Study Notes on Cardiovascular System: Blood Vessels and Circulation

A comprehensive set of 200 flashcards addressing key vocabulary and concepts related to the cardiovascular system, blood vessels, and circulation based on the provided lecture notes.

Cardiovascular System

The system comprising the heart and blood vessels that is responsible for the circulation of blood throughout the body.

Blood Vessels

Tubes through which blood flows, including arteries, veins, and capillaries.

Arteries

Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.

Veins

Blood vessels that carry blood toward the heart.

Capillaries

Small blood vessels where the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste occurs.

Circulatory System Components

The major components include arteries, veins, capillaries, and the heart.

Pulmonary Circuit

The part of the circulatory system that moves blood between the heart and lungs.

Systemic Circuit

The part of the circulatory system that moves blood between the heart and the rest of the body.

Tunica Interna

The innermost layer of a blood vessel, made of endothelial cells.

Tunica Media

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

Tunica Externa

The outer layer of a blood vessel, made up of connective tissue.

Elastic Arteries

Large arteries that have high elasticity and are capable of expanding and contracting.

Muscular Arteries

Medium-sized arteries that have a greater proportion of smooth muscle compared to elastic fibers.

Arterioles

Small blood vessels that branch out from arteries and lead to capillaries.

Venules

Small blood vessels that collect blood from capillaries and merge to form veins.

Veins Structure

Veins have thinner walls and larger lumens compared to arteries, and often have valves.

Valves in Veins

One-way structures within veins that prevent the backflow of blood.

Capillary Beds

Networks of capillaries where exchange of materials occurs.

Precapillary Sphincters

Muscle fibers that regulate blood flow into capillary beds.

Hydrostatic Pressure

The pressure exerted by a fluid at rest due to the force of gravity.

Osmotic Pressure

The pressure required to prevent the flow of water across a semipermeable membrane.

Net Filtration Pressure (NFP)

The difference between hydrostatic pressure and osmotic pressure that determines fluid movement across capillary walls.

Capillary Exchange

The process by which substances move between blood and tissues across capillary walls.

Filtration

The process by which fluid and solutes move from blood capillaries into interstitial fluid.

Reabsorption

The process by which fluid and solutes move from interstitial fluid into blood capillaries.

Edema

An abnormal increase in interstitial fluid caused by excess filtration or inadequate reabsorption.

Blood Pressure (BP)

The pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels.

Systolic Pressure

The highest pressure in the arteries during heart contraction.

Diastolic Pressure

The lowest pressure in the arteries during heart relaxation.

Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP)

The average arterial pressure during a single cardiac cycle.

Cardiac Output

The amount of blood the heart pumps in one minute, calculated as heart rate times stroke volume.

Vascular Resistance

The resistance that must be overcome to push blood through the circulatory system.

Compliance

The ability of blood vessels to expand as blood volume increases.

Blood Vessel Diameter

The width of a blood vessel, which affects resistance and blood flow.

Venous Return

The flow of blood back to the heart from the body.

Baroreceptors

Sensors in blood vessels that detect changes in blood pressure.

Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone Mechanism

A hormone system that regulates blood pressure and fluid balance.

Autoregulation

The ability of tissues to regulate their blood supply based on their metabolic needs.

Capacitance Vessels

Another name for veins, indicating their ability to hold larger volumes of blood.

Anastomoses

Connections between blood vessels that provide alternative pathways for blood flow.

Hepatic Portal System

The system that directs blood from the gastrointestinal tract to the liver.

Fetal Circulation

The system of blood flow in a fetus that is different from that in a newborn.

Ductus Arteriosus

A blood vessel in a fetus that connects the pulmonary artery to the aorta.

Foramen Ovale

An opening in the fetal heart that allows blood to bypass the lungs.

Ductus Venosus

A blood vessel in a fetus that connects the umbilical vein to the inferior vena cava.

Pulmonary Veins

Blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart.

Coronary Circulation

The flow of blood to and from the tissues of the heart.

Systemic Circulation

The circulation of blood throughout the body excluding that of the lungs.

Lymphatic System

The system that returns excess interstitial fluid to the bloodstream.

Blood Viscosity

The thickness and stickiness of blood, which affects blood flow.

Stroke Volume (SV)

The volume of blood pumped from the heart with each beat.

Hemodynamics

The study of blood flow and the forces involved.

Microcirculation

The flow of blood through the smallest vessels: capillaries, venules, and arterioles.

Vasoconstriction

The narrowing of blood vessels which increases blood pressure.

Vasodilation

The widening of blood vessels which decreases blood pressure.

Neural Regulation

The regulation of blood pressure and flow through the nervous system.

Hormonal Regulation of Blood Pressure

The regulation of blood pressure through hormones such as epinephrine and aldosterone.

Heart Rate (HR)

The number of beats per minute of the heart.

Tachycardia

Abnormally high heart rate, typically over 100 beats per minute.

Bradycardia

Abnormally low heart rate, typically under 60 beats per minute.

Sphygmomanometry

The process of measuring blood pressure using a sphygmomanometer.

Cardiac Cycle

The sequence of events in a heartbeat, including contraction and relaxation.

Total Blood Flow

The overall flow of blood through the cardiovascular system.

Hypoxia

Deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues.

Nutrient Transport

The movement of nutrients via blood to cells throughout the body.

Gas Exchange

The process of exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs and tissues.

Blood Volume Regulation

The mechanisms that control the amount of blood in the circulatory system.

Endothelial Cells

Cells lining the blood vessels that play a critical role in vascular function.

Collagen Fibers

Strong connective tissue fibers found in the tunica externa of blood vessels.

Elastic Fibers

Fibers that allow blood vessels to stretch and recoil.

Visceral Layer

The layer of pericardium that covers the heart.

Pericardial Fluid

Fluid that lubricates the space between the layers of the pericardium.

Myocardium

The muscular layer of the heart responsible for contraction.

Endocardium

The inner lining of the heart chambers.

Coronary Sinus

The large vein that empties blood from the heart into the right atrium.

Atrial Natriuretic Hormone

A hormone released by the heart that helps regulate blood pressure and volume.

Erythropoietin (EPO)

A hormone produced by the kidneys that stimulates red blood cell production.

Fluid Reabsorption

The process by which fluid returns from interstitial spaces into the bloodstream.

Nervi Vasorum

Nerve fibers that supply blood vessels.

Vasa Vasorum

Small blood vessels that provide nourishment to larger blood vessel walls.

Venous Sinuses

Cavities in veins that collect blood, often with larger lumens.

Aorta

The largest artery in the body, transmitting oxygenated blood from the heart.

Superior Vena Cava

The vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the upper body to the heart.

Inferior Vena Cava

The vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the lower body to the heart.

Intercellular Clefts

Spaces between endothelial cells in capillaries that allow for exchange of materials.

Fenestrated Capillaries

Capillaries with small openings that allow for increased permeability.

Discontinuous Capillaries

Capillaries with large clefts or gaps that allow for free exchange of larger molecules.

Continuous Capillaries

Capillaries with uninterrupted endothelial cells, allowing for selective permeability.

Elastic Lamina

Layer of elastic tissue found between the tunica media and tunica externa.

Pulmonary Arteries

Vessels that carry deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.

Vein Lumen

The hollow space within a vein through which blood flows.

Blood Colligative Properties

Characteristics of blood related to its ability to draw water and other solutes.

Cardiac Reserve

The ability of the heart to increase cardiac output during increased demand.

Oxygen Saturation

The percentage of hemoglobin binding sites in the bloodstream occupied by oxygen.

Peripheral Resistance

The resistance to blood flow offered by the blood vessels.

Atherosclerosis

A disease characterized by the buildup of plaques in arteries.

Blood Flow Velocity

The speed at which blood travels through the circulatory system.

Chronic Hypertension

Long-standing high blood pressure that can lead to heart disease.

Hypotension

Lower than normal blood pressure.

Vascular Compliance

The ability of blood vessels to expand and contract to accommodate various blood volumes.