Herbs and the cardiovascular system Flashcards
What are the 3 components of the cardiovascular system?
Heart
Vascular system (including arteries, veins, and capillaries)
Blood
How many times does the heart beat during an average lifespan?
2.5 billion times
Describe the pattern of blood flow throught the heart?
Deoxygenated blood → Right atrium →through tricuspid valve → Right ventricle → Lungs
Oxygenated blood → Left atrium → Mitral Valve → Left ventricle → Body
Name the four valves of the heart.
Mitral (bicuspid) valve - between the left atrium and left ventricle
Tricuspid valve - between the right atrium and right ventricle
Pulmonic valve - between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery
Aortic valve - between the left ventricle and aorta
What does systole and diastole mean?
systole - contract
diastole - relax
What are the three kinds of vessels that the vascular system contains?
Veins - carry deoxygenated blood to the heart.
Arteries - carry oxygenated blood away from the heart.
Capillaries - participate in oxygen and nutrient exchange.
Generally, veins carry deoxygenated blood and arteries carry oxygenated blood. What are the exceptions to this rule?
Veins carry deoxygenated blood to the right side of the heart. The one exception is the pulmonary veins, which carry freshly oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart’s left atrium.
Arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart. Rare exceptions are the pulmonary arteries, which carry deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs, and the umbilical artery, which carries deoxygenated blood from the fetus to the placenta.
Which vessels connect capillaries to veins and arteries?
Arterioles and venules are smaller-sized vessels that connect capillaries to arteries and veins.
What is the role of endothelial cells in the vascular system?
Endothelial cells make up the inner lining of blood vessels, and play an important role in creating new vessels and in stopping blood loss by forming clots. They are also responsible for promoting or inhibiting inflammation inside the vessels.
What is endothelial dysfunction?
A condition that arises when the endothelial cells are not able to normally form clots and balance. inflammation
Name the 5 major vesels of the vascular system
Aorta - The largest artery in the body, it carries oxygenated blood directly from the left ventricle to the rest of the body.
Inferior vena cava - The largest vein in the body, it (along with the superior vena cava) carries blood from the rest of the body back to the right atrium.
Superior vena cava - The large vein responsible for carrying blood from the brain and neck back to the heart.
Carotid and vertebral arteries - The carotid arteries and vertebral arteries carry blood to the brain. Certain obstructions of these vessels may lead to strokes.
Coronary arteries - The coronary arteries oxygenate the heart. Obstructions of these vessels can lead to a heart attack.
describe the pattern of blood flow through the body?
rest of the body → veins → inferior and superior vena cava → right atrium → (tricuspid valve) → right ventricle → (pulmonary valve) → pulmonary arteries → lung membrane exchange → pulmonary veins → left atrium → (mitral valve) → left ventricle → (aortic valve) → aorta → arteries → rest of the body
What is the function of blood in the body?
Blood is truly the “river of life” that carries oxygen and other vital nutrients, such as glucose, to the cells and tissues of the body. It is also a key part of immune function and wound healing, carrying the immune cells that help fight infection and cause scabs
How much blood does the human body have
Blood makes up approximately 8% of the total body weight and has a volume of about 4 to 6 liters in adults
What are the 4 major components of blood
Red blood cells
White blood cells
Platelets
Plasma
Where in the body are red blood cells produced?
Bone marrow
What is another name for red blood cells?
erythrocytes
Why do red blood cells not contain a nucleus?
allows them to carry a larger amount of hemoglobin, an oxygen-transporting protein that makes up 95% of a RBC.
How much of a red blood cell is made up of hemoglobin?
95%
What is the role of hemoglobin in red blood cells?
It allows the cell to carry oxygen.
How many times does a red blood cell circulate through the body before it is recycled?
RBCs circulate for about three to four months before they are recycled back into the body
What is the color of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood?
Oxygenated blood is a brighter red color and deoxygenated blood is a dark maroon color
What is the relationship between blood type and antigens?
The surface of red blood cells is covered with specific proteins and sugars called antigens. These correspond to the four blood types: A, B, AB, and O. Another antigen called Rh is either present or absent on the surface of an individual’s red blood cells. When a blood transfusion is required, blood type and Rh factor must be appropriately matched to prevent a dangerous cross-reaction.
What are the “formed” elements of blood?
red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets