Medical Terminology for Health Professionals, 9e Chapter 5: The Cardiovascular System

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and concepts related to the cardiovascular system as outlined in Chapter 5 of the Medical Terminology for Health Professionals.

Cardiovascular System

The body system consisting of the heart, blood vessels, and blood; responsible for pumping blood to all body tissues.

Heart

A hollow, muscular organ located in the thoracic cavity, effective in pumping blood throughout the body.

Arteries

Large blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood away from the heart to all regions of the body.

Veins

Blood vessels that return oxygen-poor blood to the heart; have thinner walls and often contain valves.

Capillaries

The smallest blood vessels where the exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and waste materials occurs between blood and tissues.

Pericardium

A double-walled membranous sac that encloses the heart.

Epicardium

The external layer of the heart, also referred to as the visceral pericardium.

Myocardium

The middle and thickest layer of the heart, consisting of cardiac muscle.

Endocardium

The inner lining of the heart, composed of epithelial tissue that directly contacts blood.

Atria

The two upper chambers of the heart that receive blood from the body.

Ventricles

The two lower chambers of the heart that pump blood out of the heart.

Tricuspid valve

A valve controlling blood flow between the right atrium and right ventricle.

Pulmonary circulation

The path of blood flow from the heart to the lungs and back to the heart.

Systemic circulation

The flow of blood to all body parts except the lungs; delivers oxygenated blood from the left ventricle.

Blood

A fluid tissue that transports oxygen, nutrients, and waste; major components include plasma and formed elements.

Erythrocytes

Red blood cells (RBCs) responsible for transporting oxygen throughout the body.

Leukocytes

White blood cells (WBCs) involved in the immune response and defending the body against pathogens.

Thrombocytes

Platelets, the smallest formed elements in blood, important for blood clotting.

Hypertension

Commonly known as high blood pressure; can lead to serious cardiovascular issues.

Myocardial infarction (MI)

Commonly known as a heart attack; occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked.

Defibrillation

Electrical shock to restore normal rhythm of the heart, usually during a cardiac arrest.

Angioplasty

A procedure to mechanically widen a narrowed or obstructed blood vessel.

Stent

A wire-mesh tube used to provide support to a narrowed or blocked artery.

Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)

A record of the electrical activity of the heart.

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)

Surgical procedure to improve blood flow to the heart by grafting another vessel.