Anatomy and Physiology - Cardiovascular System Flashcards
Anticipatory rise
The release of adrenalin via the sympathetic nervous system prior to exercise
Arteriole
Small blood vessel which extends from an artery to meet the capillaries
Atrial and ventricular repolarisation
Occurs during a brief period following depolarisation and describes the electrical impulse returning to a baseline value
Atrial depolarisation
The effect that the SA node has on the atria, causing them to contract by providing an electrical stimulus across them
Baroreceptors
Sensors detecting changes in blood pressure
Cardiac output
The volume of blood ejected by the heart per minute
Cardiovascular drift
The ‘drift’ effect of cardiovascular responses to sustained steady-state exercise, despite exercise intensity not increasing
Chemical regulation
The control of physiological process via the chemoreceptors
Chemoreceptors
Sensors detecting chemical changes within the blood
Heart rate
The number of times the heart beats per minute
Medulla oblongata
An extension of the spinal cord found in the skull that contains control centres for the heart and lungs
Myogenic
Originating in muscle tissues, rather than through neural impulse. The heart is myogenic, as it creates its own impulses intrinsically
Neural control
The control of physiological processes via the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems
Oxyhaemoglobin
A combination of oxygen and haemoglobin
Pre-capillary sphincter
Smooth muscle that regulates capillary blood flow
Proprioceptors
Sensors that detect changes in body position through changes in muscle length tension and joint angles
Stroke volume
The amount of blood ejected from the heart per beat
Vascular shunt mechanism
How the vascular system shunts and redistributes blood towards the existing muscles via vasodilation and vasoconstriction
Vasoconstriction
The narrowing o arteries to restrict blood flow
Vasodilation
The widening of arteries to increase blood flow
Vasomotor centre
Regulates blood flow by stimulating the sympathetic system, causing vasoconstriction or vasodilation
