Chapter 11 - Vocabulary Flashcards
Anemia
a condition of a low erythrocyte count or a low hemoglobin level, which leads to low oxygen levels.
Angina
pain in the chest, left shoulder, arm, or neck caused by insufficient blood supply to the cardiac muscles.
Angiogram
an X-ray image showing the outline of blood vessels through the use of an injected dye.
Angioplasty
a medical procedure that opens up a blocked artery; it is often used to enlarge narrowed openings in coronary arteries.
Aorta
the largest blood vessel in the body, connected directly to the heart; the aorta branches into arteries that carry oxygenated blood to the body tissues.
Arteriole
the smallest artery, with smooth muscles in its walls.
Arteriosclerosis
the loss of elasticity and hardening of the arteries that may be caused by a number of factors including hypertension, age, and plaque buildup.
Atherosclerosis
the hardening of the arteries due to the buildup of plaque on or inside the walls of the arteries; atherosclerosis is the most common form of arteriosclerosis.
Atrioventricular Valve
the valve located between each atrium and ventricle to prevent the backflow of blood from the ventricles to the atria.
Atrioventricular (AV) Node
a mass of conducting cells that transmits the signals from the SA node to the muscles of the ventricles.
Atrium
a chamber of the heart that receives blood from the body.
Bypass Surgery
a surgical procedure in which arteries are grafted to blocked (or narrowed) coronary arteries in order to reroute blood flow and oxygen to the heart.
Cardiac Catheterization
the insertion of a long thin tube called a catheter into the heart through an artery, usually the femoral or brachial artery.
Cardiac Cycle
the contractions and relaxations of the heart muscles during a complete heartbeat.
Chordae Tendineae
tendons that support the atrioventricular valves.
Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
an X-ray imaging technology that produces cross-sectional image of a three-dimensional object.
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
the buildup of plaque on or inside the walls of the coronary arteries.
Coronary Blood Vessel
a blood vessel that circulates blood to and from the muscle cells of the heart.
Diastole
the period of the cardiac cycle when the ventricles are relaxed; blood fills the ventricles.
Diastolic Pressure
the blood pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes.
Electrocardiograph
a device that detects the electrical activity of the heart through electrodes placed on the body’s surface.
Erythrocyte
a red blood cell.
Hemolymph
a mixture of blood and tissue fluid that is the circulating fluid in an open circulatory system.
Hypertension
consistent blood pressure above the range of normal values; also called high blood pressure.
Leukocyte
a white blood cell.
Lymph
tissue fluid collected in lymph vessels and returned to the body.
Lymph node
an enlargement in the lymph vessel that acts as a filter to remove bacteria and foreign particles.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scan
an imaging technology that produces images by using a magnetic field to change the orientation of hydrogen atoms in tissues.
Myocardial Infarction
the death of cardiac muscle tissue due to oxygen deprivation; also known as a heart attack.
Myogenic Muscle
muscle that can contract and relax without input from an external source.
Pericardium
a two-layered fluid-filled membrane that surrounds the heart and prevents friction between the heart and other tissues and organs.
Platelet
a cell fragment in the blood that is necessary for blood clotting.
Plaque
deposits of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other materials on and in the walls of arteries.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan
an imaging technology that produces cross-sectional images from gamma rays emitted by a radioactive tracer injected into body tissues.
Pulmonary Circuit
the part of the circulatory system that delivers blood to the lungs.
Purkinje Fibre
a conducting fibre that carries the electrical signals from the AV node to the muscle cells of the ventricles.
Pus
a yellowish-white fluid formed in infected tissue, consisting of white blood cells and cellular debris.
Semilunar Valve
the valve located between the left ventricle and the aorta and the right ventricle and the pulmonary arteries to prevent the backflow of blood when the ventricles relax.
Septum
a wall of tissue that divides a body cavity or structure into smaller parts; for example, the ventricle of a mammal’s heart is divided into two cavities by a septum.
Serum
the fluid that results when the cells, platelets, and fibrinogen have been removed from whole blood.
Sinoatrial (SA) Node
a mass of muscle and nerve cells in the right atrium; initiates the heartbeat and maintains the regular rhythm.
Spleen
the largest organ in the lymphatic system; acts as a filter and a reservoir of erythrocytes and leukocytes.
Systemic Circuit
the part of the circulatory system that delivers blood around the body.
Systole
the period of the cardiac cycle when the ventricles contract; blood is ejected from the ventricles.
Systolic Pressure
the blood pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts.
Thymus
a glandular organ of the lymphatic system; secretes hormones to promote the maturity of lymphocytes.
Vasoconstriction
a decrease in the diameter of arterioles that decreases the blood flow to tissues.
Vasodilation
an increase in the diameter (dilation) of arterioles that increases the blood flow to tissues.
Ventricle
a chamber of the heart that pumps blood to the body.
Venule
the smallest vein; formed by the merging of capillaries.
