Cardiovascular System Flashcards
Anastomose
To interjoin or interconnect two separate entities
Annulus Fibrosus
One of four fibrous rings of the fibrous skeleton
Aortic Sinus
Space between the wall of each cusp of the aortic valve and the wall of the aorta
Atrioventricular (AV) Valves
Valves between the atria and ventricles
Auscultate
Listen to the sounds made by the internal organs for diagnostic purposes
Bifurcation
When a tube or fibre splits in two
Collagen
Part of connective tissue
Crus
The area on the external surface of the heart at which the four chambers of the heart meet
Desmosome
A specialised cell junction formed from cytokeratin that acts like a rivet holding cells firmly together
Elastin
A coiled protein with elastic properties making up part of connective tissue
Endothelial Cells
Thin, flattened cells that line the inside surfaces of body cavities, blood vessels and lymph vessels, in a single layer making up the endothelium
Gap junction
A junction between two cells consisting of many pores that allow the passage of molecules up to about 900D
Great Vessels
These are the right and left brachiocephalic veins, the left common carotid artery, the right brachiocephalic artery and the left subclavian artery
Hollow
Air or fluid filled
Intercostal space
The gap between two ribs
Ischaemic
Impeded blood flow to tissues
Mediastinal Pleura
A continuation of the costal pleura that line the lungs, passing from the sternum to the vertebral column which covers the side of the mediastinum
Nociceptive Sensory Fibres
Sensory fibres which detect injury to tissues and mediate pain
Pacemaker
A pacemaker rhythmically discharges electrical impulses. In the heart, the SA node is the dominant pacemaker
Pericardial Cavity
The cavity formed by the pericardium which contains the heart and the roots of the great vessels
Plasma Proteins
Dissolved proteins of blood plasma
Sarcolemma
Plasma membrane of a striated muscle fibre
Sarcomere
Repeating subunit from which the myofibrils of striated muscle are built
Semilunar Valves
he valves between the vessels leaving the heart (pulmonary artery and aorta) and the ventricles
Stenosis
A constriction or narrowing of a duct or passage
Sternal and Costal Cartilages
Cartilages joining ribs to sternum
Superior Thoracic Aperture
The upper boundary of the bony thorax composed of the first thoracic vertebrae and the upper margins of the first ribs and manubrium of the sternum
Syncytium
An epithelium or tissue in which there is continuity between the cytoplasm of the constituent cells
Thrombolytics
clot-busting drugs which solubilise thrombi
Trachea
Also known as the wind pipe, it is the main tube which delivers air to and from the bronchi of the lungs
Vasa Vasorum
Literally meaning vessels of vessels, the vasa vasorum is the network of blood vessels that nourishes the larger vessel
Vasoactive Products
Compounds or proteins which act on the vascular system. For example nitric oxide causes vasodilation
Vasoconstrictor
Something causing vasoconstriction. This is the regulation of blood flow by reducing the diameter of the lumen
