Biology and Physics Comprehensive Practice Flashcards

This flashcard set covers human circulatory anatomy, lymphatic system functions, patterns of blood flow, heart monitoring techniques, and the fundamental principles of simple harmonic motion and wave properties.

Capillaries

The smallest and most numerous blood vessels, having the thinnest walls (single layer epithelial tissue) that allow gases and nutrients to diffuse between blood and tissue cells.

Venules

Small branches merging from capillaries that carry deoxygenated blood and connect veins to capillaries.

Veins

Vessels formed by uniting several venules that return deoxygenated blood to the heart; they have thinner, less muscular walls than arteries and contain valves to prevent backward blood flow.

Superior vena cava

One of the body's largest veins, formed by merging veins from the upper parts of the body to return blood to the heart.

Inferior vena cava

One of the body's largest veins, formed by merging veins from the lower parts of the body to return blood to the heart.

Lymphatic System

A system connected to the CVS by SV, functioning in defense and the return of excessive tissue fluids to the bloodstream via the superior vena cava; described as a two-way, closed system.

Components of the Lymphatic System

Includes lymph, lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, tonsils, thymus, spleen, and bone marrow.

Lymph

Excess tissue fluid that enters lymph capillaries; it contains WBCs but lacks RBCs and protein.

William Harvey

The individual who discovered that human circulation is a closed system consisting of pulmonary and systemic patterns.

Pulmonary Circulation

The movement of blood between the heart and the lungs, following the path from the $RV$ to the $LA$.

Pulmonary Artery

The only artery that carries deoxygenated blood, transporting it from the right ventricle to the lungs.

Pulmonary Veins

Vessels that carry oxygenated blood from the lungs back to the left atrium of the heart.

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

A graph or image showing changes in the electrical activity of the heart resulting from the contractions and relaxations of the atria and ventricles.

Electrocardiograph

The tool used for measuring and recording the electrical activity of the heart.

Pulse

A series of pressure waves within an artery caused by the contractions of the left ventricle; the most common site for measurement is the wrist radial artery.

Heart murmur

A whooshing sound during a heartbeat caused by the failure of heart valves to close completely, allowing blood to flow backward.

Simple Harmonic Motion

A type of vibration where the restoring force is directly proportional to the displacement from the equilibrium position.

Hooke's law

The principle for a mass-spring system stating that the spring force is given by the equation $F_{elastic} = -kx$.

Simple Pendulum

A system that swings with simple harmonic motion provided the displacement is at small angles ($< 15^\text{o}$).

Equilibrium

The position in simple harmonic motion where the speed of the object is at its maximum.

Maximum Displacement

The point in simple harmonic motion where the restoring force and acceleration reach their maximum values.

Frequency

The inverse of the period of a vibration, represented as $f = \frac{1}{T}$.

Transverse wave

A wave in which the particles of the medium vibrate perpendicularly to the direction of the wave motion.

Longitudinal wave

A wave in which the particles of the medium vibrate parallel to the direction of the wave motion.

Wave speed equation

The formula used to calculate the speed of a wave, expressed as $v = \text{λ}f$.

Standing waves

Waves formed when two waves with the same frequency, amplitude, and wavelength travel in opposite directions and interfere with one another.