Blood Vessels and Blood Lecture Vocabulary

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms about blood vessels and blood properties.

Blood Vessels

Allows for exchange of materials between systems and with the rest of the world and links all body systems.

Arteries

Blood away from the heart.

Veins

Blood toward the heart

Capillaries

Interconnect arteries and veins.

Pulmonary Circuit

Heart to lungs; oxygenation of blood.

Systemic Circuit

Heart to rest of body; oxygenation of tissues.

Lumen

Hollow center of a vessel.

Tunica Interna (Intima)

Deepest layer of vessel wall, in contact with blood; endothelium + basal lamina.

Tunica Media

Middle layer of vessel wall; smooth muscle layer (vasoconstriction).

Tunica Externa (Tunica Adventitia)

Most superficial layer of vessel wall; primarily connective tissue.

Arteries

Carry blood away from the heart; typically carry oxygenated blood; contractile and elastic.

Elastic Arteries

Closer to heart; move large amount of blood away from heart; larger diameter.

Muscular Arteries

Further from heart; move blood to muscles and internal organs; smaller diameter.

Arterioles

"Tiny arteries" – connect to capillaries; major site of vasoconstriction/vasodilation.

Precapillary Sphincter

Smooth muscle band - “valve” control at the end of the arterioles/start of the capillaries

Capillaries

Site for diffusion of gases, nutrients, wastes, fluids, etc.

Continuous Capillary

Endothelial cells form a solid pipe (most capillaries in the body)

Fenestrated Capillary

Endothelial cells are full of tiny holes – for filtration (kidneys).

Sinusoid (Discontinuous) Capillaries

Large gaps between endothelial cells – large molecules and particles can enter/leave the pipe (liver, spleen).

Venules

"Tiny Veins” – connect to veins

Veins

Carry blood TOWARD the heart; typically carry de-oxygenated blood; limited contractility/elasticity.

One Way Valves

Limits backflow, ensures blood is always headed toward the heart

Thoracolumbar Pump

Movement of the diaphragm squishes blood vessels in the anterior cavity

Varicose Veins

Breakdown of vein valve structure.

Atherosclerosis

Build up of plaques in the artery walls

Low-Density Lipoproteins (LDLs)

Transport cholesterol in the blood – the more fat in your diet, the more of these your liver will make

Erythrocytes

Red Blood Cells

Leukocytes

White Blood Cells

Fractionated

Separation of blood components by weight

Formed Elements

Blood cells created in Red Bone Marrow through Hemopoiesis from Hemocytoblasts

Hematocrit

Percentage of a blood sample that is Erythrocytes

Hemoglobin

O2/CO2 transporting molecule

Neutrophils

Fight bacteria

Eosinophils

Fight parasites

Basophils

Signalers

Monocytes

General fighter

Lymphocytes

Virus fighter

-penia

Lower than average/expected numbers

-cytosis

Higher than average/expected numbers

Thrombocytes

Fragments of a larger cell: Megakaryocyte