Cardiovascular System - Heart Anatomy (Vocabulary Flashcards)

A comprehensive set of vocabulary-style flashcards covering heart anatomy, chambers, vessels, valves, coronary circulation, pericardial structures, and common clinical concepts.

Arteries

Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart; most carry oxygenated blood; pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood.

Pulmonary arteries

Arteries that carry deoxygenated blood from the right heart to the lungs.

Veins

Blood vessels that carry blood toward the heart; most carry deoxygenated blood; pulmonary veins carry oxygenated blood.

Pulmonary veins

Veins that carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium.

Aorta

largest artery; carries oxygen-rich blood from the left ventricle to the systemic circulation; consists of ascending aorta, aortic arch, and descending aorta.

Ascending aorta

Part of the aorta that rises from the heart to the aortic arch.

Aortic arch

Curved portion of the aorta between the ascending and descending parts.

Descending aorta

Portion of the aorta that continues from the arch down through the body.

Superior vena cava

Vein that returns blood from the upper body to the right atrium.

Inferior vena cava

Vein that returns blood from the lower body to the right atrium.

Right atrium

Receiving chamber; collects blood from the body via the superior and inferior vena cava.

Right ventricle

Pumps blood to the lungs via the pulmonary trunk and arteries.

Left atrium

Receiving chamber; collects oxygenated blood from the lungs via the pulmonary veins.

Left ventricle

Pumps blood to the systemic circulation through the aortic valve to the aorta.

Pulmonary circulation

Flow of blood from the heart to the lungs and back at low pressure for gas exchange.

Systemic circulation

Flow of blood from the heart to body tissues and back at high pressure; delivers oxygen and removes CO2.

Tricuspid valve

Right atrioventricular valve; prevents backflow from the right ventricle to the right atrium.

Bicuspid valve (Mitral valve)

Left atrioventricular valve; prevents backflow from the left ventricle to the left atrium.

Pulmonary semilunar valve

Valve between the right ventricle and the pulmonary trunk; prevents backflow into the ventricle.

Aortic semilunar valve

Valve between the left ventricle and the aorta; prevents backflow into the ventricle.

Pulmonary trunk

Major artery from the right ventricle that splits into the right and left pulmonary arteries.

Right coronary artery

Artery supplying the right side of the heart; branches include the right marginal and posterior interventricular arteries.

Left coronary artery

Artery supplying the left side of the heart; branches include the anterior interventricular (LAD) and circumflex arteries.

Anterior interventricular artery (LAD)

Branch of the left coronary artery; runs in the anterior interventricular sulcus to supply the front of the ventricles.

Circumflex artery

Branch of the left coronary artery; circles the left side of the heart to supply the left atrium and ventricle.

Posterior interventricular artery

Branch that supplies the posterior parts of the ventricles; often branches from the right coronary artery.

Great cardiac vein

Drains areas supplied by the left coronary system and anterior interventricular region; drains into the coronary sinus.

Middle cardiac vein

Drains the posterior interventricular area into the coronary sinus.

Small cardiac vein

Drains the right atrium and posterior surface of the right ventricle; drains into the coronary sinus.

Coronary sinus

Large venous channel on the heart’s posterior surface that empties into the right atrium.

Ligamentum arteriosum

Remnant of the fetal ductus arteriosus that connects the aorta to the left pulmonary artery.

Foramen ovale

Fetal opening in the interatrial septum that bypasses the pulmonary circuit; normally closes after birth.

Fossa ovalis

Depressed remnant of the foramen ovale in the right atrial wall after birth.

Interatrial septum

Wall that separates the right and left atria.

Interventricular septum

Wall that separates the right and left ventricles; thicker than the atrial septum.

Atrioventricular septum

Wall between atria and ventricles; location of the tricuspid and mitral valves; part of the cardiac skeleton.

Chordae tendineae

Tendinous cords that attach valve leaflets to papillary muscles to prevent valve prolapse during contraction.

Papillary muscles

Muscles within the ventricles that contract to tense the chordae tendineae and keep AV valves closed.

Trabeculae carneae

Ridges of cardiac muscle on the inner surfaces of the ventricles.

Moderator band

Muscular band in the right ventricle associated with the conduction system.

Endocardium

Innermost heart layer; thin endothelium that lines chambers and is continuous with blood vessel endothelium.

Myocardium

Cardiac muscle layer; the thick muscular walls responsible for pumping; thicker in the left ventricle.

Epicardium (Visceral pericardium)

Outer layer of the heart; the visceral layer of the serous pericardium that covers the heart’s surface.

Parietal pericardium

Outer layer of the serous pericardium fused to the fibrous pericardium.

Fibrous pericardium

Tough outermost layer of dense connective tissue that encases the heart.

Serous pericardium

Inner double-layered membrane of the pericardium; contains parietal and visceral layers.

Pericardial cavity

Space between the parietal and visceral layers of serous pericardium containing serous fluid.

Pericardial effusion

Excess fluid accumulation in the pericardial cavity.

Cardiac tamponade

Compression of the heart due to excess pericardial fluid restricting filling.

Pericardiocentesis

Medical procedure to drain fluid from the pericardial cavity.

Pericarditis

Inflammation of the pericardium that can lead to effusion or tamponade.

Atrioventricular valves

Valves between atria and ventricles (tricuspid and mitral) ensuring one-way blood flow.

Valvular stenosis

Hardening or narrowing of a valve that impedes blood flow.

Valvular insufficiency (incompetence, regurgitation)

Valve fails to close properly, allowing backflow of blood.

Heart murmur

Audible swoosh or noise heard with a stethoscope, often due to valvular disorders.

Endothelium

Smooth simple squamous epithelial lining of blood vessels and heart chambers (in endocardium and vessels).

Ischemia

Reduced oxygen delivery to tissues due to decreased blood flow.

Myocardial infarction

Death of heart muscle from prolonged lack of oxygen due to blocked coronary blood flow.

Angina pectoris

Chest pain caused by insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle.

Atherosclerosis

Fatty plaque buildup in arterial walls reducing blood flow.

Angiography

Imaging test where dye is injected into arteries to visualize blood flow via X-ray.

Angioplasty

Procedure to widen a blocked artery using a balloon; often followed by stent placement.

Stent

Wire mesh device inserted to keep a narrowed artery open.

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)

Surgical procedure using grafts from elsewhere to bypass blocked coronary arteries.