Circulation Flashcards
Angina
Chest pain associated with reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, caused by an obstruction of the coronary arteries
Arteriole
A small artery that empties into capillaries; construction of arterioles, regulates blood flow to various parts of the body 
Artery
A vessel with muscular, elastic walls that conduct blood away from the heart 
Arteriosclerosis
A disease characterized by the obstruction of arteries by cholesterol deposits and thickening of the arterial walls
Atrioventricular
 Specialized massive muscle at the base of the right atrium through which the electrical activity initiated into the sinoatrial node is transmitted into the ventricles
Atrioventricular valve
A heart valve that separates each atrium from each ventricle, preventing the backflow of blood into the atrial during ventricular contraction 
Atrium
A chamber of the heart that receives Venous blood that passes it to the ventricle
Blood
Specialized connective tissue, consisting of a fluid (plasma) in which blood cells are suspended carried within the circulatory system 
Blood clotting
A complex process by which platelets, the protein, fiber, and red blood cells block in a irregular surface in or on the body, such as a damaged blood vessel, sealing the wound
Blood vessel
Any of several types of tubes that carry blood throughout the body
Bone marrow
A soft, spongy tissue that fills the cavities of large bones and generates the cell based component of blood
Capillary
Smallest type of blood vessel, connecting arterioles with venules; capillary walls, through which the exchange of nutrients and waste occurs, are only one Cell thick
Cardiac cycle
The alternation of contraction and relaxation of the heart chambers 
Cardiac muscle 
The specialized muscle of the heart; able to initiate its own contraction, independent of the nervous system 
Closed circulatory system
A type of circulatory system, found in certain worms and vertebrae, in which the blood is always confined within the heart and vessels
Double circulation
The separation of circulatory routes between (1) the heart and lungs and (2) the heart and the rest of the body
Erythrocyte
A red blood cell, which contains the oxygen binding protein, hemoglobin and thus transports oxygen in the circulatory system 
Fibrin
A clotting protein formed in the blood in response to a wound; binds with other fibre and molecules and provides a matrix around which blood clot forms 
Fibrillation
The rapid, uncoordinated, and ineffective contraction of heart muscle cells 
Heart attack
A severe reduction or blockage of blood flow through a coronary artery, depriving some of the heart muscle of its blood supply
Heart rate
The number of cardiac cycles per minute
Hemocoel
A cavity within the body of certain vertebrae in which of fluid, called hemolymph, bathes tissue directly
Hypertension
Arterial blood pressure that is chronically elevated above the normal level
Intercalated disc
Junctions connecting individual cardiac muscle cells that serve both to attach adjacent cells to one another and to allow electrical signals to pass between them 
Interstitial fluid
Fluid that bathes the cell of the body; in mammals, interstitial fluid leaks from capillaries and similar in composition to blood plasma, but lacking the large proteins found in plasma
Leukocyte
Any of the white blood cells circulating in the blood
Lymph
A pale fluid found within the lymphatic system; composed primarily of interstitial fluid and white blood cells
Lymph node
A small structure located on the lymph vessel, containing macrophages and lymphocytes (b and T cells) macrophages filter, the limp by removing microbes; lymphocytes are the principal component of adaptive immune response to infection
Lymphatic capillary
The smallest vessel of the lymphatic system. Lymphatic capillaries and blindly in interstitial fluid, which they take up and return to the bloodstream.
Lymphatic system
A system consisting of lymph vessels, lymph, capillaries, lymph nodes, and the thymus, spleen, tonsils, and bone marrow. The lymphatic system helps, protect the body against infection, carries fats from the small intestine to blood vessels, and returns excess fluid, and small proteins to the blood circulatory system.
Plaque
A deposit of cholesterol and other fatty substances within the wall of an artery
Plasma
The fluid, non-cellular portion of the blood
Platelet
A cell fragment that is formed from megakaryotes in bone marrow; platelets, lack and nucleus; the circulate in the blood and play a role in blood clotting
Pre-capillary sphincter
A ring of smooth muscle between an arteriole and capillary that regulates the flow blood into the capillary bed
Pulmonary circuit
The pathway of blood from the heart to the lungs and back to the heart
Semi lunar valve
Valve located between the right ventricle of the heart and the pulmonary artery, or between the left ventricle and the aorta; prevents the backflow of blood into the ventricles when they relax
Sinoatrial
A small mass of specialized muscle in the wall of the right atrium; generates electrical signals, rhythmically and spontaneously and serves as the heart pacemaker
Spleen
The largest organ of the lymphatic system, located in the abdominal cavity; containing macrophages that filter the blood by removing microbes and aged red blood cells and lymphocytes that reproduce during times of infection
Stroke
An uninterrupted of blood flow to part of the brain caused by the rupture of an artery or the blockage of an artery by a blood clot. Loss of blood supply leads to rapid death of the area of the brain effected.
Systemic circuit
The pathway of blood from the heart through all the parts of the body except the lungs and back to the heart
Thrombin
An enzyme producing the blood as a result of injury to a blood vessel; catalyzes the production of fibrin, a protein that assist in blood clot formation 
Thymus
An organ of the lymphatic system that is located in the upper chest in front of the heart and that secretes thin, which stimulates maturation of t lymphocytes of the immune system
Tonsil
A patch of lymphatic tissue, located at the entrance of the pharynx , that contains macrophages and lymphocytes; destroys many microbes entering the body through the mouth and stimulates an adaptive immune response to them
Vein
In vertebrates, a large diameter, thin walled vessel that carries blood from visuals back to the heart; in plants, vascular bundle in a leaf
Ventricle
The lower muscular chamber on each side of the heart that pumps blood out through the arteries. The right ventricle sends blood to the lungs; the left ventricle pump blood to the rest of the body.
Venule
A narrow vessel with thin walls that carries blood from capillaries to veins
