1005 Mader Short

Cardiovascular System

The system made up of the heart and blood vessels responsible for pumping blood throughout the body.

Heart

The muscular organ that pumps blood through the cardiovascular system.

Arteries

Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.

Veins

Blood vessels that carry blood toward the heart.

Capillaries

Microscopic vessels where the exchange of gases, nutrients, and wastes occurs.

Lymphatic System

A system that assists the cardiovascular system by collecting excess interstitial fluid and returning it to the blood.

Systolic Pressure

The highest blood pressure when blood is ejected from the heart.

Diastolic Pressure

The lowest blood pressure when the ventricles relax.

Myocardium

The thick middle muscle layer of the heart that contracts to pump blood.

Pacemaker

The SA node in the heart that initiates the heartbeat by sending electrical signals.

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

A recording of the electrical changes during a cardiac cycle associated with heart beats.

Hypertension

High blood pressure, a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.

Atherosclerosis

A condition characterized by the buildup of plaques in the arteries, narrowing blood vessel diameter.

Thrombus

A stationary blood clot that forms in a blood vessel.

Embolus

A blood clot that has detached and travels through the bloodstream.

Stroke

A cerebrovascular accident caused by a blocked or burst cranial artery, leading to loss of brain function.

Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack)

Damage to heart tissue due to lack of oxygen, commonly caused by blocked coronary arteries.

Vein Valves

Valves in veins that prevent backflow of blood as it returns to the heart.

Pulmonary Circuit

The path blood takes from the heart to the lungs and back, for gas exchange.

Systemic Circuit

The path blood takes from the heart through the body tissues and back.

Hepatic Portal Vein

The vein that carries nutrient-rich blood from the digestive system to the liver.

Blood Pressure

The pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels.

Cardiac Cycle

The sequence of events in one heart beat, including contraction (systole) and relaxation (diastole) phases.