Cardiovascular Vocabulary Flashcards
The part of the conduction system of the heart that begins at the atrioventricular (AV) node, passes through the cardiac skeleton separating the atria and the ventricles, then extends a short distance down the interventricular septum before splitting into right and left bundle branches.
Atrioventricular (AV) bundle / Bundle of His
The part of the conduction system of the heart made up of a compact mass of conducting cells located in the septum between the two atria.
Atrioventricular (AV) node
A heart valve made up of membranous flaps or cusps that allows blood to flow in one direction only, from an atrium into a ventricle.
Atrioventricular (AV) valves
A superior chamber of the heart.
Atrium
Neuron capable of responding to changes in blood, air, or fluid pressure.
Baroreceptors
Atrioventricular (AV) valve on the left side of the heart.
Bicuspid (mitral) valve
A complete heartbeat consisting of systole (contraction) and diastole (relaxation) of both atria plus systole and diastole of both ventricles.
Cardiac cycle
Groups of neurons scattered within the medulla oblongata that regulate heart rate, force of contraction, and blood vessel diameter.
Cardiovascular center
The layer of the heart wall, composed of endothelium and smooth muscle, that lines the inside of the heart and covers the valves and tendons that hold the valves open.
Endocardium
The thin outer layer of the heart wall, composed of serous tissue and mesothelium.
Epicardium
The middle layer of the heart wall, made up of cardiac muscle tissue, lying between the epicardium and the endocardium and constituting the bulk of the heart.
Myocardium
A small mass of cardiac muscle fibers (cells) located in the right atrium inferior to the opening of the superior vena cava that spontaneously depolarize and generate a cardiac action potential about 100 times per minute. Also called the natural pacemaker.
Sinoatrial (SA) node
The routes through which oxygenated blood flows from the left ventricle through the aorta to all the organs of the body and deoxygenated blood returns to the right atrium.
Systemic circulation
A cavity in the brain filled with cerebrospinal fluid. An inferior chamber of the heart.
Ventricles
A blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart.
Artery
Force exerted by blood against the walls of blood vessels due to contraction of the heart and influenced by the elasticity of the vessel walls; clinically, a measure of the pressure in arteries during ventricular systole and ventricular diastole.
Blood pressure (BP)
Systemic veins and venules that contain large amounts of blood that can be moved quickly to parts of the body requiring the blood.
Blood reservoir
A microscopic blood vessel located between an arteriole and venule through which materials are exchanged between blood and interstitial fluid.
Capillaries
Sensory receptor that detects the presence of a specific chemical.
Chemoreceptors
Large vein that collects blood from parts of the body inferior to the heart and returns it to the right atrium.
Inferior vena cava (IVC)
Large vein that collects blood from parts of the body superior to the heart and returns it to the right atrium.
Superior vena cava (SVC)
A ring of smooth muscle fibers (cells) at the site of origin of true capillaries that regulate blood flow into true capillaries.
Precapillary sphincter
A decrease in the size of the lumen of a blood vessel caused by contraction of the smooth muscle in the wall of the vessel.
Vasoconstriction
An increase in the size of the lumen of a blood vessel caused by relaxation of the smooth muscle in the wall of the vessel.
Vasodilation
The flow of deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs and the return of oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium.
Pulmonary circulation
Muscle fiber (cell) in the ventricular tissue of the heart specialized for conducting an action potential to the myocardium; part of the conduction system of the heart.
Purkinje fibers
