Cardiovascular System Terms 1-60

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the components, structure, and functions of the cardiovascular system based on lecture notes.

Arteries

Vessels that carry blood away from the heart.

Arterioles

Small arterial branches that carry blood into a capillary network.

Veins

Blood vessels that carry blood from a capillary bed toward the heart.

Venules

Thin-walled veins (small) that receive blood from capillaries.

Capillaries

Small blood vessels between arterioles and venules whose thin walls permit exchange of nutrients, gases, etc.

Right atrium

Superior receiving chamber of the heart located on the right side; receives deoxygenated blood.

Right ventricle

Inferiorly located discharging chamber on the right side of the heart; contains deoxygenated blood.

Left atrium

Left, superior, receiving chamber of the heart; contains oxygenated blood.

Left ventricle

Left, inferior, discharging chamber; contains oxygenated blood.

Bradycardia

Abnormally low heart rate.

Tachycardia

Abnormally high heart rate.

Stroke Volume

The amount of blood pumped in one heart beat.

Tricuspid valve

Located between right atria and right ventricle; has $3$ cusps or flaps.

Bicuspid valve

Left atrioventricular valve (also called the mitral valve) which has two cusps (flaps).

Pulmonary semi-lunar valve

Valve located between the right ventricle and pulmonary trunk that prevents backflow of blood from pulmonary arteries back into the right ventricle.

Aortic semilunar valve

Valve located between the left ventricle and aorta that prevents blood flow from the aorta back into the left ventricle.

Pulmonary trunk

Major vessel of the human heart that originates from the right ventricle.

Pulmonary arteries

Branches of the pulmonary trunk that carry blood from the right atrium to the lungs.

Pulmonary veins

Vessels that carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium.

Aorta

Large, elastic artery that carries blood away from the left ventricle and into the systemic circuit.

Inferior vena cavae

Vein that carries blood from the parts of the body inferior to the heart.

Superior vena cavae

The vein that carries blood to the right atrium from parts of the body that are superior to the heart.

Tunica intima

Also known as the tunica interna; the innermost layer of a blood vessel including the endothelial lining and an underlying layer of connective tissue containing elastic fibers.

Internal elastic membrane

A thick layer of elastic fibers contained in the outer margin of the tunica intima in arteries.

Tunica media

Middle layer of vessels made up of concentric sheets of smoot muscle in a framework of loose connective tissue.

Tunica externa

Also known as the tunica adventitia; the outermost layer of a blood vessel and is a connective tissue sheath.

Vasoconstriction

A decrease in the diameter of arterioles due to the contraction of smooth muscles in the tunica media; increases peripheral resistance.

Vasodilation

An increase in the diameter of arterioles due to the relaxation of smooth muscles in the tunica media; decreases peripheral resistance.

Continuous capillary

A capillary where the endothelium is a complete lining.

Fenestrated capillaries

Capillaries containing "windows," or pores, that penetrate the endothelial lining to permit the rapid exchange of water and solutes as large as small peptides.

Sinusoids

Resemble fenestrated capillaries that are flattened and irregularly shaped and commonly have gaps between adjacent endothelial cells.

Systole

A period of contraction in a chamber of the heart.

Diastole

A period of relaxation in a chamber of the heart.

Base of heart

Superior border of the heart.

Myocardium

Middle layer and muscular layer of the heart composed of cardiac muscle.

Endocardium

Inner surface of the heart.

Epicardium

Also known as the visceral pericardium; the outer layer of the heart.

Mediastium

Central tissue mass that divides the thoracic cavity into two pleural cavities.

Cardiac muscle

Specialized muscle of the heart.

Pericardium

Fibrous sac that surrounds the heart.

Pericarditis

Inflammation of the pericardium.

Endocarditis

Inflammation of the endocardium.

Cardiac tamponade

Compression of the heart due to fluid accumulation.

Sulci

Grooves or furrows.

Ligamentum arteriosum

In adults, the fibrous strand that is the remnant of the ductus arteriosus of the fetal stage.

Sulcus

A fissure or groove; the plural form is sulci.

Fibrous Pericardium

Tough outer layer that prevents the chambers of the heart from overfilling with blood.

Autorhymicity

Sets its own rhythm without the need for input from the nervous system.

Auricle

The externally visible flap in the heart formed by the collapse of the outer wall of a relaxed atrium.

Anterior ventricular sulcus

Shallow depression on the anterior surface of the heart that marks the boundary between the left and right ventricles.

Pre-capillary sphincter

Guards the entrance to each capillary; contraction or relaxation of the smooth muscle cells changes the diameter to control blood flow.

Pulmonary circuit

Circuit that carries blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs and back to the left atrium.

Systemic circuit

Circuit that carries blood from the left side of the heart to the body tissues and back to the right side of the heart.

Systemic venous system

The location where most of the blood volume is located.

Venoconstriction

Process that reduces the diameter of the veins and the amount of blood contained in the venous system.

Venous return

The flow of blood from the periphery back to the right atrium.

Valves in the veins

Structures that permit flow of blood in one direction only.

Baroreceptor reflexes

Reflexes that respond to changes in blood pressure.

Chemoreceptor reflexes

Reflexes that respond to changes in carbon dioxide, oxygen, or $PH$ levels in the blood.

Varicose veins

A condition in which the walls of the veins near the valves weaken or become distorted, causing blood to pool in grossly distended veins.

Hemorrhoids

Swollen and inflamed veins in the rectum and anus that cause discomfort and bleeding.