Ch 7 Textbook Flashcards
Cardiovascular system
Consists of the heart and blood vessels, circulating blood throughout the body.
Controllable risk factors
Factors like diet and exercise that can be modified to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Uncontrollable risk factors
Factors like age that cannot be changed but influence the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD)
Various heart and blood vessel diseases affecting millions, leading to life-threatening conditions like heart attacks and strokes.
Pulmonary circulation
Blood circulation between the heart and lungs, governed by the right side of the heart.
Systemic circulation
Blood circulation between the heart and the rest of the body, governed by the left side of the heart.
Ventricles
Lower chambers of the heart responsible for pumping blood to the lungs and the body.
Atrium
Upper chambers of the heart where blood collects before passing to the ventricles.
Aorta
Large artery distributing oxygenated blood from the heart to the body.
Systole
Heart’s contraction phase during which blood is pumped out of the heart.
Diastole
Heart’s relaxation phase when the heart refills with blood.
Blood pressure
Force exerted by blood on vessel walls, higher during systole than diastole.
Veins
Vessels carrying blood to the heart.
Arteries
Vessels carrying blood away from the heart.
Capillaries
Tiny vessels facilitating the exchange of oxygen and nutrients between blood and tissues.
Coronary Arteries
Large vessels branching from the aorta supplying oxygenated blood to the heart muscle.
Platelets
Cell fragments in the blood necessary for blood clot formation.
Hypertension
Sustained abnormally high blood pressure, a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.
Atherosclerosis
CVD where artery walls thicken due to plaque deposits, reducing blood supply.
Blood Pressure
Force of blood on vessel walls, measured in mm Hg, with systolic and diastolic components.
Nicotine
Substance in cigarettes raising blood pressure and heart rate.
Carbon Monoxide
Toxic gas in cigarette smoke displacing oxygen in the blood.
Primary Hypertension
High blood pressure with unknown cause, often due to genetic and environmental factors.
Prehypertension
Blood pressure slightly elevated, precursor to hypertension.
Sphygmomanometer
Instrument used to measure blood pressure, consisting of a stethoscope and pressure gauge.
Plaque Deposits
Build-up on artery walls causing atherosclerosis and reducing blood flow.
HDL
High-density lipoproteins, ‘good’ cholesterol.
LDL
Low-density lipoproteins, ‘bad’ cholesterol.
Blood Clots
Coagulated masses in the bloodstream, potentially blocking blood flow.
Smooth Muscle Constriction
Tightening of muscle around arteries, increasing blood pressure.
Heart Attack
Condition where blood flow to the heart is blocked, leading to tissue damage.
Stroke
Sudden loss of blood supply to the brain, causing brain damage.