Ch 13 The Circulatory System

The main function of the circulatory system

Transports oxygen and nutrients to cells; removes carbon dioxide and waste products from cells.

The four main parts of the circulatory system

The heart, blood vessels, the blood, and the lymphatic system.

Pericardium

The fluid-filled membrane or sac that surrounds and protects the heart.

Systole

The contraction phase of the heart cycle.

Diastole

The relaxation phase of the heart cycle.

Coronary arteries and veins

Surface vessels responsible for supplying blood directly to and from the heart muscle.

The four internal chambers of the heart

Right atrium, left atrium, right ventricle, and left ventricle.

Atrioventricular (AV) valves

The bicuspid (mitral) and tricuspid valves, located between the atria and the ventricles.

Semilunar valves

The pulmonic and aortic valves, located between the ventricles and the major exiting blood vessels.

"Lub-dub" heart sounds

Sounds caused by the sequential closing of the heart valves.

Pulmonary circulation pathway

Right atrium -> Tricuspid valve -> Right ventricle -> Pulmonic valve -> Pulmonary artery -> Lungs -> Pulmonary vein -> Left atrium.

Systemic circulation pathway

Left atrium -> Mitral/Bicuspid valve -> Left ventricle -> Aortic valve -> Aorta -> Body tissues.

Oxygen status of the pulmonary artery

Carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.

Oxygen status of the pulmonary vein

Carries oxygenated blood from the lungs back to the left atrium.

Portal circulation

A specialized circulatory pathway that serves only the internal organs, carrying substances on which those organs react.

Microcirculation flow pattern

Arteries -> Arterioles -> Capillaries -> Venules -> Veins.

Sinoatrial (SA) node

The natural pacemaker of the heart, located in the right atrium, which initiates the electrical impulse.

Atrioventricular (AV) node

The node that receives the electrical impulse from the SA node and transmits it to cause ventricular contraction.

Cardiac rhythm disorders

Conditions involving an interruption in the electrical impulse or a deviation in the regularity of the heartbeat.

Artificial pacemaker

A device used to cause the heart to contract effectively when drug therapy fails to correct rhythm disorders.

Vagus and accelerator nerves

The two primary nerves responsible for controlling the rate of the heart.

Three types of blood vessels

Arteries, veins, and capillaries.

Main systemic arteries

Aorta, gastric, splenic, renal, carotid, pulmonary, brachial, radial, ulnar, femoral, tibial, and dorsalis pedis.

Main systemic veins

Tibial, saphenous, femoral, common iliac, inferior and superior vena cava, jugular, brachial, cephalic, and pulmonary.

Superior vena cava

The major vein returning deoxygenated blood to the heart from the head and upper extremities.

Inferior vena cava

The major vein returning deoxygenated blood to the heart from the lower extremities and abdomen.

Components of blood

Plasma, red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes), and platelets (thrombocytes).

Four main blood types

A, B, AB, and O.

Average adult blood volume

Between 8 to 10 pints.

Type and crossmatch

The mandatory testing process performed before a blood transfusion to ensure compatibility between donor and recipient.

Rh factor

An inherited antigen on red blood cells; its presence makes a person Rh-positive, and its absence makes them Rh-negative.

Cholesterol

A product of fat metabolism; total, LDL, and HDL levels are evaluated to assess the risk of a vascular event.

Triglycerides

Fats normally present in the body; high levels are clinically associated with heart disease and atherosclerosis.

Cardiovascular diagnostic tests

Arteriography, cardiac catheterization, stress testing, Doppler ultrasound, echocardiogram, ECG, heart scan, MUGA scan, stress Cardiolite, TEE, venogram, and carotid ultrasound.

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

A condition that impacts multiple body systems, specifically the circulatory, respiratory, integumentary, and digestive systems.

Leukemia

A cancer of the blood-forming tissues that involves the circulatory, integumentary, immune, and skeletal systems.

Arteriosclerosis vs. Atherosclerosis

Arteriosclerosis is the general hardening of the arteries; atherosclerosis is the specific buildup of fatty plaque deposits.

Carditis types

Pericarditis (outer sac inflammation), myocarditis (muscle inflammation), and endocarditis (inner lining inflammation).