3 Vocab - Cardiovascular System Flashcards
Heart
A hollow muscular organ that pumps a circulation of blood through the body by means of rhythmic contraction
Cardiovascular system
System of body composed of heart, blood, and blood vessels
Mediastinum
Space in the chest between the lungs that contains all the internal organs of the chest except the lungs
Sinoatrial node (SA)
Specialized area of cardiac tissue, located in the right atrium of the heart, which initiates the electrical impulses that determine the heart rate: often termed the pacemaker for the heart
Atrioventricular node (AV)
Small mass of specialized cardiac muscle fibers, located in the wall of the right atrium of the heart, that receives heartbeat impulses from the sinoatrial node and directs them to the walls of the ventricles
Atrium
Superior chamber of the heart that receives blood from the veins and forces it into the ventricles
Ventricle
Inferior chamber of the heart that receives blood from its corresponding atrium and, in turn, forces blood into the arteries
Stroke volume
Amount of blood pumped out of the heart with each contraction
Heart rate
Rate at which the heart pumps
Cardiac output
Heart rate x stroke volume, the overall performance of the heart
Blood
Fluid that circulates in the heart, arteries, capillaries, and veins, carries nutrients and oxygen to all parts of the body and also rids the body of waste products
Blood vessels
Network of hollow tubes that circulates blood throughout the body
Arteries
Vessels that transport blood away from the heart
Capillaries
Smallest blood vessels, and the site of exchange of chemicals and water between the blood and the tissues
Veins
Vessels that transport blood from the capillaries toward the heart
