cardiovascular, immune and lymphatic system med term

heart

muscular cone-shaped organ the size of a fist, located behind the sternum (breast bone) and between the lungs. The pumping action of the heart circulates blood throughout the body. the heart consists of two smaller upper chambers, the right atrium and left atrium, and two larger lower chambers the right ventricle and the left ventricle. the right atrium received blood returning from the body through the veins and contracts to fill the right ventricle, which then pumps blood to the lungs. the left atrium receives blood from the lungs and contracts to fill the left ventricle, which then contracts to pump blood from the heart through the arteries to body tissues. the atrial septu, separates the atria and the ventricular septum separates the venticles

atrioventricular valves

consists of the tricuspid and mitral valves, which lie between the right atrium and the right ventricle and the left atrium and left ventricle, respectively. valves of the heart keep blood flowing in one direction.

semilunar valves

pulmonary and aortic valves located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery and between the left ventricle and aorta, respectively

pericardium

two-layer sac surrounding the heart, consisting of an external fibrous and an internal serous layer. the internal serous layer is then divided into two parts: the outer layer, called the parietal pericardium, and the inner layer, called the epicardium. between these is the pericardial space, which contains fluid produced by the serous layer that facilitates movement of the heart

epicardium

outer lining covering the heart; also part of the pericardium

endocardium

inner lining of the heart

blood vessels

tubelike structures that carry blood throughout the body

arteries

blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. all arteries, with the exception of the pulmonary artery, carry oxygen and other nutrients from the heart to the body cells. the pulmonary artery, in contrast, carries carbon dioxide and other waste products from the heart to the lungs

arterioles

smallest arteries

aorta

largest artery in the body, which orignates at the left ventricle, breifly ascends as the arch of the aorta, then descends through the thorax and abdomen

veins

blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart. all veins, with the exception of the pulmonary veins, carry blood containing carbon dioxide and other waste products. the pulmonary veins carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart

venules

smallest veins

venae cavae

largest veins in the body. the inferior vena cava carries blood to the heart from body parts below the diaphragm, and the superior vena cava returns the blood to the heart from the upper part of the body

capillaries

microscopic blood vessels that connect arterioles with venules. Materials are passed between the blood and tissue through the capillary walls

blood

fluid circulated through the heart, arteries, capillaries, and veins; composed of plasma and formed elements such as erythrocytes, leukocytes, and thrombocytes (platelets)

plasma

clear, straw-colored, liquid portion of the blood in which cells are suspended. plasma is 90% water. the other 10% is composed of solutes (dissolved substates), which includes proteins, electrolytes, and vitamins. plasma comprises approximately 55% of the total blood volume

serum

clear, watery fluid portion of the blood that remains after a clot has formed

cells (formed elements)

production of new blood cells takes place in bone marrow, the spongy tissue inside some bones

erythrocytes

red blood cells that carry oxygen

leukocytes

white blood cells that combat infection and respond to inflammation. there are 5 types of white blood cells

thrombocytes

one of the formed elements in the blood that is responsible for aiding in the clotting process (also called platelets)

lymph

transparent, colorless, tissue fluid; contains lymphocytes and monocytes and flows in a one-way direction towards the heart

Lymphatic vessels

transport lymph from body tissues into the right and left subclavian beans, which then empty into the superior vena cava. The lymphatic vessels begin as capillaries spread throughout the body, then merge into larger tubes that eventually become ducts into the chest. They provide a one-way flow for lymph, which enters through veins into the circulatory system.

Lymph nodes

small spherical bodies, composed of lymphoid tissue. they may be singular or grouped together along the path of the lymph vessels. The nodes filter lymph to keep substances such as bacteria and other foreign agents from entering the blood. They also contain lymphocytes.

Spleen

located in the left side of the abdominal cavity between the stomach and the diaphragm. In adulthood, the spleen is the largest lymphatic organ in the body. Blood, rather than lymph, flows through the spleen. Blood is cleansed of microorganisms in the spleen. The spleen stores blood and destroys worn out red blood cells.

thymus gland

one of the primary lymphatic organs, it is located anterior to the ascending aorta and posterior to the sternum between the lungs. It plays an important role in the development of the bodies immune system, particularly from infancy to puberty. Around puberty the thymus strengths so that most of the gland is connective tissue.

angi/o

vessel(s); blood vessel(s)

aort/o

aorta

arteri/o

artery

atri/o

atrium

cardi/o

heart

cyt/o

cell

hem/o, hemat/o

blood

lymph/o

lymph, lymph tissue

lymphaden/o

lymph node

my/o

muslce

myel/o

bone marrow

phleb/o; ven/o

vein(s)

plasm/o

plasma

splen/o

spleen

thym/o

thymus gland

valvul/o

valve

ventricul/o

ventricle

ather/o

yellowish, fatty plaque

ech/o

soung

electr/o

electricity, electrical acvivity

embol/o

plug

erythr/o

red

immun/o

immune system

isch/o

deficiency, blockage

leuk/o

white

thromb/o

blood clot

brady-

slow

endo-

within

intra-

within

pan-

all, total

peri-

surrounding (outer)

poly-

many, much

tachy-

fast, rapid

-apheresis

removal

-ar

pertaining to

-centesis

surgical puncture to aspirate fluid

-emia

in the blood

-gram

the record, radiographic image

-graphy

the process of recording, radiographic image

-ia

diseased or abnormal state, condition of

-ism

state of

-lysis

loosening, dissolution, separating

-megaly

enlargment

-oma

tumor, swelling

-osis

abnormal condition (means increase when used with blood cell word roots)

-ous

pertaining to

-pathy

disease

-penia

abnormal reduction in number

-plasty

surgical repair

-rrhage

excessive flow

-rrhaphy

suturing, repairing

-sclerosis

hardening

-scopy

visual examination

-stasis

control, stop, standing

-stenosis

constriction or narrowing

angioma

tumor composed of blood vessels

angiostenosis

narrowing of blood vessel

aortic stenosis

narrowing, pertaining to the aorta (narrowing of the aortic valve)

arteriosclerosis

hardening of the arteries

atherosclerosis

hardening of the fatty plaque (deposited on the arterial wall)

bradycardia

condition of a slow heart (rate less than 60 beats per minute)

cardiomegaly

enlargement of the heart

cardiomyopathy

disease of the heart muscle

endocarditis

inflammation of the inner (lining) of the heart (particularly heart valves)

ischemia

deficiency in blood (flow); (caused by constriction or obstruction of a blood vessel)

myocardial ischemia

deficient flow of blood to the heart muscle caused by vessel constriction commonly due to atherosclerosis and potentially leading to myocardial infarction

myocarditis

inflammation of the muscle of the heart

pericarditis

inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart

phebitis

inflammation of a vein

polyarteritis

inflammation of many (sites in the) arteries

tachycardia

condition of rapid heart rate (more than 100 bpm)

thrombophlebitis

inflammation of a vein associated with a blood clot

valvulitis

inflammation of a valve (of the heart)

angioplasty

surgical repair of a blood vessel