Cardiovascular and Lymphatic System Vocabulary Review

A set of vocabulary flashcards summarizing cardiovascular and lymphatic concepts from the lecture notes.

Diastolic Pressure

The pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest between beats.

Tunica Media

The muscular middle layer of a blood-vessel wall that controls vessel diameter through smooth-muscle contraction or relaxation.

Primary Lymphatic Organs

Sites where lymphocytes form and mature—red bone marrow (B cells) and the thymus (T cells).

Tunica Intima

The innermost blood-vessel layer made of simple squamous epithelium (endothelium).

Sinusoidal Capillaries

Leaky capillaries that allow proteins and even blood cells to pass into tissues.

Aneurysm

A localized dilation or bulging of a blood-vessel wall, often occurring in the aorta.

Carotid Bodies

Small receptors near the carotid arteries that (in this lecture) monitor blood pressure.

Upper-Limb Venous Return Pathway

Axillary vein → Subclavian vein → Brachiocephalic vein → Superior vena cava → Right atrium.

Vasodilation

The widening of a blood vessel, which lowers blood pressure; mediated by nitric oxide and typically occurs during diastole.

Blood Hydrostatic Pressure

Capillary pressure that drives fluid and small molecules out of blood and into surrounding tissues.

Edema

Tissue swelling caused by excess interstitial fluid due to increased capillary filtration.

Hepatic Portal Vein

Carries oxygen-poor, nutrient-rich blood from the intestines to the liver.

Internal Jugular Vein

The principal vein that drains blood from most of the brain.

Right Lymphatic Duct

Returns lymph from the right arm and right side of the head and neck to the venous circulation.

Brachial Artery

Continuation of the axillary artery that supplies blood to the arm.

Circle of Willis Contributors

Internal carotid arteries and vertebral arteries form the cerebral arterial circle.

Celiac Trunk

First major branch of the abdominal aorta that supplies the upper abdominal organs.

Lymph Flow Pathway

Lymphatic capillaries → Collecting vessels → Lymphatic trunks → Collecting ducts → Subclavian vein.

T-Cell Maturation

T lymphocytes are produced in the bone marrow and mature in the thymus.

Lymphatic Nodules

Temporary clusters of lymphocytes and macrophages that form in response to infection.

Lymphatic Vessels

Thin-walled vessels with valves that resemble veins in structure.

Palatine Tonsils

Paired tonsils located in the posterior oral cavity.

Axillary Lymph Nodes

Nodes that monitor lymph draining from the upper limbs and the breast region.

Lacteals

Specialized lymphatic capillaries in the small intestine that absorb dietary fats.

Radial Artery

Superficial artery on the thumb side commonly palpated to measure a pulse.

Spleen

Lymphatic organ with red and white pulp that filters blood and removes old or damaged red blood cells.

Interstitial Fluid

Extracellular fluid that most closely resembles lymph in composition.

Veins as Blood Reservoirs

Vessels that contain the largest proportion of the body’s blood volume.

MALT (Mucosa-Associated Lymphatic Tissue)

Small clusters of lymphocytes in mucosal linings (e.g., trachea, small intestine) that provide immune defense.

Axillary Vein

Upper-limb vein carrying deoxygenated blood toward the subclavian vein.

Hepatic Veins

Veins that drain deoxygenated blood from the liver into the inferior vena cava.

Right Subclavian & Right Common Carotid Arteries

The two arterial branches that arise from the brachiocephalic trunk.

Right Lymphatic Duct Drainage Regions

Drains lymph from the right neck and right upper limb.

Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP)

The weighted average arterial pressure that reflects tissue perfusion.

Secondary Lymphatic Organs

Sites where immune responses are initiated, such as the spleen, tonsils, and lymph nodes.

Hepatic Portal System

Venous network that delivers nutrient-rich blood from the gastrointestinal tract to the liver for processing.

Superior Mesenteric Vein

Major vessel that feeds into the hepatic portal vein, carrying blood from the small intestine.