Chapter 3.4 Circulatory system - gr.10 biology

Heart

The organ and muscle which is in charge of beating and pumping blood through the body.

Arteries

Thick walled tubes of elastic muscle which carries blood away from the heart.

Arterioles

Smaller vessels branched off from arteries.

Aorta

The principle artery protruding from the heart.

Veins

Thin walled tubes with valves that prevent the backflow of blood. Carries blood back to the heart.

Valves

The one-way doors that prevent backflow of blood.

Venules

Smaller veins branched off from larger veins.

Vena Cava

The principle veins going into the heart.

Capillaries

The fine network of tubes that move oxygen and nutrients to the body cells and moves carbon dioxide away from the body.

Arteriosclerosis

The disease where arteries become narrowed by the build up of fatty substances. Blood flow decreases.

Varicose veins

Disorder where value failure occurs and there is backflow of blood. Causes enlargement of superficial veins.

Blood

The fluid connective tissue which transports gasses, waste, nutrients.

Hemoglobin

An iron containing molecule that carries oxygen to cells in the body.

Platelets

Small particles which allows blood clotting when there is a cut in the skin

Anemia

Insufficient hemoglobin in red blood cells which reduces oxygen carrying capacity.

Leukemia

The cancer of the blood where there is an increased amount of immature white blood cells, which are unable to fight disease.

Systole

The contraction of the heart muscle.

Diastole

The relaxation of the heart muscle.

Atrium

A thin walled chamber of the heart that receives blood from the veins.

Ventricle

A thick walled chamber of the heart that delivers blood to the arteries.

Coronary Artery Disease

The disease where arteries that provide blood to the heart are blocked with plaque.

Heart Attack

When the heart is unable to receive oxygen and nutrients due to fully blocked arteries. The heart stops pumping and tissues start to die.

Septum

The muscular wall that separates the two chambers of the heart.

Aneurysm

Bulging blood vessel that can rupture, causing strokes, internal bleeding and even death.

Plasma

The fluid of blood which contains dissolved substances important to body functions.

Circulatory system

The system that provides the distribution of blood. It carries oxygen and nutrients and removes waste (CO2) from the body.