Cardiovascular Terms Flashcards
afterload
the pressure in the wall of the left ventricle during ejection
aorta
major artery of the systemic circulation that receives blood from the left ventricle
aortic valve
the left semilunar valve; blood from the left ventricle flows through it into the aorta
apex of heart
pointed, caudal end of the heart
arteries
carry blood away from the heart
arteriole
the smallest branches of the arterial tree, their small diameter help provide pressure resistance, therefore maintaining blood pressure
atrioventricular node
located in the atrioventricular septum receives the impulse generated by the SA node to complete a contraction
atrioventricular septum
formed by the interventricular septum and the interatrial septum
atrioventricular valve
aka, AV valves; located between the atria and the ventricles
atrium
receive blood into the heart
auricle
ear shaped appendage of either atrium of the heart
auscultation
listening with the ear or with a stethoscope to the sounds of the body
autorhythmic
does not need outside stimulus to start beating in a steady rhythm
base of heart
the rounded cranial end of the heart
bicuspid valve
the left AV valve composed of 2 cusps, aka the mitral valve
blood pressure
a measure of the amount of pressure flowing blood exerts on the arterial walls
bundle of his
bundle of cardiac muscle fibers that conducts the electrical impulses that regulate the heartbeat, from the atrioventricular node in the right atrium to the septum between the ventricles and then to the left and right ventricles
capillaries
form the transition between arteries and veins
cardiac cycle
generated by the SA node; produces one heartbeat; one cycle of atrial and ventricular contraction and relaxation
cardiac output
the amount of blood that leaves the heart
cardiovascular system
aka, the circulatory system; responsible for the movement of blood and everything it carries throughout the animal’s body
carotid artery
located near the jugular vein, carries blood very quickly to the brain, can cause seizures if anything is injected into it
cephalic vein
located on the thoracic limb
chordae tendonae
fine, thread-like cords that connect the two atrioventricular valves to the appropriate papillary muscles in the ventricles