Hartman's Complete Guide for the EKG Technician Chapter 3 Vocabulary

anatomy

the study of the parts of a system

physiology

the study of how a system functions

homeostasis

a state of balance

metabolism

the name for a physical and chemical process carried out by the body systems to maintain homeostasis

plasma

the liquid portion of blood

formed elements

the solid portion of blood

erythrocytes

red blood cells

leukocytes

white blood cells

thrombocytes

platelets/ clogged

hemoglobin

a protein that transports oxygen and carbon dioxide throughout the bloodstream

arteries

blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart

veins

carry blood containing waste products and carbon dioxide back to the heart

capillaries

very small blood vessels where exchanges of waste, nutrients, oxygen, and carbon dioxide are made

diaphragm

a muscle that divides the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity; contracts and flattens

pharynx

an area of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity

larynx

voice box

trachea

windpipe

bronchi

two branches that lead to the lungs

bronchioles

smaller airways stemming from the bronchi

alveoli

tiny, elastic sacs surrounded by capillaries

stimuli

information/changes noticed from outside the body

central nervous system (CNS)

contain the brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

composed of nerves that branch off the brain and spinal cord and go to all parts of the body

somatic nervous system (SNS)

controls voluntary actions

autonomic nervous system (ANS)

controls involuntary actions

sympathetic nervous system

stimulated when a person experiences stress, fear, or a threat

parasympathetic nervous system

stimulation decreases blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration

epicardium

outermost layer of the heart

myocardium

middle layer of the heart (thickest layer)

endocardium

thin, innermost layer of the heart

superior and inferior vena cava

two largest veins in the body that carry deoxygenated blood to the heart

aorta

largest artery in the body that carries oxygenated blood away from the heart to the rest of the body

coronary arteries

smaller arteries that carry blood throughout the body

septum

a wall that separates the right and left sides of the heart

atria

two upper chambers of the heart

ventricles

two lower chambers of the heart

tricuspid valve

between the right atrium and right ventricle

pulmonary valve

between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery

bicuspid valve (mitral valve)

between the left atrium and left ventricle

aortic valve

between the left ventricle and the aorta

pulmonary circuit

circulation of blood between the heart and lungs

systemic circuit

the circulation of blood in the heart and rest of body

oxygen-rich blood

blood that returns to the heart from the lungs after recieving oxygen then pumped into rest of body