Cardiovascular and Respiratory Structures Overview

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key vocabulary and definitions related to cardiovascular and respiratory structures and functions.

Carotid Artery

Delivers blood to the brain.

Subclavian Artery

Supplies blood to the upper limbs, located beneath the clavicle.

Renal Artery/Vein

Supply and drain blood to/from the kidneys.

Iliac Artery/Vein

Supply blood to the lower limbs.

Superior Vena Cava

Brings deoxygenated blood from the upper body to the heart.

Femoral Artery/Vein

Major blood vessel in the thigh.

Popliteal Artery/Vein

Located behind the knee.

Radial Artery

Runs along the radius (thumb side) in the forearm.

Atrium

Upper chambers of the heart; right receives deoxygenated blood, left receives oxygenated blood.

Ventricle

Lower chambers of the heart; right sends blood to the lungs, left sends blood to the body.

Tricuspid Valve

Located between the right atrium and right ventricle.

Mitral (Bicuspid) Valve

Located between the left atrium and left ventricle.

Pulmonary Valve

Located between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery.

Aortic Valve

Located between the left ventricle and aorta.

Nasal Cavity

Filters, moistens, and warms air.

Pharynx

Shared airway and food passage (throat).

Larynx

Voice box that keeps food out of the airways.

Trachea

Windpipe that conducts air to the lungs.

Bronchi

Two main branches from the trachea into the lungs.

Bronchiole

Smaller airways in the lungs.

Alveolus (pl. alveoli)

Air sacs for gas exchange.

Capillaries

Tiny blood vessels where gas and nutrient exchange occurs.

Epicardium

Outer layer of the heart.

Myocardium

Thick muscular middle layer of the heart.

Endocardium

Inner lining of the heart chambers.

Arteries

Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart, usually oxygenated.

Veins

Blood vessels that carry blood to the heart, usually deoxygenated.

Tunica Intima

Inner layer of blood vessels.

Tunica Media

Middle muscular layer of blood vessels, thicker in arteries.

Tunica Externa (Adventitia)

Outer connective tissue layer of blood vessels.

Pulmonary Ventilation

Breathing in and out.

External Respiration

Gas exchange between alveoli and blood.

Internal Respiration

Gas exchange between blood and tissues.

Conducting Zone

Air passageways including nasal cavity to terminal bronchioles with no gas exchange.

Respiratory Zone

Site of gas exchange including respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and alveoli.

Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium

Type of tissue lining the nose with goblet cells that produce mucus.

Stratified squamous epithelium

Type of tissue lining the mouth, providing abrasion resistance.

Boyle's Law

Pressure and volume are inversely related; changes in lung volume affect air flow.

Hard palate

Divided into anterior maxilla and posterior palatine bone, separating the nose and mouth.