Heart Flashcards
muscular cone-shaped organ the size of a fist, located behind the sternum (breastbone) and between the lungs. The pumping action of the heart circulates blood throughout the body. The heart consists of two smaller upper chambers, the right atrium and the left atrium (pl. atria), and two larger lower chambers, the right ventricle and the left ventricle (pl. ventricles). The right atrium receives blood returning from the body through the veins and contracts to fill the right ventricle, which then pumps blood to the lungs. The left atrium receives blood from the lungs and contracts to fill the left ventricle, which then contracts to pump blood from the heart through the arteries to body tissues. The atrial septum separates the atria and the ventricular septum separates the ventricles. (Fig. 10.2)
heart
consist of the tricuspid and mitral valves, which lie between the right atrium and the right ventricle and the left atrium and left ventricle, respectively. Valves of the heart keep blood flowing in one direction.
atrioventricular valves
pulmonary and aortic valves located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery and between the left ventricle and the aorta, respectively.
semilunar valves
two-layer sac surrounding the heart, consisting of an external fibrous and an internal serous layer. The internal serous layer is then divided into two parts: the outer layer, called the parietal pericardium, and the inner layer, called the epicardium. Between these is the pericardial space, which contains fluid produced by the serous layer that facilitates movement of the heart.
pericardium
outer lining covering the heart; also part of the pericardium (see above)
epicardium
middle, thick, muscular layer of the heart
myocardium
inner lining of the heart
endocardium
tubelike structures that carry blood throughout the body
blood vessel
blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. All arteries, with the exception of the pulmonary artery, carry oxygen and other nutrients from the heart to the body cells. The pulmonary artery, in contrast, carries carbon dioxide and other waste products from the heart to the lungs.
arteries
smallest arteries
arterioles
largest artery in the body, which originates at the left ventricle, briefly ascends as the arch of the aorta, then descends through the thorax and abdomen
aorta
blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart. All veins, with the exception of the pulmonary veins, carry blood containing carbon dioxide and other waste products. The pulmonary veins carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart.
veins
smallest veins
venules
largest veins in the body. The inferior vena cava carries blood to the heart from body parts below the diaphragm, and the superior vena cava returns the blood to the heart from the upper part of the body.
venae cavae
microscopic blood vessels that connect arterioles with venules. Materials are passed between the blood and tissue through the capillary walls.
capillaries
fluid circulated through the heart, arteries, capillaries, and veins; composed of plasma and formed elements, such as erythrocytes, leukocytes, and thrombocytes (platelets)
blood
clear, straw-colored, liquid portion of blood in which cells are suspended. Plasma is approximately 90% water. The other 10% is composed of solutes (dissolved substances), which include proteins, electrolytes, and vitamins. Plasma comprises approximately 55% of the total blood volume.
plasma
clear, watery fluid portion of the blood that remains after a clot has formed
serum
production of new blood cells takes place in bone marrow, the spongy tissue inside some bones
cells (formed elements)
red blood cells that carry oxygen
erythrocytes
white blood cells that combat infection and respond to inflammation. There are five types of white blood cells. (Fig. 10.5)
leukocytes
one of the formed elements in the blood that is responsible for aiding in the clotting process (also called platelets)
thrombocytes
transparent, colorless, tissue fluid; contains lymphocytes and monocytes and flows in a one-way direction toward the heart
lymph
transport lymph from body tissues into the right and left subclavian veins, which then empty into the superior vena cava. The lymphatic vessels begin as capillaries spread throughout the body then merge into larger tubes that eventually become ducts in the chest. They provide a one-way flow for lymph, which enters through veins into the circulatory system.
lymphatic vessels