Blood Circulation & The Cardiac Cycle

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards detailing the anatomical structures, pathways, and vessel branches involved in cardiac and systemic blood circulation.

Pulmonary circulation

The component of the circulatory system that carries deoxygenated blood to the lungs to be oxygenated and returns oxygenated blood to the left atrium via four pulmonary veins.

Systemic circulation

The pathway in which oxygenated blood ejected from the left ventricle is delivered via the aorta to the body's tissues to release oxygen and nutrients.

Pulmonary veins

Four vessels (two originating from each lung) that return oxygenated blood directly into the left atrium.

Mitral valve

The valve through which oxygenated blood flows as it moves from the left atrium into the left ventricle.

Aortic valve

The valve through which oxygenated blood is ejected out of the left ventricle and into the systemic circulation.

Tricuspid valve

The valve on the right side of the heart through which deoxygenated blood moves from the right atrium into the right ventricle.

Pulmonary valve

The valve through which blood moves from the right ventricle into the main pulmonary artery.

Aortic root

The base of the aorta located at the sinus of Valsalva, where the coronary arteries originate.

Aortic arch

The curved portion of the aorta giving rise to three branches: the brachiocephalic (innominate) artery, left common carotid artery, and left subclavian artery.

Innominate artery

An alternate name for the brachiocephalic artery, which is the first branch arising from the aortic arch.

Capillaries

Microscopic vessels where the exchange of nutrients and oxygen takes place in the body's organs and tissues.

Venous circulation

The vessel network that collects deoxygenated blood from the body tissues and carries it back to the right side of the heart so it can be pumped into the lungs.

Collector vessels of the right heart

The three major vessels that drain venous blood directly into the right side of the heart: the coronary sinus, superior vena cava (SVC), and inferior vena cava (IVC).

Coronary circulation

The system of arteries and veins that perfuses the cardiac muscle and removes waste products from cardiomyocytes.

Left anterior descending artery

A branch of the left coronary artery that runs along the anterior interventricular groove/sulcus.

Circumflex artery

A branch of the left coronary artery that courses along the left atrioventricular groove/sulcus.

Right coronary artery

The coronary artery located in the right atrioventricular groove/sulcus that gives off branches including the conus artery and acute marginal branches.

SA nodal artery

The artery supplying the sinoatrial node; it originates from the right coronary artery in $60\%$ of cases and from the circumflex artery in $40\%$ of cases.

AV nodal artery

The artery supplying the atrioventricular node; it arises from the right coronary artery in $85\%$ of cases and from the circumflex artery in $15\%$ of cases.

Coronary artery dominance

The anatomical determination based on which coronary artery supplies the posterior descending artery (PDA) and posterolateral branches.

Posterior descending artery

An artery located in the posterior interventricular groove/sulcus whose supplying vessel determines coronary dominance.

Anterior cardiac veins

Coronary veins that drain directly into the right atrium rather than emptying into the coronary sinus.

Coronary sinus

A venous collector vessel that returns perfusing blood from the heart muscle, drains into the right atrium, and appears on cardiac ultrasound between the left atrium and left ventricle.