Heart, Blood & Circulation

Aorta

largest artery, carries oxygen-rich blood from heart to body

Inferior vena cava

large vein, carries oxygen-poor blood to right atrium from the lower half of body

Superior vena cava

large vein, carries oxygen-poor blood to right atrium from the upper half of body

Left atrium

left upper chamber of the heart, receives oxygen-rich blood from lungs

Left ventricle

left lower chamber of heart, pumps oxygen-rich blood through the aortic valve into the aorta and to body

Pulmonary artery

blood vessel that carries oxygen-poor blood from the right ventricle to the lungs

Pulmonary vein

blood vessel that carries oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the left atrium

Right atrium

right upper chamber of heart, receives oxygen-poor blood from body through the vena cava

Right ventricle

right lower chamber of the heart, pumps oxygen-poor blood into the pulmonary artery and to lungs

Septum

muscular wall that separates the left and right sides of the heart

Coronary artery

artery that supplies oxygen-rich blood to the heart

Artery

thick walled blood vessel that carries blood away from heart to any part of body

Vein

thinner walled blood vessel that carries blood to the heart from body; have valves

Capillary

tiny blood vessels that deliver blood to body tissues for exchange of oxygen, CO2, etc

DIFFUSION occurs in these vessels

Lungs

organ where gas exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs

Blood

fluid consisting of plasma, blood cells, and platelets; a connective tissue

Red blood cell

cell containing hemoglobin that carries oxygen to body and CO2 back to lungs

White blood cell

any of several types of cell that aid in the defense of the body by fighting infections

Platelet

cell fragment in plasma that involved in clotting of blood

Plasma

clear, yellowish fluid portion of blood

Hemoglobin

iron-containing protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen and carbon dioxide

Antibody

protein produced by white blood cells to fight toxins, bacteria, viruses

fibrin

Protein threads that form the basis of a blood clot

fibrinogen

plasma protein that is converted to fibrin in the clotting process

pulse

The rhythmic expansion and recoil of arteries resulting from heart contraction; can be felt from the outside of the body.

Anemia

A condition in which the blood is deficient in red blood cells, in hemoglobin, iron or in total volume.

sickle cell anemia

a genetic disorder that causes abnormal hemoglobin, resulting in some red blood cells assuming an abnormal sickle shape

Leukemia

cancer of white blood cells; uncontrolled production of the white blood cells

Hemophilia

A hereditary disease where blood does not coagulate (clot) to stop bleeding

Atherosclerosis

condition in which fatty deposits called plaque build up on the inner walls of the arteries

stroke

Damage to the brain from interruption of its blood supply.

anuerysm

the ballooning out of an artery wall at a point where it has grown weak

myocardial infarction

a type of heart attack