Chapter 11: Cardiovascular System: Vocabulary

Question 1

aorta

Answer 1

Largest artery in the body

Question 2

apex of the heart

Answer 2

Lower tip of the heart

Question 3

arteriole

Answer 3

Small artery

Question 4

atrioventricular bundle

bundle of His

Answer 4

Specialized muscle fibers connecting the atria with the ventricles and transmitting electrical impulses between them.

Question 5

artery

Answer 5

Largest type of blood vessel. Carries blood away from the heart to all parts of the body.

Question 6

atrioventricular node

AV node

Answer 6

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 towards the ventricles.

Question 7

atrium
(singular)

atria
(plural)

Answer 7

One of two upper chambers of the heart

Question 8

capillary

Answer 8

Smallest blood vessel. Materials pass to and from the bloodstream through the thin capillary walls.

Question 9

carbon dioxide (CO2)

Answer 9

Gas (waste) released by body cells, transported via veins to the heart, and then to the lungs for exhalation.

Question 10

coronary arteries

Answer 10

Blood vessels that branch from the aorta and carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle.

Question 11

deoxygenated blood

Answer 11

Blood that is oxygen-poor

Question 12

diastole

Answer 12

Relaxation phase of the heartbeat

Question 13

electrocardiogram

Answer 13

Record of the electricity flowing through the heart.

Question 14

endocardium

Answer 14

Inner lining of the heart

Question 15

endothelium

Answer 15

Innermost lining of blood vessels

Question 16

mitral valve

Answer 16

Valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle; bicuspid valve.

Question 17

murmur

Answer 17

Abnormal swishing sound caused by improper closure of the heart valves.

Question 18

myocardium

Answer 18

Muscular middle layer of the heart

Question 19

normal sinus rhythm

Answer 19

Heart rhythm originating in the sinoatrial node with a rate in the patients at rest of 60 to 100 beats per minute.

Question 20

oxygen

Answer 20

Gas that enters the blood through the lungs and travels to the heart to be pumped via arteries to all body cells.

Question 21

pacemaker

sinoatrial node

Answer 21

Specialized nervous tissue in the right atrium that begins the heartbeat. An artificial cardiac pacemaker is an electronic apparatus implanted int he chest to stimulate heart muscle that is weak and not functioning.

Question 22

pericardium

Answer 22

Double-layered membrane surrounding the heart

Question 23

pulmonary artery

Answer 23

Artery carrying oxygen-poor blood from the heart to the lungs.

Question 24

pulmonary circulation

Answer 24

Flow of blood from the heart to the lungs and back to the heart.

Question 25

pulmonary valve

Answer 25

Valve positioned between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery.

Question 26

pulmonary vein

Answer 26

One of two pairs of vessels carrying oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart.

Question 27

pulse

Answer 27

Beat of the heart as felt through the walls of the arteries.

Question 28

septum
(singular)

septa
(plural)

Answer 28

Partition or wall dividing a cavity; such as between the right and left atria.

Question 29

sinoatrial node

SA node

Answer 29

Pacemaker of the heart

Question 30

sphygomomanometer

Answer 30

Instrument to measure blood pressure

Question 31

systemic circulation

Answer 31

Flow of blood from body tissue to the heart and then from the heart back to the body tissues.

Question 32

systole

Answer 32

Contraction phase of the heartbeat

Question 33

tricuspid valve

Answer 33

Located between the right atrium and right ventricle. It has three (3) leaflets or cusps.

Question 34

valve

Answer 34

Structure in veins or in the heart that temporarily closes an opening so that blood flows in only one direction.

Question 35

vein

Answer 35

Thin-walled vessel that carries blood from body tissues and lungs back to the heart.

Question 36

vena cava
(singular)

venae cavae
(plural)

Answer 36

Largest vein in the body. The superior and inferior venae cavae return blood to the right atrium of the heart.

Question 37

ventricle

Answer 37

One of two lower chambers of the heart

Question 38

venule

Answer 38

Small vein