Life and Living: Circulatory and Reproductive Systems

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the circulatory and reproductive systems as presented in the video notes.

Heart attack

A medical event in which blood flow to part of the heart is blocked, causing chest pain that may spread to the jaw, back or left arm; risk factors include fatty diet, lack of exercise, obesity, smoking and alcohol abuse.

Stroke

Occurs when the brain is deprived of oxygen due to a blockage or rupture of blood vessels in the brain, leading to weakness, confusion and possible paralysis.

Arteries

Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart under high pressure; they have thick, muscular walls to withstand pressure.

Capillaries

Tiny, narrow blood vessels where oxygen, nutrients and waste products are exchanged between blood and body cells; walls are very thin.

Veins

Blood vessels that return blood to the heart at low pressure; walls are thinner and valves prevent backflow.

Blood

The fluid that circulates in blood vessels, made up of plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets; it transports nutrients, wastes, oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Blood plasma

The liquid part of blood, mostly water; transports nutrients, wastes and dissolved gases.

Red blood cells

Disc-shaped cells without nuclei, formed in bone marrow, with a biconcave shape; carry oxygen to tissues.

White blood cells

Immune cells that destroy germs and defend the body against disease.

Platelets

Small fragments of cells that play a key role in blood clotting; produced in the bone marrow.

Hypertension

Chronic high blood pressure; increases the heart’s workload and can cause heart attack, stroke or kidney failure.

Right atrium

Upper heart chamber that receives deoxygenated blood from the body via veins.

Left atrium

Upper heart chamber that receives oxygenated blood from the lungs via pulmonary veins.

Right ventricle

Lower heart chamber that pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs via the pulmonary artery; thinner muscular wall.

Left ventricle

Lower heart chamber that pumps oxygenated blood to the rest of the body via the aorta; thicker muscular wall.

Atria

The two upper chambers of the heart that receive blood.

Ventricles

The two lower chambers of the heart that pump blood to the lungs and to the rest of the body.

Oxygenated blood

Blood rich in oxygen, typically pumped from the lungs to the heart and then to the body.

Deoxygenated blood

Blood low in oxygen returning to the heart from the body to be sent to the lungs.

Pulmonary artery

Blood vessel carrying deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs for oxygenation.

Aorta

Main artery that carries oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the rest of the body.

Double circulation

Blood flows twice through the heart in one complete circulation: from the right side to the lungs, then to the left side and out to the body.

Uterus

The womb; a thick lining and muscular wall where the embryo develops during pregnancy.

Ovaries

Female organs that produce eggs (ova) in the lower abdomen.

Testes

Male gonads that produce sperm; located in the scrotum.

Penis

External male organ used to transfer sperm during reproduction.

Fertilisation

Union of egg and sperm to form a zygote, typically occurring in the oviduct.

Ovulation

Release of an egg (ovum) from the ovary.

Menstruation

Detachment of the uterine lining if fertilisation has not occurred.

Implantation

Fertilised egg attaching to the lining of the uterus (endometrium).

Infertility

Inability to conceive or reproduce, which can affect both men and women.

Foetal alcohol syndrome

Birth defects in the unborn baby caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy; the damage is irreversible.

Sexually transmitted diseases

Diseases transmitted through sexual intercourse; examples include HIV/AIDS, syphilis and gonorrhoea.

Sexual reproduction

Biological process requiring formation and transfer of gametes, fertilization, a zygote formation and embryogenesis (e.g., in mammals).

Asexual reproduction

Reproduction involving only one parent; offspring are genetically similar to the parent (e.g., amoeba).

Gametes

Sex cells (egg and sperm) that fuse during fertilisation.