Ch 15

Cardiovascular System

Essential for circulating blood throughout the body, facilitating oxygen delivery and waste removal.

Heart

The central pump of the cardiovascular system, composed of four chambers: two atria and two ventricles.

Blood Vessels

Includes arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins, each with a unique structure for its function.

Blood

Composed of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma for transporting nutrients, gases, and hormones.

Arteries

Blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the tissues.

Veins

Blood vessels that return deoxygenated blood back to the heart.

Tunica Intima

The innermost layer of blood vessel walls, consisting of endothelium.

Tunica Media

The middle layer of blood vessel walls, made of smooth muscle and elastic fibers.

Tunica Externa

The outermost layer of blood vessel walls, consisting of connective tissue.

Blood Pressure

The pressure generated by ventricular contraction, highest in arteries during systole.

Systole

The phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle contracts and pumps blood.

Diastole

The phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle relaxes and fills with blood.

Cardiac Output

The volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute, influencing blood pressure.

Peripheral Resistance

Resistance to blood flow primarily in arterioles, affecting blood pressure.

Total Blood Volume

The total amount of blood in the circulatory system, influencing blood pressure.

Capillary Exchange

The process by which oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and waste are exchanged between blood and tissues.

Continuous Capillaries

Capillaries found in most tissues, allowing for small molecule exchange.

Fenestrated Capillaries

Capillaries in kidneys and intestines, specialized for filtering.

Sinusoids

Capillaries in the liver and bone marrow allowing larger molecules and cells to pass.

Baroreceptor Reflex

A mechanism that monitors blood pressure and adjusts heart rate and vessel diameter.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Part of the autonomic nervous system that increases heart rate and force of contraction.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Part of the autonomic nervous system that promotes relaxation and slows the heart rate.

Vasoconstriction

The narrowing of blood vessels which raises blood pressure.

Vasodilation

The widening of blood vessels which lowers blood pressure.

Arteriolar Resistance

Resistance within arterioles, influencing blood pressure levels.

Cardiovascular Control Center

The medullary center in the brainstem that coordinates heart and vessel responses.

Blood Volume Changes

Variations in blood volume that can directly affect blood pressure.

Stress Response

Activation of the sympathetic nervous system in response to stress, increasing blood pressure.

Fluid Retention

Retention of fluids that can change blood volume and impact blood pressure.

Heart Rate

The number of heartbeats per minute, influencing cardiac output and blood pressure.

Elasticity of Blood Vessels

The ability of blood vessel walls to stretch and recoil, important for withstanding blood pressure.

Circulatory System

The system responsible for blood circulation, composed of the heart and blood vessels.

Closed-Loop System

A system where blood circulates in a loop from the heart to the body and back.

Four Chambers of the Heart

Includes two atria (upper chambers) and two ventricles (lower chambers) that function in blood flow.

Nutrient Transport

The process of carrying essential nutrients in the blood to various body tissues.

Waste Removal

The process of transporting waste products from the tissues back to excretion organs.

Oxygen Delivery

The transport of oxygen from the lungs to tissues via red blood cells.

Carbon Dioxide Removal

The transportation of carbon dioxide from tissues to the lungs for exhalation.

Heart Rate Regulation

The mechanisms that control how fast or slow the heart beats.

Blood Vessel Function

The specific roles of different types of blood vessels in the cardiovascular system.

Arterioles

Small arteries that lead to capillaries and control blood flow through resistance.

Capillary Walls

Thin walls that facilitate the exchange of substances between blood and tissues.

Ventricular Contraction

The action of the ventricles contracting to pump blood out of the heart.

Oxygenated Blood

Blood that is rich in oxygen, primarily carried by arteries.

Deoxygenated Blood

Blood that has released its oxygen to the tissues and is returned to the heart by veins.

Vascular Tone

The degree of constriction experienced by a blood vessel relative to its optimal diameter.

Physiological Balance

The state of equilibrium maintained by the cardiovascular system and other body systems.

Cardiovascular Response

How the cardiovascular system adapts based on demands like exercise or stress.

Endothelium

A thin layer of cells lining the blood vessels, vital for maintaining vascular health.

Elastic Fibers

Fibers in the tunica media that allow blood vessels to stretch and accommodate pressure.

Connective Tissue

Tissue in the tunica externa that provides structural support to blood vessels.

Hemodynamics

The study of blood flow and its interactions with the circulatory system.

Cardiac Cycle

The sequence of events in one complete heartbeat, including contraction and relaxation.

Blood Composition

The specific makeup of blood including cells and plasma components.

Physiological Regulation

The body's ability to maintain stability through various regulatory systems.

Nutrient Diffusion

The process by which nutrients pass through capillary walls into surrounding tissues.

Hormonal Control

The influence of hormones on cardiovascular function and blood pressure.

Vascular Resistance

The resistance that blood vessels offer to blood flow, influencing blood pressure levels.

Vein Structure

The structure of veins that allows them to return deoxygenated blood to the heart.

Oxygen Transport Mechanism

The method by which oxygen is carried by red blood cells to tissues.

Fluid Dynamics

The study of how fluids move and their interactions within the cardiovascular system.

Cardiovascular Health

The state of the cardiovascular system that contributes to overall health and well-being.

Arterial Pressure

The pressure within the arteries during systole, often measured to assess cardiovascular health.

Endothelial Cells

Cells that line the interior surface of blood vessels, critical for vascular function.

Heartbeat Regulation

The processes that determine the rate and rhythm of heartbeats.

Vascular Stiffness

A condition where blood vessels lose elasticity, impacting blood flow and pressure.

Venous Return

The flow of blood back to the heart through the veins.

Systemic Circulation

The part of the cardiovascular system that carries oxygenated blood to the body and returns deoxygenated blood to the heart.

Pulmonary Circulation

The part of the cardiovascular system responsible for transporting deoxygenated blood to the lungs for oxygenation.

Cardiovascular Adaptations

Changes in cardiovascular function that occur in response to different physiological demands.

Vascular Health Monitoring

The systematic observation and assessment of the cardiovascular system for health management.

Cardiovascular Dynamics

The study of how blood flows through the heart and blood vessels under various conditions.

Homeostatic Mechanisms

Processes that maintain stability within the cardiovascular system despite external changes.

Blood Component Functions

The various roles that different components of blood play in the body.

Autonomic Control of Heart Rate

Regulation of heart rate by the autonomic nervous system's sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions.

Cardiac Function

The effectiveness of the heart in pumping blood to meet the body's needs.

Capillary Types

Different kinds of capillaries (continuous, fenestrated, sinusoids) differentiated by their structure and functions.

Vascular Compliance

The ability of blood vessels to expand in response to changes in pressure.