Cardiovascular System Pathways and Disorders

Vocabulary flashcards covering the blood flow pathways of the pulmonary and systemic circuits, hepatic portal system, and cardiovascular disorders and treatments based on lecture slides.

Pulmonary circuit

The pathway of blood circulation that routes deoxygenated blood through the lungs for gas exchange and returns oxygenated blood to the heart.

Systemic circuit

The pathway of blood circulation that pumps oxygen-rich blood through body tissues and carries oxygen-poor blood back to the heart.

Pulmonary trunk

The large arterial vessel leaving the right ventricle that divides into the right and left pulmonary arteries.

Pulmonary arteries

Arteries that carry oxygen-poor blood away from the heart to the right and left lungs.

Pulmonary veins

The four veins that return oxygen-rich blood from the lungs directly into the left atrium of the heart.

Aorta

The major systemic artery receiving oxygenated blood from the left ventricle and giving off branches to supply all tissues of the body.

Superior and inferior vena cavae

Large systemic veins that return oxygen-depleted blood from the upper and lower body back to the right atrium.

Hepatic portal system

A specialized circulatory route that directs nutrient-rich blood from the digestive tract into the liver for filtration, protein synthesis, glycogen storage, and toxin removal before returning to general circulation.

Hypertension

High blood pressure defined as a systolic pressure of $140\text{ mm Hg}$ or greater or a diastolic pressure of $90\text{ mm Hg}$ or greater.

Diuretics

Medications used to treat hypertension by increasing urine production, thereby reducing blood volume and blood pressure.

Atherosclerosis

A cardiovascular condition marked by plaque accumulation in blood vessel walls, which narrows vessel diameter and impairs blood flow.

Thrombus

A blood clot that forms and remains stationary along the inner wall of a blood vessel.

Embolus

A blood clot or plaque fragment that detaches from its site of origin and travels through the bloodstream.

Thromboembolism

An embolus that travels through the circulation until it becomes lodged in a smaller blood vessel, blocking blood flow.

Coronary artery bypass graft

A surgical intervention using grafted blood vessels to detour arterial blood flow around blocked coronary arteries to supply the heart muscle.

Stent

A expandable wire mesh tube positioned in an artery via an inflated balloon to open up an obstructed blood vessel lumen.

Heart failure

A condition in which the heart muscle is weakened or damaged and can no longer pump blood efficiently to meet the body's needs.

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)

An implanted medical device that detects and corrects irregular cardiac rhythms in patients with heart disorders.

Left ventricular assist device (LVAD)

A battery-powered mechanical pump implanted to aid the left ventricle in circulating blood to the body.

Total artificial heart (TAH)

A temporary mechanical prosthetic heart system that assumes total circulatory function in severe heart failure patients awaiting a transplant.

Systolic blood pressure

The arterial pressure recorded during ventricular contraction, with normal levels classified as below $120\text{ mm Hg}$.

Diastolic blood pressure

The arterial pressure recorded during ventricular relaxation, with normal levels classified as below $80\text{ mm Hg}$.