Cardiovascular system (chapter 6) Flashcards
the two upper chambers of the heart. There is a right atrium (which receives unoxygenated blood returning from the body) and a left atrium (which receives oxygenated blood returning from the lungs). Singular atrium.
atria (AY-tree-ah)
the two lower chambers of the heart. There is a right ventricle (which sends oxygen-poor blood to the lungs) and a left ventricle (which sends oxygen-rich blood to the body).
ventricles (VEN-tri-kulz)
the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava. These two major veins return blood from the body to the right atrium. Singular vena cava.
venae cavae (VE-ne KA-ve)
Right atrium. The venae cavae (the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava) are the two large veins that return blood to the heart. The right atrium receives this blood and, upon contraction, sends it to the right ventricle.
Right atrium
The right ventricle receives blood from the chamber above it, the right atrium. When the right ventricle contracts, it pumps this blood out to the lungs via the pulmonary arteries. Remember, this blood is very low in oxygen and is carrying waste carbon dioxide that was picked up as the blood circulated through the body. While this blood is in the lungs, the carbon dioxide is excreted (taken out of the blood and, when the person exhales, carried out of the body), and oxygen is obtained (taken into the blood from air the person has inhaled). The oxygen-rich blood then returns to the left atrium via the pulmonary veins.
Right ventricle
The left atrium receives the oxygen-rich blood from the lungs. When it contracts, it sends this blood to the left ventricle.
Left atrium
The left ventricle receives oxygen-rich blood from the chamber above it, the left atrium. When it contracts, it pumps this blood into the aorta, the body’s largest artery, for distribution to the entire body. Since the blood must reach all parts of the body, the left ventricle is the most muscular and strongest part of the heart.
Left ventricle
a structure that opens and closes to permit the flow of a fluid in only one direction.
valve
a system of specialized muscle tissues that conducts electrical impulses that stimulate the heart to beat.
cardiac conduction system
any blood vessel carrying blood away from the heart.
artery
blood vessels that supply the muscle of the heart (myocardium).
coronary (KOR-o-nar-e) arteries
the largest artery in the body. It transports blood from the left ventricle to begin systemic circulation.
aorta (ay-OR-tah)
the vessel that carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs.
Pulmonary artery
the large neck arteries, one on each side of the neck, that carry blood from the heart to the head.
carotid (kah-ROT-id) arteries
the major artery supplying the leg.
femoral (FEM-o-ral) artery
artery of the upper arm; the site of the pulse checked during infant CPR.
brachial artery
artery of the lower arm; the artery felt when taking the pulse at the thumb side of the wrist.
radial artery
artery supplying the foot, lateral to the large tendon of the big toe.
posterior tibial (TIB-ee-ul) artery
the smallest kind of artery.
arteriole (ar-TE-re-ol)
thin-walled, microscopic blood vessels where the oxygen/carbon dioxide and nutrient/waste exchange with the body’s cells takes place.
capillaries (KAP-i-lair-e)
the smallest kind of vein.
venule (VEN-yul)
any blood vessel returning blood to the heart.
vein
the rhythmic beats caused as waves of blood move through and expand the arteries.
pulse
the radial, brachial, posterior tibial, and dorsalis pedis pulses, which can be felt at peripheral (outlying) points of the body.
peripheral pulses
the carotid and femoral pulses, which can be felt in the central part of the body.
central pulses
the pressure caused by blood exerting force against the walls of blood vessels. Usually arterial blood pressure (the pressure in an artery) is measured. There are two parts: diastolic blood pressure and systolic blood pressure.
blood pressure
the pressure created in the arteries when the left ventricle contracts and forces blood out into circulation.
systolic (sis-TOL-ik) blood pressure
the pressure in the arteries when the left ventricle is refilling.
diastolic (di-as-TOL-ik) blood pressure
the supply of oxygen and nutrients to and removal of wastes from the cells and tissues of the body as a result of the flow of blood through the capillaries.
perfusion
inability of the body to adequately circulate blood to the body’s cells to supply them with oxygen and nutrients. A life-threatening condition. Also called shock. See also perfusion.
hypoperfusion
See hypoperfusion.
shock
