Heart Anatomy and Circulatory System Flashcards

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the anatomy of the human heart, the pathway of blood flow through the chambers and vessels, the concept of double circulation, and the structural differences between arteries, veins, and capillaries.

Superior vena cava

The large vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the upper body to the right atrium.

Inferior vena cava

The large vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the lower body to the right atrium.

Right atrium

A thin-walled upper chamber where deoxygenated blood arrives from the body via the vena cava.

Right ventricle

A chamber with muscular walls that pumps deoxygenated blood out of the heart to the lungs via the pulmonary artery.

Tricuspid valve

The valve located between the right atrium and the right ventricle.

Pulmonary artery

The vessel that carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.

Pulmonary veins

The vessels that carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium.

Left atrium

A thin-walled upper chamber where oxygenated blood arrives from the lungs via the pulmonary vein.

Left ventricle

A chamber with very muscular walls (thicker than the right ventricle) that pumps oxygenated blood to the entire body via the aorta.

Mitral (bicuspid) valve

The valve located between the left atrium and the left ventricle.

Aorta

The main artery that transports oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the rest of the body.

Septum

A structure that separates the left side of the heart from the right side and prevents the blood on either side from mixing.

Apex

The bottom, pointed end of the heart.

Deoxygenated blood

Blood that is low in oxygen and high in carbon dioxide because it is returning from the body.

Oxygenated blood

Blood that is high in oxygen and low in carbon dioxide because it is coming from the lungs.

Double Circulation

A system where blood makes two complete circuits in the body: the pulmonary circulation and the systemic circulation.

Pulmonary circulation

The circuit where the right side of the heart pumps deoxygenated blood from the body to the lungs.

Systemic circulation

The circuit where the left side of the heart pumps oxygenated blood from the lungs all around the body.

Artery

A blood vessel with thick, elastic walls and a narrow lumen that transports blood from the heart to organs under very high pressure.

Vein

A blood vessel with thin, less elastic walls, a large lumen, and valves that transports blood from organs to the heart under very low pressure.

Capillary

A very thin blood vessel with a wall made of a single layer of cells ($1$ cell thick) and a very narrow lumen where gas exchange occurs.

Lumen

The inner space or opening of a blood vessel through which blood flows.

Valves (in veins)

Structures present in veins, but not in arteries or capillaries, that help prevent the backflow of blood.