Key Terms: Cardiovascular System—Normal Structure and Function

Question 1

aorta

Answer 1

The largest artery.

Question 2

aortic valve

Answer 2

The valve at the entrance to the aorta

Question 3

apex

Answer 3

The point of a cone-shaped structure (adjective, apical). The apex of the heart is formed by the left ventricle and is pointed toward the inferior and left

Question 4

artery

Answer 4

A vessel that carries blood away from the heart.

Question 5

arteriole

Answer 5

A small vessel that carries blood from the arteries into the capillaries

Question 6

atrioventricular (AV) node

Answer 6

A small mass in the lower septum of the right atrium that passes impulses from the sinoatrial (SA) node toward the ventricles

Question 7

atrioventricular (AV) valve

Answer 7

A valve between the atrium and ventricle on the right and left sides of the heart. The right AV valve is the tricuspid valve; the left is the mitral valve

Question 8

atrium

Answer 8

An entrance chamber, one of the two upper receiving chambers of the heart (root atri/o)

Question 9

AV bundle

Answer 9

A band of fibers that transmits impulses from the atrioventricular (AV) node to the top of the interventricular septum.

Question 10

blood pressure

Answer 10

The force exerted by blood against the wall of a vessel

Question 11

bundle branches

Answer 11

Branches of the AV bundle that divide to the right and left sides of the interventricular septum

Question 12

capillary

Answer 12

A microscopic blood vessel through which materials are exchanged between the blood and the tissues

Question 13

coronary circulation

Answer 13

The blood vessels in the heart that provide oxygen and nourishment and remove waste products from the myocardium

Question 14

depolarization

Answer 14

A change in electrical charge from the resting state in nerves or muscles

Question 15

diastole

Answer 15

The relaxation phase of the heartbeat cycle; adjective, diastolic

Question 16

electrocardiography (ECG)

Answer 16

Study of the electrical activity of the heart as detected by electrodes (leads) placed on the surface of the body.

Question 17

endocardium

Answer 17

The thin membrane that lines the chambers of the heart and covers the valves

Question 18

epicardium

Answer 18

The thin outermost layer of the heart wall

Question 19

functional murmur

Answer 19

Any sound produced as the heart functions normally

Question 20

inferior vena cava

Answer 20

The large inferior vein that brings blood back to the right atrium of the heart from the lower body

Question 21

left AV valve

Answer 21

The valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle; the mitral valve or bicuspid valve

Question 22

mitral valve

Answer 22

The valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle; the left AV valve or bicuspid valve

Question 23

myocardium

Answer 23

The thick middle layer of the heart wall composed of cardiac muscle

Question 24

pericardium

Answer 24

The fibrous sac that surrounds the heart

Question 25

pulmonary artery

Answer 25

The vessel that carries blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs

Question 26

pulmonary circuit

Answer 26

The system of vessels that carries blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs to be oxygenated and then back to the left side of the heart

Question 27

pulmonary veins

Answer 27

The vessels that carry blood from the lungs to the left side of the heart

Question 28

pulmonary valve

Answer 28

The valve at the entrance to the pulmonary artery

Question 29

pulse

Answer 29

The wave of increased pressure produced in the vessels each time the ventricles contract

Question 30

Purkinje fibers

Answer 30

The terminal fibers of the conducting system of the heart.

Question 31

repolarization

Answer 31

A return of electrical charge to the resting state in nerves or muscles

Question 32

right AV valve

Answer 32

The valve between the right atrium and right ventricle; the tricuspid valve

Question 33

septum

Answer 33

A wall dividing two cavities, such as the chambers of the heart

Question 34

sinus rhythm

Answer 34

Normal heart rhythm

Question 35

sinoatrial (SA) node

Answer 35

A small mass in the upper part of the right atrium that initiates the impulse for each heartbeat; the pacemaker

Question 36

sphygmomanometer

Answer 36

An instrument for determining arterial blood pressure (root sphygm/o means “pulse”); blood pressure apparatus or cuff

Question 37

superior vena cava

Answer 37

The large superior vein that brings deoxygenated blood back to the right atrium from the upper body

Question 38

systemic circuit

Answer 38

The system of vessels that carries oxygenated blood from the left side of the heart to all tissues except the lungs and returns deoxygenated blood to the right side of the heart

Question 39

systole

Answer 39

The contraction phase of the heartbeat cycle; adjective: systolic

Question 40

valve

Answer 40

A structure that keeps fluid flowing in a forward direction (root: valv/o, valvul/o)

Question 41

vein

Answer 41

A vessel that carries blood back to the heart. All except the pulmonary and umbilical veins carry blood low in oxygen (root: ven/o, phleb/o)

Question 42

ventricle

Answer 42

A small cavity. One of the two lower pumping chambers of the heart (root: ventricul/o)

Question 43

venule

Answer 43

A small vessel that carries blood from the capillaries to the veins

Question 44

vessel

Answer 44

A tube or duct to transport fluid (root: angi/o, vas/o, vascul/o)