Ch. 7: Cardiovascular System

Cardiovascular System

Composed of the heart and blood vessels

Leaflets

Flat, leaf-shaped structures that comprise the valves of the heart and prevent the 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

Sphincters

Circular muscles found in a tubular structure or hollow organ that constrict or dilate 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 walls

Viscosity

Thickness or a measure of how resistant a liquid is to flowing

(A solution that has a high viscosity is relatively thick and flows slowly)

Three major types of vessels

artery, capillary and vein

Arteries

Carry blood from the heart to all cells of the body. Has three layers to provide toughness and elasticity (tunica externa, media, and intima)

Pulse

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

Arterial blood (except for inside the pulmonary artery) contains a high concentration of…

oxygen

Capillaries

Microscopic vessels that join the arterial system with the venous system

Capillaries function

Exchange of water, respiratory gases, macromolecules, metabolites, and wastes between blood and cells adjacent tothe capillary bed

Veins

return blood to the heart

Methods to return blood to the heart (vein)

skeletal muscle contraction, gravity, respiratory activity, valves

Valves

small structures within veins that prevent the backflow of blood

Blood in veins (except for inside the pulmonary veins) contains a high concentration of…

Carbon dioxide (low O2)

Heart

muscular pump that propels blood to the entire body

Layers of the pericardium (sac enclosing the heart)

epicardium, myocardium, endocardium (outer to inner)

Chambers of the heart

right and left atria, right and left ventricles

Superior vena cava

collects and carries blood from the upper body

Inferior vena cava

collects and carries blood from the lower body

Left and right pulmonary artery

takes blood to the lungs

Pulmonic valve (pulmonary semilunar valve)

Prevents regurgitation of blood into the right ventricle from the pulmonary artery

Electrocardiograph

Instrument that records electrical conduction of the heart

P wave

Depolarization (contraction) of the atria

QRS complex

depolarization (contraction) of the ventricles

T wave

Repolarization (recovery) of the ventricles

Blood pressure

Force exerted by blood against the arterial walls during systole and diastole

Systole

when the blood is forced out of the heart

Diastole

when ventricles are filling with blood

Factors that influence blood pressure

resistance of blood flow in vessels, pumping action of the heart, viscosity of blood, elasticity of arteries, quantity of blood

aneurysm/o

aneurysm (widened blood vessel)

Angi/o

vessel (usually blood or lymph)

Vascul/o

vessel (usually blood or lymph)

aort/o

aorta

arteri/o

artery

arteriol/o

arteriole

atri/o

atrium

ather/o

fatty plaque

Atheroma

formed when fatty plaque builds up on the inner lining of arterial walls

Angioplasty

procedure that reopens narrowed blood vessels and restores blood flow using a balloon-tipped catheter

Cardi/o

heart

Coron/o

heart

electr/o

electricity

embol/o

embolus (plug)

hemangi/o

blood vessel

my/o

muscle

phleb/o

vein

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

valve

valvul/o

valve

ventricul/o

ventricle (of the heart or brain)

-cardia

heart condition

-stenosis

narrowing, stricture

brady-

slow

endo-

in, within

extra-

outside

peri-

around

trans-

across

Cardiology

medical specialty concerned with disorders of the cardiovascular system

Arteriosclerosis

Progressive degenerative disease of arterial walls that causes them to become thickened and brittle, restricting the flow of blood to tissues and organs.