Heart Flashcards
Tricuspid Valve
The valve between the right atrium and the right ventricle. It prevents backflow of blood into the atrium when the ventricle contracts.
Semilunar Valves
Valves located at the exits of the heart (pulmonary artery and aorta). These prevent blood from flowing back into the heart after contraction.
Systole
The phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle contracts and pumps blood from the chambers into the arteries.
Diastole
The phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle relaxes and the chambers fill with blood.
Pulmonary Circuit
the pathway of blood from the heart to the lungs and back to the heart for oxygenation.
Systemic Circuit
The pathway of oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body and back to the heart.
Aorta
the largest artery in the body, which carries oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the body.
Vena Cava
The large veins (superior and inferior) that return deoxygenated blood from the body to the right atrium of the heart.
Pulmonary Arteries
Vessels that carry deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs for oxygenation.
Pulmonary Veins
Vessels that carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart.
Papillary Muscles
Muscles located in the ventricles that contract to prevent inversion of the valves during systole.
Chordae Tendinae
Tendon-like cords that connect the papillary muscles to the atrioventricular valves (tricuspid and mitral), preventing valve prolapse
Pericardium
The double-layered membrane that encloses the heart, protecting it and reducing friction as it beats.
Myocytes
Muscle cells in the heart responsible for contracting and facilitating blood flow.
Conduction System
the system that controls the electrical impulses that regulate the heartbeat, including the SA node, AV node, bundle of His, and Purkinje fibers.
Muscle Contraction
The process by which heart muscle fibers shorten and generate force to pump blood through the heart.
VSD (Ventricular Septal Defect)
A congenital heart defect where there’s an abnormal opening in the septum between the heart’s ventricles, allowing blood to pass between them.
ASD (Atrial Septal Defect)
A congenital heart defect characterized by an opening in the septum between the heart’s atria, causing blood to flow between the atria.
Atria
The two upper chambers of the heart (left and right atria) that receive blood. The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body, and the left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs
Ventricle
The two lower chambers of the heart (left and right ventricles). The right ventricle pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs, and the left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood to the body
Septum
the wall that divides the right and left sides of the heart, preventing the mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood.
Mitral Valve
The valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle. It prevents blood from flowing backward into the atrium when the ventricle contracts
Bundle of His
A group of specialized heart muscle cells that transmit electrical impulses from the AV node to the ventricles, helping to coordinate contraction
Sinoatrial (SA) Node
The heart’s natural pacemaker, located in the right atrium. It generates electrical impulses that initiate each heartbeat.
