Chapter 7 - Cardiovascular Health Flashcards
What are the primary components of the circulatory system?
The circulatory system consists of the heart, blood vessels, and blood.
What makes up the cardiovascular system?
The cardiovascular system includes the heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries.
What are the two major divisions of the circulatory system?
he two major divisions are the pulmonary circuit (right side of the heart, carrying blood to the lungs for gas exchange) and the systemic circuit (left side of the heart, supplying blood to all body organs).
What are the primary roles of the cardiovascular system? (4 points)
moving oxygen to tissues, carrying carbon dioxide from tissues to the lungs, delivering nutrients from digestion, and removing waste from where it’s made to where it’s thrown away.
How does the cardiovascular system ensure cells receive the essential nutrients for growth, repair, and energy production?
It distributes nutrients absorbed from the digestive system to cells throughout the body.
How does the cardiovascular system handle waste products generated by metabolic processes?
It transports these waste products to specific organs responsible for their excretion, such as the kidneys for urine and the liver for detoxification.
Describe the structure of the heart.
The heart is made of smooth muscle and has four chambers: two atria (left and right) that receive blood and two ventricles (left and right) that pump it.
What is the function of the left ventricle in the heart?
The left ventricle pumps oxygen-rich blood throughout the entire body and has a larger and stronger muscle wall.
What is the role of the right ventricle in the heart?
The right ventricle pumps blood a short distance to the lungs for oxygenation.
What is the sequence of the pathway of blood flow through the heart?
Deoxygenated blood comes to the right atrium from the superior and inferior vena cava, goes to the right ventricle, is sent to the lungs for oxygen, returns as oxygenated blood to the left atrium, moves to the left ventricle, and then gets pumped throughout the body via the aorta.
Why is it crucial for the heart to maintain proper blood flow without disruptions?
Any disruption in heart function can have catastrophic consequences because the heart is responsible for pumping oxygenated blood to the entire body.
What happens to blood when the heart pumps?
When the heart pumps, it ejects blood to the lungs where it attaches to oxygen and becomes oxygen-rich, turning red.
Why does the aorta need to maintain high pressure when distributing blood to the body?
The pressure in the aorta needs to be high to ensure blood can reach all capillaries in the body. The aorta is a strong vessel, and issues with it can have catastrophic effects on the rest of the body.
What are the two numbers that make up a blood pressure reading, and what do they represent?
A blood pressure reading includes two numbers, such as “120 over 80.” The top number (systolic), in this case, 120, measures pressure when the heart beats. The bottom number (diastolic), in this case, 80, measures pressure when the heart rests between beats.
Why is high blood pressure a concern for heart health and overall health?
High blood pressure can be risky for heart health and overall health because it indicates that the blood is pushing too hard against the arteries, which can lead to various health problems.
