Cardiovascular Vocabulary Flashcards
aorta
Largest artery in the body
apex of the heart
Lower tip of the heart
arteriole
Small artery
artery
Largest type of blood vessel; carries blood away from the heart to all parts of the body. Notice that artery and away begin with an a
atrioventricular node (AV node)
Specialized tissue in the wall between the atria. Electrical impulses pass from the pacemaker (SA node) through the AV node and the atrioventricular bundle or bundle of His toward the ventricles.
atrium (plural: atria)
One of two upper chambers of the heart
capillary
Smallest blood vessel. Materials pass to and from the bloodstream through the thin capillary walls
carbon dioxide (Co2)
Gas (waste) released by body cells, transported via veins to the heart, and then to the lungs for exhalation
coronary arteries
Blood vessels that branch from the aorta and carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle
deoxygenated blood
Blood that is oxygen-poor
diastole
Relaxation phase of the heartbeat. (From Greek diastole, dilation.)
electrocardiogram
Record of the electricity flowing through the heart. The electricity is represented by waves or deflections called, QRS, or T
endocardium
Inner lining of the heart
endothelium
Innermost lining of blood vessels
mitral valve
Valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle; bicuspid valve