Cardiovacular Flashcards
What is the apex of the heart?
The pointed, lower tip of the heart, which is directed toward the left side of the body.
What is the base of the heart?
The broad, upper portion of the heart where major blood vessels are attached.
What is the pericardium?
A double-layered membrane surrounding the heart, providing protection and reducing friction during heartbeats.
What are the atria?
The two upper chambers of the heart that receive blood from the body and lungs.
What are the ventricles?
The two lower chambers of the heart that pump blood to the lungs and the rest of the body.
What is the interatrial septum?
The wall of tissue that separates the right and left atria of the heart.
What are the superior venae cavae?
Large vein that returns deoxygenated blood from the upper part of the body to the right atrium.
What are the inferior venae cavae?
Large vein that returns deoxygenated blood from the lower part of the body to the right atrium.
What are pulmonary arteries?
Arteries that carry deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs for oxygenation.
What are pulmonary veins?
Veins that carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart.
What is the aorta?
The largest artery in the body, carrying oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the body.
What are atrioventricular valves?
Valves between the atria and ventricles, ensuring one-way blood flow. Includes the tricuspid and bicuspid valves.
What are bicuspid valves?
Also known as the mitral valve, it is the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle.
What are tricuspid valves?
The valve between the right atrium and right ventricle, consisting of three cusps.
What are chordae tendineae?
Tendinous cords that anchor the atrioventricular valves to the walls of the ventricles, preventing backflow.
What are semilunar valves?
Valves located at the base of the pulmonary trunk and aorta, preventing backflow into the ventricles.
What are coronary arteries?
Arteries that supply oxygenated blood to the heart muscle itself.
What are cardiac veins?
Veins that drain deoxygenated blood from the heart muscle into the coronary sinus.
What is the coronary sinus?
A large vein that collects deoxygenated blood from the heart muscle and empties it into the right atrium.
What is the sinoatrial node (SA node)?
The natural pacemaker of the heart, located in the right atrium, responsible for initiating the heartbeat.
What are Purkinje fibers?
Specialized fibers that carry the action potential to the muscle cells of the ventricles, leading to ventricular contraction.
What is a pacemaker?
A device that helps regulate the heart’s rhythm if the natural pacemaker (SA node) is not functioning properly.
What is systole?
The phase of the heartbeat where the heart muscle contracts, pumping blood out of the chambers.
What is diastole?
The phase of the heartbeat where the heart muscle relaxes and the chambers fill with blood.
