TEAS biology section smart edition pt.3

❤ FIRST: What does the cardiovascular system do?

Heart = pump 🫀
Blood vessels = roads 🛣
Blood = delivery 🚚

The heart pumps blood through your blood vessels to deliver oxygen and nutrients around your body.

❤ 1. Cardiac Muscle

Cardiac muscle = the muscle of your heart.

Your heart is made mostly of cardiac muscle .

It's your job:

💪 Contract → pump blood

Super important:

Cardiac muscle works automatically .

You don't have to think:

"Okay heart, beat now." 😂

It does it on its own.

🧠 Memory:

CARDIAC = HEART

Cardiac muscle = heart muscle

TEAS clue:

If you see “involuntary muscle found in the heart” → Cardiac muscle

🩸 2. Arteries

blood vessels that carry blood AWAY from the heart.

This is one of the biggest TEAS things to memorize.

🧠 Memory:

A = AWAY

Arteries = Away from heart

Don't worry about oxygen yet.

The most important definition is direction .

❤ → 🩸

Heart → artery → body

Important exception:

The pulmonary artery carries oxygen-poor blood from the heart to the lungs.

So don't memorize:

❌ "Arteries always carry oxygen-rich blood."

Instead, memorize:

✅ Arteries carry blood AWAY from the heart.

❤ 3. Systole vs ❤ 4. Diastole

❤ 3. Systole

This one is about the heartbeat cycle .

Systole = heart contracts/squeezes.

Think:

❤ SYSTOLE = SQUEEZE

When the heart squeezes, it pushes blood out.

🧠 Memory:

Systole = Squeeze

❤ 4. Diastole

Diastole = heart relaxes and fills with blood.

Think:

❤ DIASTOLE = REST

SW:

Systole

❤ SQUEEZE

Diastole

❤ RELAX + FILL

🔥 Easy pair:

Systole = Squeeze
Diastole = Relax

If the TEAS asks:

"When does the heart contract?"

→ Systole

"When does the heart relax and fill?"

→ Diastole

📈 5. Electrocardiogram (EKG)

recording of the heart's electrical activity.

Break it down:

Electro = electrical ⚡
Cardio = heart ❤
Gram = recording 📝

SW:

⚡❤📝 EKG = records the heart's electrical activity

An EKG does NOT directly show how much blood is being pumped.

It records the heart's electrical signals .

🧠 Memory:

EKG = Electrical Heart Recording

❤ NOW LET'S LEARN THE HEART ITSELF

Your heart has:

4 chambers

Think of the heart as a 2-story, 2-sided house 🏠.

There are:

2 atria on TOP

2 ventricles on BOTTOM

❤ 6. Chambers of the Heart TOP = ATRIA

Atria = receive blood

Think: Atria = ARRIVE

Blood arrives in the atria.

Right atrium

Receives oxygen-poor blood from the body.

Left atrium

Receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs.

❤ BOTTOM = VENTRICLES

Ventricles = pump blood OUT.

Think:

Ventricles = VROOM 🚗 → push blood out

Right ventricle

Pumps blood → lungs

Left ventricle

Pumps blood → body

🧠 THE BIG MEMORY TRICK Atria = Arrive

Blood comes in

Ventricles = Vroom

Blood goes out

That's probably the easiest way to remember the chambers.

❤ THE 4 CHAMBERS CHEAT SHEET

Chamber	What it does
Right atrium	Receives blood from body
Right ventricle	Pumps blood to lungs
Left atrium	Receives blood from lungs
Left ventricle	Pumps blood to body

Right side → LUNGS

Left side → BODY

🫀 7. Layers of the Heart Wall

The heart wall has 3 layers .

You don't need to make this complicated.

Outside → Inside:

Epicardium → Myocardium → Endocardium

1⃣ Epicardium

Epicardium = outer layer

Think:

EPI = outside/top

---

2⃣ Myocardium

Myocardium = muscle layer

This is the layer that contracts and pumps .

🧠 Memory:

MYO = MUSCLE

This is the BIG one to remember.

---

3⃣ Endocardium

Endocardium = inner lining

It lines the inside of the heart chambers.

🧠 Memory:

ENDO = INNER

⭐ HEART WALL MEMORY

EPI = OUTSIDE
MYO = MUSCLE
ENDO = INSIDE

SW:

Outside → Muscle → Inside

🚪 . Valves of the Heart

🚪 ONE-WAY DOORS

They make sure blood goes the right direction .

They help prevent blood from flowing backward.

There are 4 valves .

🚪 1. Tricuspid Valve

Between:

Right atrium → Right ventricle

🧠 Memory:

TRI = 3

Tricuspid = right side.

🚪 2. Pulmonary Valve

Between:

Right ventricle → Pulmonary artery → lungs

🧠 Memory:

Pulmonary = LUNGS

🚪 3. Mitral Valve

Also called bicuspid valve .

Between:

Left atrium → Left ventricle

🧠 Memory:

MITRAL = LEFT

🚪 4. Aortic Valve

Between:

Left ventricle → Aorta → body

🧠 Memory: Aortic = BODY

❤ THE HEART'S BLOOD FLOW

🧠 BODY → RIGHT → LUNGS → LEFT → BODY

More specifically:

Body

↓

Right atrium

↓

Tricuspid valve

↓

Right ventricle

↓

Pulmonary valve

↓

Lungs

↓

Left atrium

↓

Mitral valve

↓

Left ventricle

↓

Aortic valve

↓

Body

🔥 BODY → RIGHT → LUNGS → LEFT → BODY

🧠 SUPER EASY TEAS CHEAT SHEET

of the heart

Term	Remember
Cardiac muscle	❤ Heart muscle
Arteries	A = Away from heart
Systole	Squeeze
Diastole	Relax + fill
EKG	Records heart's electrical activity
Atria	Arrive → receive blood
Ventricles	Vroom → pump blood out
Right side	Goes to lungs
Left side	Goes to body
Epicardium	Outside
Myocardium	Muscle
Endocardium	Inside
Valves	One-way doors 🚪
Tricuspid	Right side
Pulmonary	To lungs
Mitral	Left side
Aortic	To body

1.Cardiac = heart ❤
2. Arteries = Away
3. Systole = Squeeze
4. Diastole = Relax
5. EKG = electrical activity ⚡
6. Atria = Arrive
7. Ventricles = Vroom/pump out
8. Body → Right → Lungs → Left → Body

🩸 1. Pulmonary Circulation

Circulation = WHERE the blood goes 🩸
Cardiac cycle = WHAT the heart is doing while pumping ❤

Pulmonary = lungs.

SW:

🫁 Pulmonary circulation = heart ↔ lungs

Its main job is to get oxygen into the blood and remove carbon dioxide.

Super easy pathway:

Right ventricle

⬇

Pulmonary artery

⬇

🫁 LUNGS

⬇

Pulmonary veins

⬇

Left atrium

🧠 Memory:

PULMONARY = LUNGS

And:

Right → Lungs → Left

The right side sends blood to the lungs.
The left side receives it back.

🩸 2. Systemic Circulation

the whole body.

SW:

❤ Systemic circulation = heart ↔ body

Its main job is to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the body .

Super easy pathway:

Left ventricle

⬇

Aorta

⬇

🧍 BODY

⬇

Veins

⬇

Right atrium

🧠 Memory:

SYSTEMIC = BODY

And:

Left → Body → Right

🔥 THE BIGGEST MEMORY TRICK

systemic vs pulmonary

🫁 Pulmonary:

RIGHT → LUNGS → LEFT

🧍 Systemic:

LEFT → BODY → RIGHT

Put them together:

RIGHT → LUNGS → LEFT → BODY → RIGHT

❤ 3. Cardiac Cycle

One complete heartbeat = one cardiac cycle.

The heart basically does:

FILL → SQUEEZE → EMPTY → RELAX → FILL AGAIN

That's it! ❤

❤ Step 1: Heart Fills

The heart is relaxed

Blood flows into the chambers.

Think

Relax = Fill

This is part of diastole .

❤ Step 2: Atria Contract

The atria squeeze and push more blood into the ventricles.

Remember: Atria = receive/arrive

They're helping finish filling the ventricles

❤ Step 3: Ventricles Contract

Now the ventricles squeeze.

This is systole .

Systole = SQUEEZE

The ventricles push blood out:

Right ventricle → lungs

Left ventricle → body

❤ Step 4: Ventricles Relax

The ventricles relax.

Blood starts filling them again.

That's diastole .

Then the cycle repeats.

🔄 Fill → Squeeze → Empty → Relax → Fill

🧠 SUPER EASY TEAS CHEAT SHEET

systmeic/ pulmonary

Term	Think
Pulmonary	🫁 Lungs
Systemic	🧍 Body
Pulmonary route	Right → Lungs → Left
Systemic route	Left → Body → Right
Cardiac cycle	❤ One complete heartbeat
Diastole	Relax + Fill
Systole	Squeeze + Pump out

“Which circulation goes to the lungs?”

→ 🫁 Pulmonary

Right goes to the lungs, left goes to the body; systole squeezes, diastole fills. ❤

“Which circulation supplies the body?”

→ 🧍 Systemic

“Which side sends blood to the lungs?”

Right

“Which side sends blood to the body?”

→ Left

“When does the heart contract?”

Systole

“When does the heart relax and fill?”

Diastole

⭐ One sentence to memorize:

Right goes to the lungs, left goes to the body; systole squeezes, diastole fills. ❤

what are the four chambers?

right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, left ventricle

What are the four valves

tricuspid valve, pulmonary valve, mitral valve, aortic valve

how blood travels through the blood vessels around the body

Think of blood vessels like roads :

🚗 Arteries = take blood AWAY from the heart
🚗 Veins = bring blood BACK to the heart
🕸 Capillaries = tiny exchange area

The picture is basically showing:

HEART → ARTERY → ARTERIOLES → CAPILLARIES → VENULES → VEIN → HEART

❤ Step 1: Blood leaves the heart

The artery carries blood away from the heart .

In this picture, the artery is shown in red because it is carrying oxygenated blood .

🧠 Memory: A = AWAY

Artery = Away from heart

🔴 Step 2: Arterioles

The artery gets smaller and becomes: Arterioles

Think

Artery → smaller artery = arteriole

They are like small branches coming off the main artery.

🧠 Memory: ARTERY → ARTERIOLE = BIG → SMALL

🕸 Step 3: Capillaries

Now the blood reaches the capillaries .

These are the tiny blood vessels .

This is where the important exchange happens.

The blood gives rise to tissues:

🫁 Oxygen
🍎 Nutrients

And picks up:

💨 Carbon dioxide
🗑 Waste

🧠 Memory: CAPILLARIES = EXCHANGE

Think of them as a delivery station 📦.

Blood delivers oxygen/nutrients and picks up waste.

how blood travels through the blood vessels around the body

step 4-5

🔵 Step 4: Venules

After the capillaries, the vessels start getting bigger again.

Tiny vessels called: Venules

collect the blood.

Think:

Capillary → venule → vein

🧠 Memory:

VENULE = tiny vein

Just like:

arteriole = tiny artery

venule = tiny vein

🔵 Step 5: Vein

Finally, the blood enters the vein .

The vein carries blood: BACK TO THE HEART

🧠 Memory: VEIN = BACK

SW:

Artery = AWAY
Vein = BACK

🧠Now look at the whole picture

Follow the blood like you're driving on a road:

❤ HEART

⬇

🔴 ARTERY

Away from heart

⬇

🔴 ARTERIOLE

Smaller artery

⬇

🕸 CAPILLARIES

Exchange oxygen/nutrients for waste

⬇

🔵 VENULE

Tiny vein

⬇

🔵 VEIN

Back to heart

⬇

❤ HEART

And repeat! 🔄

🚨 ONE IMPORTANT THING ABOUT THE RED AND BLUE

The picture makes it look like:

Red = oxygenated
Blue = deoxygenated

That's usually true in diagrams, but don't use that as your main definition.

Why?

Because there are exceptions:

🫁 Pulmonary artery

Carries deoxygenated blood away from the heart → lungs.

🫁 Pulmonary vein

Carries oxygenated blood back to the heart.

So the safest TEAS rule is:

ARTERY = AWAY from heart
VEIN = TOWARD heart

“Arteries Away, Veins Visit back.”

And:

“Capillaries = exchange.”

Then remember:

A → A → C → V → V

Artery → Arteriole → Capillary → Venule → Vein

“Where does oxygen and nutrient exchange happen?”

Capillaries

“Which vessel carries blood away from the heart?”

Artery

“Which vessel carries blood toward the heart?”

Vein

“What is a small artery called?”

Arteriole

“What is a small vein called?”

Venule

“What is the overall pathway?”
→ Artery → arteriole → capillary → venule → vein ❤🩸

what is the systemic circulation?

🫁 Pulmonary circulation ends here:

Lungs → Pulmonary veins → Left atrium

The pulmonary vein brings oxygenated blood back from the lungs.

Then:

Left atrium
⬇
Mitral valve
⬇
Left ventricle
⬇
Aortic valve
⬇
Aorta
⬇
🧍 BODY

🧍 THAT is systemic circulation.

So think:

🫁 Pulmonary: Right heart → Lungs → Left heart
🧍 Systemic: Left heart → Body → Right heart

Pulmonary = LUNGS 🫁
Systemic = BODY 🧍

And the full loop is:

RIGHT → LUNGS → LEFT → BODY → RIGHT

“oxygenated blood leaves the left ventricle through the aorta to supply the body,” that's systemic circulation .

🫁 Pulmonary vs. 🧍 Systemic

🫁 PULMONARY = LUNGS

Pulmonary circulation is the trip between the heart and lungs .

Its job is to pick up oxygen .

Think:

RIGHT → LUNGS → LEFT

🫀 Right ventricle
↓
🫁 Lungs
↓
🫀 Left atrium

So pulmonary = lungs .

🧍 SYSTEMIC = BODY

Systemic circulation is the trip between the heart and the rest of the body .

Its job is to deliver oxygen to the body .

Think: LEFT → BODY → RIGHT

🫀 Left ventricle
↓
🧍 Body
↓
🫀 Right atrium

So systemic = body

🔥 The easiest way to memorize it

Just remember:

🫁 PULMONARY = PULMONARY → LUNGS

🧍 SYSTEMIC = SYSTEM → WHOLE BODY

And then:

RIGHT → LUNGS → LEFT → BODY → RIGHT

That's the entire circulation!

Which circulation supplies the body's tissues?

→ 🧍 Systemic

Where does pulmonary circulation start?

→ Right ventricle

Where does pulmonary circulation end?
→ Left atrium

Where does systemic circulation start?

→ Left ventricle

Where does systemic circulation end?
→ Right atrium

⭐ One sentence to memorize:

Pulmonary gets oxygen from the LUNGS; systemic delivers oxygen to the BODY. ❤🫁🧍

pulmonary artery vs pulmonary veins

🫁 Pulmonary ARTERY

Heart → Lungs

• Carries deoxygenated blood

• Leaves the right ventricle

• Goes to the lungs to get oxygen

🧠 Memory:

Pulmonary ARTERY = Away to lungs

🫁 Pulmonary VEIN

Lungs → Heart

• Carries oxygenated blood

• Goes to the left atrium

• Brings oxygen-rich blood back from the lungs

🧠 Memory:

Pulmonary VEIN = Visits heart

	Pulmonary artery	Pulmonary vein
Direction	❤ → 🫁	🫁 → ❤
Blood	Deoxygenated	Oxygenated
Ends/starts	Right ventricle	Left atrium

ARTERY = AWAY
VEIN = BACK

And don't let the oxygen part confuse you: pulmonary artery is the exception —it carries deoxygenated blood.

what happens in the EKG?

❤ First: What is an EKG?

EKG = Electrocardiogram

It records the heart's electrical activity .

Think: ⚡ EKG = heart's electrical report card

🧠 The BIG 3 to memorize

Your picture has:

P → QRS → T

Think:

P = Atria
QRS = Ventricles
T = Ventricles relaxing

1⃣ P Wave = Atria

The little bump labeled P.

It represents the electrical activity that causes the atria to contract .

Remember:

🅿 P = Push from the atria

The atria pushes blood into the ventricles.

🧠 TEAS memory:

P = Atria

2⃣ QRS Complex = Ventricles

This is the BIG spike in the middle. 📈

It represents the electrical activity that causes the ventricles to contract .

Remember:

QRS = BIG SQUEEZE

The ventricles squeeze and pump blood out.

🧠 Memory:

QRS = Ventricular Squeeze

🔥 If TEAS asks:

"Which part of the EKG represents ventricular contraction?"

→ QRS complex

3⃣ T Wave = Ventricles Relax

The rounded wave after the big spike.

T wave = ventricular repolarization , which is associated with the ventricles preparing to relax

For TEAS-level learning, think:

T = ventricles relax

🧠 Memory:

T = Take a break 😌

❤ So what's happening in order?

Look at your picture from left → right :

🅿 P

Atria contract

⬇

📈 QRS

Ventricles contract

⬇

🌊 T

Ventricles relax

⬇

🔄 Repeat!

🧠 SUPER EASY MEMORY TRICK

Say this:

P = Push
QRS = Squeeze
T = Take a break

Or even shorter:

P = Atria QRS = Ventricles T = Relax

🔥 P → QRS → T

Top → Bottom → Rest

What about Systole and Diastole?

❤ Systole = contraction

Systole = heart squeezes

The QRS is associated with ventricular systole .

🧠 Systole = SQUEEZE

---

❤ Diastole = relaxation/filling

Diastole = heart relaxes and fills with blood.

The ventricles are in diastole after they finish contracting.

🧠 Diastole = REST

🚨 TEAS CHEAT SHEET

EKG

EKG part	Super easy meaning
P wave	Atria contract
QRS complex	Ventricles contract
T wave	Ventricles relax/repolarize
Systole	Heart contracts/squeezes
Diastole	Heart relaxes/fills
EKG	Records electrical activity

P = Atria 🫀
QRS = Ventricles 💪
T = Rest 😌

And:

Systole = SQUEEZE
Diastole = RELAX

blood pressure

the blood has …?

🩸 First: What is plasma?

Plasma = the liquid part of your blood.

Think of blood like a soup 🍲:

• 🩸 Blood cells + platelets = the solid “stuff”

• 💧 Plasma = the liquid/soup they're floating in

So plasma is basically the liquid transportation system for things your body needs.

💧Why does plasma have so many things?

Because water can carry things around .

Think of plasma like a delivery truck 🚚

It carries:

💧 Water

The main ingredient of plasma.

🍬 Sugar

Mostly glucose, cells which use for energy .

🥑 Fat

Used for energy and other body functions.

🥩 Proteins

Help with things like clotting, immunity, and maintaining fluid balance .

🧂 Salts

Help with fluid balance, nerves, and muscles .

So plasma isn't just "water." It's water carrying important substances around the body.

Think: PLASMA = LIQUID DELIVERY TRUCK 🚚💧

It carries:

WSFPS

💧 W ater
🍬 S ugar
🥑 F at
🥩 P rotein
🧂 S alt

Plasma = liquid part of blood that carries substances around the body.

⭐ TEAS memory:

PLASMA = transportation 🚚 / liquid
RED = oxygen 🫁
WHITE = fight 🛡 infection
PLATELETS = patch 🩹 help clot blood

what does blood do?W

Think of blood as your body's delivery + cleanup + protection system 🚚🛡.

1. 🫁 Transports gases

Blood carries:

• Oxygen → to your cells

• Carbon dioxide → away from your cells

🧠 Memory: Blood = gas delivery 🚚

2. 🍎 Transports nutrients

Blood carries things your cells need, like:

• Glucose (sugar)

• Nutrients from food

🧠 Memory: Blood = food delivery 🍎

3. 🩹 Forms clots

When you get hurt, platelets help form a clot to stop bleeding.

🧠 Memory: Platelets = PATCH 🩹

4. 🛡 Fights infection

White blood cells help protect you from germs and infections.

🧠 Memory: White = FIGHT 🛡

5. 🗑 Transports waste

Blood picks up waste from your cells and carries it to organs that remove it.

For example:

• CO₂ → lungs

• Other wastes → kidneys

🧠 Memory: Blood = garbage truck 🗑

6. 🌡 Regulates body temperature

Blood helps move heat around your body and helps keep your temperature stable.

🧠 Memory:

Blood = temperature control 🌡

🔥 SUPER EASY MEMORY TEAS

Think of blood as:

🚚 Deliver → 🩹 Patch → 🛡 Protect → 🗑 Clean → 🌡 Control

Or remember "Blood is the body's delivery truck + security guard + garbage truck."

Blood job	Think
Gases	🫁 Oxygen/CO₂
Nutrients	🍎 Food
Clotting	🩹 Platelets
Infection	🛡 WBCs
Waste	🗑 Garbage
Temperature	🌡 Keeps stable

If you see "What is a function of blood?" , look for something involving:

transporting, protecting, clotting, waste removal, or temperature regulation.

what is this?

This picture is showing how your body stops bleeding . It's called hemostasis .

Think of it like FIX THE HOLE → PATCH IT → LOCK IT 🩹

1⃣ Vascular spasm = SQUEEZE 🩸

A blood vessel gets injured.

The vessel quickly tightens/squeezes to slow down bleeding.

🧠 Memory: Spam = SQUEEZE

2⃣ Platelet plug = PATCH 🩹

Platelets rush to the injured area and stick together.

They make a temporary plug over the hole.

🧠 Memory: Platelets = PATCH

3⃣ Fibrin/clotting = LOCK IT 🕸

Fibrin forms a strong net around the platelet plug.

This makes the clot stronger and helps stop the bleeding

🧠 Memory: Fibrin = NET

🔥 TEAS CHEAT CODE

Remember:

SQUEEZE → PATCH → LOCK 🩸🩹🔒

Vascular spasm → Squeeze
Platelets → Patch
Fibrin → Net/lock

⭐ One sentence:

The vessel squeezes, platelets patch, and fibrin locks the clot.

what does this mean?

This picture is showing what antigens and antibodies each blood type has .

4 BLOOD TYPES

Blood type	Antigens ON RBC	Antibodies IN blood
A	A	B
B	B	A
AB	A + B	None
O	None	A + B

🧠 EASY MEMORY

Think:

Antigen = what you HAVE 🏷
Antibody = what you FIGHT 🛡

SW:

🅰 A

Has A fights B

🅱 B

Has B → fights A

🆎 AB

Has BOTH → fights NOTHING

⭕ O

Has NOTHING → fights BOTH

🔥 Memorize this:

A = A/B
B = B/A
AB = BOTH/NONE
O = NONE/BOTH

The first word = antigens you have .
The second word = antibodies you have .

🚨 TEAS connection

If the wrong antigen enters your blood, your antibodies can attack it → agglutination = clumping .

SW:

Antigen = ID tag 🏷
Antibody = attacker 🛡
Agglutination = clumping 🩸🩸

3 blood cell types + their size + their job

🩸 First: Which one is the smallest?

Look at the numbers:

• 🔴 RBC: 0.008 mm

• ⚪ WBC: 0.02 mm

• 🟡 Platelet: 0.003 mm

⭐ Smallest → Biggest

Platelets → RBCs → WBCs

Because:

0.003 < 0.008 < 0.02

🧠 Memory:

Platelets = tiny 🟡
RBC = middle 🔴
WBC = biggest ⚪

🩸 Now understand each one

🔴 Red Blood Cells

Scientific name: Erythrocytes

Job: Carry oxygen and carbon dioxide.

🧠 ERYTHRO = NETWORK/ Red = oxygen 🚚

Size: 0.008 mm

⚪ White Blood Cells

Scientific name: Leukocytes

Job: Fight infection and protect your body.

🧠 LEUKO = WHITE

White = fight 🛡

Size: 0.02 mm → BIGGEST

platelets

Scientific name: Thrombocytes

Job: Help blood clot and heal wounds.

🧠 THROMBO = clot

Platelets = patch 🩹

Size: 0.003 mm → SMALLEST

Platelet = smallest
WBC = biggest

🩸 4 things blood transports

1. Gases 🫁

• Oxygen: lungs → body cells

• Carbon dioxide (CO₂): body cells → lungs to breathe out

🧠 Memory: O₂ IN, CO₂ OUT.

2. Nutrients 🍎

- Blood carries nutrients from digested food to your cells for energy and other needs.

🧠 Memory: Nutrients = food delivery.

3. Wastes 🗑

• Blood carries waste to the liver and kidneys , which helps process and remove it.

• Kidneys remove many wastes through urine.

🧠 Memory: Waste = take out the trash.

4. Hormones 📩

• Hormones are chemical messages made by glands.

• Blood carries those messages to the organs or tissues that need them.

Hormones = messages delivered.

“Good Food, Trash, Messages” — blood carries gases, nutrients, wastes, and hormones .

Also remember the 3 primary functions of blood :

• Transportation = carries things around

• Regulation = helps control body temperature and fluid balance

• Protection = fights infection and helps stop bleeding

Albumin

a protein in plasma that keeps water in the blood vessels and carries substances around.

Think of albumin as a water holder + delivery truck 🚚💧

• 💧 Water balance: Helps keep water inside blood vessels instead of leaking into surrounding tissues.

• 🚚 Carrier protein: Carries certain substances through the blood.

• ⭐ Main fact: Albumin is the most abundant protein in plasma (about 60% of plasma proteins).

ALBUMIN = ANCHOR ⚓

It helps keep water where it belongs!

🔥 TEAS tip

If the question asks which plasma protein helps maintain water balance, the answer is albumin.

Remember: Albumin = holds water + carries substances.

🌡 Blood and body temperature

Blood helps keep your body temperature balanced , along with regulating chemicals and water balance.

🔥 1. Vasodilation = VESSELS OPEN

When you're hot, your blood vessels widen .

• More blood flows near the skin.

• More heat escapes.

• Your body cools down. 🥵➡😌

🧠 Memory: DILATE = DUMP heat!

🥶 2. Vasoconstriction = VESSELS CLOSE

When you're cold, your blood vessels narrow .

• Less blood flows near the skin.

• Less heat exhausts.

• Your body keeps more heat. 🥶➡🌡

🧠 Memory: CONSTRICT = CONSERVE heat!

Term	What's happening?	Result
Vasodilation	Vessels widen	Lose heat, cool down
Vasoconstriction	Vessels narrow	Keep warm

🔑 Catchy phrase to memorize

HOT = OPEN to let heat OUT. 🔥 COLD = CLOSE to keep heat IN. 🥶

🩸 Who can RECEIVE blood?

• A receives from A and O

• B receives from B and O

• AB receives from EVERYONE

• O receives from O ONLY

🧠 Memory trick:

• A sticks with A

• B sticks with B

• AB accepts all

• O accepts Only O

2. Who can donate blood?

Now flip it around! Ask: Who can use my blood?

• A donates to A and AB

• B donates to B and AB

• AB donates to AB ONLY

• O donates to EVERYONE

🧠 Memory trick:

• A → A and AB

• B → B and AB

• AB → AB ONLY

• O → ALL

⭐ Remember these 2 big rules

AB = best receiver (can receive all ABO types).

O = best donor (can donate to all ABO types).

Tricuspid valve

regulates blood flow between the right atrium and right ventricle.

Pulmonary valve 

regulates blood flow from the right ventricle into the pulmonary artery.

Mitral valve

regulates blood flow from the left atrium into the left ventricle.

Aortic valve 

 regulates blood flow from the left ventricle to

the aorta. The aorta is the largest artery in the body.

Deoxygenated blood flows through

pulmonary circulation

oxygenated blood flows through

systemic circulation.

🫀 Cardiovascular vs. Circulatory System

: Cardiovascular = heart and blood vessels. Circulatory = the whole blood-moving system.

System	What it means	Memory trick
Cardiovascular system	Heart + blood vessels + blood	Cardio = heart
Circulatory system	You move blood around the body; often used as another name for the cardiovascular system	Circulate = move around

• Cardiovascular = the heart and its blood-vessel network.

• Circulatory = the job of circulating blood around the body.

It's the blood vessels ALL around your body! 🫀

The cardiovascular system includes:

• ❤ Heart: Pumps the blood.

• 🩸 Arteries: Carry blood AWAY from the heart.

• 🩸 Veins: Carry blood TOWARD the heart.

• 🔴 Capillaries: Tiny vessels where blood exchanges oxygen and nutrients with your cells.

Blood vessels travel throughout your entire body, including your arms, legs, organs, and brain.

🧠 Easy TEAS memory trick

Heart = pump + blood vessels = pathways + blood = delivery.