Cardiovascular System Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key anatomical structures, physiology, vessel layers, conduction elements, cardiac cycle concepts, and terminology of the cardiovascular system.

Cardiovascular System

The body system composed of the heart and blood vessels designed for transportation, communication, and maintaining homeostasis by pumping blood and transporting gases, nutrients, hormones, and wastes.

Endocardium

The innermost tissue layer of the heart wall.

Myocardium

The middle muscular layer of the heart wall.

Epicardium

The outermost layer of the heart wall that also forms the visceral layer of the pericardium.

Pericardium

A protective sac surrounding the heart, consisting of the visceral epicardium, parietal layer, pericardial cavity, and fibrous pericardium.

Fibrous Pericardium

The outermost layer of the pericardium.

Atrioventricular (AV) Valves

Heart valves located between the atria and ventricles, consisting of the tricuspid valve and mitral (bicuspid) valve.

Semilunar Valves

Overflow heart valves located at the exits of the ventricles, comprising the pulmonic valve and aortic valve.

Chordae Tendineae

Tendon-like strands attached to valve flaps and anchored to papillary muscles that tighten during ventricular contraction to prevent valve eversion and regurgitation.

Papillary Muscles

Muscles in the ventricles anchored to chordae tendineae that contract simultaneously with the ventricles to tighten the chordae tendineae.

Tunica Adventitia

The outermost tissue layer of a blood vessel.

Tunica Media

The middle tissue layer of a blood vessel, composed of smooth muscle and elastic fibers.

Tunica Intima

The innermost tissue layer of a blood vessel.

Arterioles

The smallest branches of arteries in the systemic vascular system.

Capillaries

Microscopic 'in-between' blood vessel channels that make up most of the body's vascular length, where nutrient and gas exchange occurs.

Superior Vena Cava (SVC) and Inferior Vena Cava (IVC)

The largest veins in the human body, responsible for returning deoxygenated blood to the right atrium.

Collateral Circulation

An interconnected network of blood vessels nourishing the same area that can enlarge to maintain blood supply to endangered heart muscle during coronary obstruction.

Ischemia

A reversible cellular injury caused by a decreased blood and oxygen supply.

Myocardial Infarction (MI)

A localized area of dead cardiac tissue caused by a complete lack of blood supply.

Coronary Sinus

A venous channel receiving blood from the great and middle cardiac veins and returning it to the right atrium.

Sinoatrial (SA) Node

The primary pacemaker of the heart's conduction system, located in the right atrium.

Systole

The contraction phase of the cardiac cycle, consisting of dual contractions—the atria followed by the ventricles.

Diastole

The relaxation phase of the cardiac cycle, consisting of atrial relaxation followed by ventricular relaxation.

S1 (First Heart Sound)

The 'lub' sound produced by the closure of the atrioventricular (AV) valves as the ventricles contract.

S2 (Second Heart Sound)

The 'dub' or 'dup' sound produced by the closure of the aortic and pulmonary semilunar valves as the ventricles relax.

Heart Murmur

An abnormal heart sound typically caused by valve narrowing (stenosis) or blood regurgitating through an improperly closing valve.

Gallop Sounds

Abnormal heart sounds created when ventricular filling produces audible vibrations during a normally silent diastolic phase.

Pericardial Rubs

Abnormal heart sounds produced when inflamed layers of the pericardium rub together, such as in pericarditis.

Cardiac Output (CO)

The total volume of blood pumped by the ventricles in $1\,min$.

Stroke Volume (SV)

The volume of blood ejected from the ventricles with each individual heartbeat.

Pulse Pressure

The numerical difference between systolic blood pressure ($\text{sBP}$) and diastolic blood pressure ($\text{dBP}$).