Medical Terminology Chapter 8: Cardiovascular System

cardiovascular system (CV)

Composed of the heart and blood vessels.

heart

A hollow, muscular organ lying in the mediastinum, the center of the thoracic cavity between the lungs; it is also a muscular pump that propels blood throughout the entire body through a closed vascular network.

arteries

A vast network of blood vessels; these carry blood from the heart to all cells of the body.

capillaries

Arteries branch off into these microscopic vessels; they join the arterial system with the venous system. They are the most important vessel despite their size.

venules

Capillaries merge to form larger blood vessels called these:

veins

Venules merge to form these; they return blood to the heart.

autonomic nervous system (ANS)

Portion of the nervous system that regulates involuntary actions such as heart rate, digestion, and peristalsis.

leaflet

Flat, leaf-shaped structure that comprises the valves of the heart and prevents backflow of blood.

lumen

Tubular space or channel within an organ or structure of the body; space within an artery, vein, intestine, or tube.

regurgitation

Backflow or ejecting of contents through an opening.

sphincter

Circular muscle found in a tubular structure or hollow organ that constricts or dilates to regulate passage of substances through its opening.

vasoconstriction

Narrowing of the lumen of a blood vessel that limits blood flow, usually as a result of diseases, medications, or physiological processes.

vasodilation

Widening of the lumen of a blood vessel caused by the relaxing of the muscles of the vascular wall.

viscosity

State of being sticky or gummy.

tunica externa

The outer coat of the wall of an artery; it is composed of connective tissue that provides strength and flexibility.

tunica media

The middle layer of the wall of an artery; it is composed of smooth muscle; it can alter the size of the lumen of the vessel.

tunica intima

The thin, inner lining of the lumen of the vessel; it is composed of endothelial cells that provide a smooth surface on the inside of the cell.

pulse

The surge of blood felt in the arteries when the blood is pumped from the heart.

arterioles

Small arteries

skeletal muscle contraction, gravity, respiratory activity, and valves

Other methods to return blood to the heart.

valves

Small structures within veins that prevent the backflow of blood.

pericardium

A sac in which the heart is found; it is composed of three layers.

endocardium

A serous membrane that lines the four chambers of the heart and its valves and is continuous with the endothelium of the arteries and veins.

myocardium

The muscular layer of the heart.

epicardium

The outermost layer of the heart.

right atrium (RA)

One of the upper chambers of the heart; it collects blood.

left atrium (LA)

The other upper chamber of the heart; it collects blood

right ventricle (RV)

One of the lower chambers of the heart; it pumps blood.

left ventricle (LV)

The other lower chamber of the heart; it pumps blood.

pulmonary circulation

A process in which the right ventricle pumps blood for oxygenation.

systemic circulation

A process in which the left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood to the entire body.

superior vena cava

One of the large veins that carries blood back to the right atrium; it collects and carries blood from the upper body.

inferior vena cava

The other large vein that carries blood back to the right atrium; it collects and carries blood from the lower body.

tricuspid valve

Blood passes through this from the right atrium to the right ventricle; it contains three leaflets.

leaflets

Makes up the tricuspid valve.

left pulmonary artery

Blood leaves the right ventricle through this.

right pulmonary artery

Blood leaves the right ventricle through this as well.

pulmonic valve (pulmonary semilunar valve)

A valve that prevents regurgitation of blood into the right ventricle from the pulmonary artery.

right pulmonary veins

Two of the four pulmonary veins

left pulmonary veins

The other two of the four pulmonary veins.

mitral (bicuspid) valve

A structure containing two leaflets; blood passes through this from the left ventricle.

aorta

The largest artery of the body; oxygenated blood leaves the heart through this.

aortic semilunar valve (aortic valve)

The aorta contains this valve; it permits blood to flow in only one direction- from the left ventricle to the aorta.

right coronary artery

The artery vasculizing the right side of the heart.

left coronary artery

The artery vasculizing the left side of the heart.

left anterior descending artery

The left coronary artery divides into two branches; this is one of them.

circumflex artery

The other branch divided from the left coronary artery.

conduction tissue

Specialized cardiac tissue that has the sole function of initiating and spreading contraction impulses.

sinoatrial (SA) node

A mass of specialized cells that is located in the upper portion of the right atrium and possesses its own intrinsic rhythm.

pacemaker

What the SA node is known as.

atrioventricular (AV) node

Where the electrical impulses discharged by the SA node are transmitted; this causes the atria to contract.

bundle of His (AV bundle)

A tract of conduction fibers, composed of the right and left branch, relays impules to the Purkinje fibers.

Purkinje fibers

Impulses are relayed here; these fibers extend up the ventricle walls and they transmit impulses to the left and right ventricles, causing them to contract.

electrocardiograph

A way for impulses to be recorded on graph paper; a type of instrument.

P wave

Depolarization (contraction) of the atria.

QRS complex

Depolarization (contraction) of the ventricles.

T wave

Appears a short time later, the repolarization (recovery) of the ventricles.

blood pressure (BP)

The force exerted by blood against the arterial walls during two phases of a heartbeat.

systole

The contraction phase where the blood is forced out of the heart.

diastole

The relaxation phase when the ventricles are filling with blood.

sphygmomanometer

A machine that measures blood pressure; it records as two figures separated by a diagonal line.

resistance of blood flow in blood vessels, pumping action of the heart, viscosity, or thickness of blood, elasticity of arteries, and quantity of blood in the vascular system

The several factors that influence blood pressure.

blood, lymph, and immune systems

In this system, the cardiovascular system transports the products of the immune system.

digestive system

In this system, the cardiovascular system delivers hormones that affect glandular activity of the digestive tract. Vessels of the cardiovascular system in the walls of the small intestine absorbs nutrients.

endocrine system

In this system, the cardiovascular system delivers oxygen and nutrients to endocrine system. The cardiovascular system transports hormones from glands to target organs.

female reproductive system

In this system, the cardiovascular system transports hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle. The cardiovascular system also influences the normal functions of sex organs, especially the erectile tissues. During pregnancy, vessels of the cardiovascular system in the placenta exchange nutrients and waste products.

integumentary system

In this system, blood vessels of the cardiovascular system in the skin regulate body temperature. The cardiovascular system transports clotting factors to the skin to control bleeding.

male reproductive system

In this system, the cardiovascular system transports reproductive hormones. The cardiovascular system influences the normal function of sex organs, especially the erectile tissue.

musculoskeletal system

In this system, the cardiovascular system removes heat and waste products generated by muscle contraction. The cardiovascular system delievers oxygen for energy to sustain muscle contraction. The cardiovascular system delivers calcium and nutrients and removes metabolic wastes from skeletal structures. The cardiovascular system delivers hormones that regulate skeletal growth.

nervous system

In this system, the cardiovascular system carries electrolytes for transmission of electrical impulses.

respiratory system

In this system, the cardiovascular system transports oxygen and carbon dioxide between lungs and tissues.

urinary system

In this system, the cardiovascular system delivers oxygen in nutrients. Blood pressure maintains kidney function.

aneurysm/o

widened blood vessel

angi/o, vascul/o

vessel (usually blood or lymph)

aort/o

aorta

arteri/o

artery

arteriol/o

arteriole

atri/o

atrium

ather/o

fatty plaque

cardi/o, coron/o

heart

electr/o

electricity

embol/o

embolus (plug)

hemangi/o

blood vessel

my/o

muscle

phleb/o, ven/o

vein

scler/o

hardening; sclera (white of eye)

sept/o

septum

sphygm/o

pulse

sten/o

narrowing; stricture

thromb/o

blood clot

valv/o, valvul/o

valve

vas/o

vessel; vas deferens; duct

ventricul/o

ventricle (of the heart or the brain)

cardia

heart condition

gram

record, writing

graph

instrument for recording

graphy

process of recording

stenosis

narrowing, stricture

brady

slow

endo

in, within