Cardiovascular System Lecture Review

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering cardiovascular anatomy, heart wall layers, heart valves, congenital heart anomalies, and coronary artery conditions.

Thorax

The chest cavity where the heart is located centrally between the ribcage and the sternum.

Sternum

The central bone of the chest cavity located in front of the heart.

Mediastinum

The entire central region of the chest that contains the heart.

Diaphragm

A muscular layer responsible for separating the thorax from the abdomen, keeping chest contents above and abdominal contents below.

Atrium (plural: Atria)

The upper chambers of the heart, consisting of the right atrium and left atrium, which are equal in size.

Ventricle (plural: Ventricles)

The bottom chambers of the heart, consisting of the right ventricle and left ventricle, which differ in size and pressure.

Cortitendine

White thread-like structures that function as components of heart valves to maintain blood flow in a single direction.

Tricuspid Valve

A heart valve named for having three cusps, flaps, or leaflets.

Bicuspid Valve (Mitral Valve)

A heart valve composed of two cusps, also referred to as the mitral valve.

Endocardium

The thinner innermost layer of the heart wall ('endo-' meaning inside and '-cardia' pertaining to the heart).

Myocardium

The middle layer of the heart wall containing all the muscle tissue of the heart.

Epicardium

The outermost protective layer of the heart wall.

Carotid Artery

A vessel in the neck that supplies oxygenated (pure) blood to the head and brain.

Jugular Vein

A neck vessel that draws deoxygenated blood back to the heart so it can be purified.

Congenital Heart Disease

A heart disorder or defect that is present at birth, meaning the infant is born with the condition.

Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)

A congenital condition marked by a hole in the intra-atrial septum that allows blood to mix between the upper atrial chambers.

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)

A congenital heart condition where a hole in the inter-ventricular septum causes blood to shunt from the higher-pressure left side to the right side.

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)

A congenital disorder in which the ductus arteriosus fails to close within the normal $24\,\text{hours}$ after birth and remains open (patent), causing blood to shunt from the aorta to the pulmonary artery.

Cyanosis

A condition characterized by low oxygen in the blood that can cause a baby to present with bluish-colored lips.

Coarctation of Aorta

Narrowing of the aorta that causes hypertension (high blood pressure) in the upper limbs/arms and hypotension (low blood pressure) in the lower limbs.

Tetralogy of Fella (TOF)

A congenital heart disease consisting of four distinct structural defects in the heart, treatable only by surgical repair.

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

An adult condition where the coronary arteries supplying the myocardium are narrowed by plaque accumulation.

Ethyroma

A yellow plaque, often formed from cholesterol deposits, that accumulates within artery walls and can obstruct blood flow.

Angina Pectoris

Intermittent chest pain that serves as a symptom of reduced oxygen supply due to partially narrowed arteries.

Myocardial Infarction (MI)

A heart attack that occurs when a coronary artery becomes fully occluded, depriving the myocardium of blood and resulting in heart cell death.

Ischemia

The condition or process defined by a lack or reduction of blood supply to tissue.

Necrosis

Cell death occurring in tissue when blood flow is completely obstructed.