Cardiovascular System: Vessels and Circulation Vocabulary//STUDIED

Flashcards covering key vocabulary from the Cardiovascular System: Vessels and Circulation lecture.

Arteries

Carry blood away from the heart.

Arterioles

Smallest branches of arteries.

Capillaries

Smallest blood vessels where diffusion between blood and interstitial fluid takes place.

Venules

Collect blood from capillaries.

Veins

Return blood to the heart.

Tunica Intima

Innermost layer of vessel walls, including the endothelial lining and connective tissue.

Tunica Media

Middle layer of vessel walls, containing smooth muscle sheets.

Tunica Externa

Outer layer of vessel walls, made of connective tissue that anchors the vessel.

Vasodilation

Relaxation of arterial smooth muscle, enlarging the lumen.

Vasoconstriction

Contraction of arterial smooth muscle, decreasing the diameter of the lumen.

Elastic Arteries

Conducting arteries that transport large volumes of blood away from the heart.

Muscular Arteries

Medium-sized distribution arteries with more muscle cells than elastic fibers.

Arterioles

Small arteries that control resistance and are called resistance vessels.

Aneurysm

Bulge in the wall of an artery due to weakened elastic fibers.

Capillary Bed

Network of capillaries between arterioles and venules.

Collateral Arteries

Multiple arteries that contribute to a capillary bed, allowing circulation if one is blocked.

Arteriovenous Anastomoses

Direct connections between arterioles and venules, bypassing the capillary bed.

Capillary Sphincter

Guards the entrance to each capillary bed, controlling blood flow.

Venous Valves

Infoldings of the tunica intima in veins that prevent backflow of blood.

Hepatic Portal System

A portal system connecting two capillary beds; the hepatic portal vein receives nutrient laden blood from the GI tract and delivers it to the liver for processing

Umbilical Arteries

Two arteries that arise from the internal iliac arteries and carry blood to the placenta.

Umbilical Vein

One vein that drains into the inferior vena cava and receives blood returning from the placenta.

Atherosclerosis

A disease of the arteries characterized by the deposition of plaques of fatty material on their inner walls.