same place as the aortic arch and lead to the carotid and subclavian arteries.
These arteries supply blood to the upper limbs, head , and neck.
Image from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4611970/
1- Aortic arch;
2 - Brachiocephalic trunk;
3 - Subclavian artery;
4 - Carotid artery
The aortic arch (1) leads to the abdominal aorta which provides blood to the hind limbs and is on the right side of the heart.
Image from: http://www.ejpau.media.pl/volume17/issue3/art-04.html
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