Human Model – Circulatory System, Small

Quick Answer: This small circulatory system model is a compact model of the human heart and the major arteries and veins of the body. Its size suits desk use and group work, where students trace the route blood takes through the pulmonary and systemic circuits.

A Desk-Sized Map of the Double Circulation

A compact circulation model is usually chosen so that each group of students can have one on the table in front of them, rather than watching a single large model at the front of the room. How small this listing is, and whether it is a relief board or a free-standing figure, should be confirmed at enquiry; the teaching content is the same either way: the heart and the main vessels leaving and returning to it.

The key idea it carries is the double circulation. Each complete trip around the body takes blood through the heart twice: first through the right side, which pumps it to the lungs in the pulmonary circuit, then through the left side, which pumps it out to the body in the systemic circuit. Keeping the two circuits separate means oxygenated and deoxygenated blood do not mix, and the systemic circuit can run at a higher pressure than the delicate lung capillaries could withstand.

A useful group task is to trace a single red blood cell from a named body part, for example the right hand, back to the heart, through the lungs and out again, naming each vessel and chamber on the model as it goes. Capillaries are far too fine to appear at this scale, so students should mark on the model where exchange between blood and tissues takes place. For a larger display piece, the circulatory system, superior version is also listed.

Classroom Uses

• Group tracing activities on the route of blood through the body
• Explaining the double circulation in secondary biology
• Revision stations where students name the major vessels
• Introductory circulation lessons for nursing and paramedical students

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Keep the small circulatory system model on a flat, stable surface during group work, and carry it by its base or board, not by the vessels.
• Wipe it with a soft, lightly damp cloth after it has been handled by several students.
• Store it in a closed cupboard away from sunlight, which fades the red and blue colouring over time.

Why Choose LabEquip

Teachers who run group practicals often buy several small circulation models instead of one large one, so every table can work at once. LabEquip supplies it through its biology lab products range, and the circulatory blood chart suits the wall beside it. Send quantities through the LabEquip contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does double circulation mean?

On one full trip around the body, blood goes through the heart two times: via the right side on its way to the lungs, and via the left side on its way to the rest of the body.

Why is a double circulation an advantage?

It keeps oxygenated and deoxygenated blood apart and lets the heart send blood to the body at a higher pressure than the lungs receive, which protects the thin lung capillaries.

Why are capillaries not shown on the model?

Capillaries are microscopic, only wide enough for red blood cells to pass in single file. At model scale they cannot be shown, so their position between arteries and veins is explained in the lesson.

Is a small model suitable for whole-class teaching?

It is most useful for group or individual study at the desk. For demonstrating to a whole class from the front, a larger model or a wall chart is easier to see.

How is this different from the superior circulatory model?

Both show the heart and major vessels. The small version is compact for desk and group use, while the superior version is a separate listing; compare their size and detail before choosing.

Which vessel carries blood from the heart to the body?

The aorta, leaving the left ventricle. It arches over the heart and branches to supply the head, arms, organs and legs, while the venae cavae return blood to the right atrium.

Last Updated: September 2026