Overview of CVS key terms Flashcards
What is the systemic circulation?
The circulation of blood through the arteries, capillaries, and veins the body, from the left ventricle to the right atrium.
What is the pulmonary circulation?
The circulation from the right ventricle to the left atrium, which transports the blood to the lungs, to pick up oxygen and deposit (get rid of) carbon dioxide.
What is an artery?
Carries blood away from the heart, can be elastic or muscular
What is an arteriole?
It carries blood away from the heart and is smaller than an artery.
These control the resistance and use their ability to dilate and constrict to control regional redirection of blood.
Explain a capillary and what it does?
Capillaries make up the vascular beds, they are the site of gas exchange at the tissue and are usually surround by one single epithelial cell (so extremely small). Generally only one RBC can fit through at once.
What are venules and veins?
They are capacitance vessels that transport blood back towards the heart.
What is the aorta?
It is the large elastic artery that takes blood out of the left ventricle. It is part of the systemic circulation.
What is the vena cava?
This is the largest vein. It brings blood in to the right atrium.
What is the pulmonary trunk?
This takes blood from the right ventricle towards the lungs.
What do the pulmonary veins do?
They transport blood from the lungs in to the left atrium of the heart.
What is the myocardium?
This is the wall of the heart.
What is the septum?
This is the wall that divides the 2 sides of the heart.
What is the aortic valve?
It is the valve between the left ventricle and the aorta.
What is the pulmonary valve?
It is the valve between the right ventricle and the pulmonary trunk.
What is the mitral valve?
It is the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle. Also known as the bicuspid valve.
