Terminology List Flashcards
AORTA
Main ARTERY that carries blood AWAY from the heart to the rest of the body
ARTERIOLE
Small diameter blood vessel that extends out from an artery and leads to capillaries
ARTERY
Blood vessels that deliver oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the tissues
ATRIOVENTRICULAR BUNDLE
(BUNDLE OF HIS)
- A bundle of specialised muscle fibres regulating the heartbeat
- Conducts impulses from the right ATRIUM to the VENTRICLES
ATRIOVENTRICULAR (AV) VALVE
Connects the ATRIUM to the VENTRICLES
Includes the MITRAL VALVE and the TRICUSPID VALVE
ATRIOVENTRICULAR (AV) NODE
Electrically connects the heart’s ATRIA and VENTRICLES to coordinate beating in the heart
Part of the electrical conduction system of the heart
ATRIUM
The Upper Chamber through which blood enters the VENTRICLES of the heart
LEFT ATRIUM
Receives blood from the PULMONARY (LUNG) circulation
RIGHT ATRIUM
Receives blood from the VENA CAVA (Venous Circulation)
CARDIAC CYCLE
Conversion of deoxygenated blood to oxygenated blood in lungs and pumping it by heart to body through the aorta
DIASTOLE
The phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle relaxes and allows the chambers to fill with blood
ELECTROCARDIOGRAM
(ECG/EKG)
One of the simplest and fastest tests used to evaluate the heart
ERYTHROCYTE
(RED BLOOD CELLS)
- Type of blood cell that is made in the bone marrow and found in the blood
- They contain a protein called hemoglobin that carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body.
ERYTHROPOIETIN
(EPO)
Produced by the KIDNEY and used to make red blood cells
HEART SOUNDS
A “lub” and a “dub” that occur in sequence with each heartbeat
HAEMOSTASIS
Body’s normal physiological response for the prevention and stopping of bleeding/haemorrhage
It helps ensure blood fluidity and blood vessel integrity
HAEMATOCRIT
A test that measures the proportion of red blood cells in your blood
(aka PCV test or simple blood test)
HYPOXIA
LOW OXYGEN IN THE BLOOD
P WAVE
Represents DEPOLARISATION in the ATRIA just after the SA NODE fires
QRS COMPLEX
Represents DEPOLARISATION of the VENTRICLES
T WAVE
Represents VENTRICULAR REPOLARISATION
PACEMAKER
Small device implanted in the chest to help control the heartbeat
It is used to PREVENT the heart beating to slowly
PLASMA
Fluid around blood cells
Dissolves and transports many other substances that can dissolve (ie: lipid solubles)
PLATELETS
(Thrombocytes)
- Colourless blood cells that help blood clot
- They stop bleeding by CLUMPING and FORMING plugs in blood vessel injuries
PULMONARY CIRCUIT
Transports oxygen-poor blood from the right ventricle to the lungs, gets new blood
Then it returns the oxygen-rich blood to the left atrium
PULMONARY ARTERY
Carries blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs
“Pulmonary” means something that affects the lungs
PULMONARY VEIN
TRANSFERS oxygenated blood from the LUNGS to the HEART
PURKINJE FIBRES
- Specialised conducting fibres composed of electrically excitable cells
- Essential for maintaining a consistent heart rhythem
SINOATRIAL (SA) NODE
Initiates the electrical impulses to stimulate contraction
Referred to as the natural pacemaker
SEMILUNAR VALVE
- The valve BETWEEN the RIGHT VENTRICLE and PULMONARY TRUNK is the PULMONARY SEMILUNAR VALVE
- The valve BETWEEN the LEFT VENTRICLE and the AORTA is the AORTIC SEMILUNAR VALVE
- When the ventricles RELAX, Semilunar Valves close to prevent blood from flowing back into the ventricles
SYSTEMIC CIRCUIT
Part of the CIRCULATORY SYSTEM that carries blood away from the heart, delivers it to most of the organs and tissues and returns it to the heart
SYSTOLE
- Contraction of the ventricles
- Systole causes the ejection of blood into the aorta and pulmonary trunk
VEINS
- Blood vessels that carry mostly deoxygenated blood towards the heart
- Except the pulmonary vein and umbilical vein that carry oxygenated blood to the heart
VENA CAVA
Large vein that carries blood to the heart from other areas of the body
There are 2 parts: Superior vena cava & Inferior vena cava
Largest vein in the body
SUPERIOR VENA CAVA
Delivers blood from the upper half of the body
INFERIOR VENA CAVA
Carries blood from legs, feet and organs in abdomen and pelvis
VENTRICLE
- One of 2 large chambers toward the bottom of the heart that collect and expel blood
- The blood pumped by a ventricle is supplied by an atrium
ANTIGENS
Substances that have the ability to provoke an immune response and the ability to react with the antibodies or cells that result from the immune response
