Chapter 11: Cardiovascular System: Vocabulary Flashcards
aorta
Largest artery in the body
apex of the heart
Lower tip of the heart
arteriole
Small artery
atrioventricular bundle
bundle of His
Specialized muscle fibers connecting the atria with the ventricles and transmitting electrical impulses between them.
artery
Largest type of blood vessel. Carries blood away from the heart to all parts of the body.
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 towards the ventricles.
atrium
(singular)
atria
(plural)
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
electrocardiogram
Record of the electricity flowing through the heart.
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.
murmur
Abnormal swishing sound caused by improper closure of the heart valves.
myocardium
Muscular middle layer of the heart
normal sinus rhythm
Heart rhythm originating in the sinoatrial node with a rate in the patients at rest of 60 to 100 beats per minute.
oxygen
Gas that enters the blood through the lungs and travels to the heart to be pumped via arteries to all body cells.
pacemaker
sinoatrial node
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.
pericardium
Double-layered membrane surrounding the heart
pulmonary artery
Artery carrying oxygen-poor blood from the heart to the lungs.
pulmonary circulation
Flow of blood from the heart to the lungs and back to the heart.
pulmonary valve
Valve positioned between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery.
pulmonary vein
One of two pairs of vessels carrying oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart.
pulse
Beat of the heart as felt through the walls of the arteries.
septum
(singular)
septa
(plural)
Partition or wall dividing a cavity; such as between the right and left atria.
sinoatrial node
SA node
Pacemaker of the heart
sphygomomanometer
Instrument to measure blood pressure
systemic circulation
Flow of blood from body tissue to the heart and then from the heart back to the body tissues.
systole
Contraction phase of the heartbeat
tricuspid valve
Located between the right atrium and right ventricle. It has three (3) leaflets or cusps.
valve
Structure in veins or in the heart that temporarily closes an opening so that blood flows in only one direction.
vein
Thin-walled vessel that carries blood from body tissues and lungs back to the heart.
vena cava
(singular)
venae cavae
(plural)
Largest vein in the body. The superior and inferior venae cavae return blood to the right atrium of the heart.
ventricle
One of two lower chambers of the heart
venule
Small vein
