40: Circulatory System- Vocab (Studyguide)

Aorta

major artery of the body that takes blood away from the heart

Arteriole

small vessel that connects an artery to a capillary bed

Artery

blood vessel that takes blood away from the heart

Atherosclerosis

buildup of fatty plaques in the coronary arteries in the heart

Atrioventricular valve

one-way membranous flap of connective tissue between the atrium and the ventricle in the rightside of the heart; also known as the tricuspid valve

Atrium

chamber of the heart that receives blood from the veins and sends blood to the
ventricles

Bicuspid valve

also, mitral valve (left atrioventricular valve) one-way membranous flap between the atrium and the ventricle on the left side of the heart.

Blood pressure (BP)

pressure of blood in the arteries that helps to push blood through the body

Capillary

Smallest blood vessel that allows the passage of individual blood cells and the site of diffusion of oxygen and nutrient exchange

Capillary bed

Large number of capillaries that converge to take blood to a particular organ or tissue

Cardiomyocyte

Specialized heart muscle cell that is striated, but contracts involuntarily like smooth muscle

Closed circulatory system

System in which blood is separated from the bodily interstitial fluid and contained in blood vessels

Diastole

Relaxation phase of the cardiac cycle when the heart is relaxed, and the ventricles are filling with blood

Double circulation

Flow of blood into circuits: the pulmonary circuit through the lungs and the systemic circuit through the organs and body

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

Recording of the electrical impulses of the cardiac muscle

Hemocoel

Cavity into which blood is pumped in an open circulatory system

Hemolymph

Mixture of blood and interstitial fluid that is found in insects and other Anthrpods as well as most mollusks

Inferior vena cava

Drains blood from the veins that come from the lower organs and the legs

Myocardial infarction

Complete blockage of the coronary arteries and death of the cardiac muscle tissue (also known as a heart attack)

Myocardium

Heart muscle cells that make up the middle layer in the bulk of the heart wall

Open circulatory system

System in which the blood is mixed with in interstitial fluid and directly covers the organs

Pericardium

Membrane layer protects the heart; also part of the epicardium

Plasma

Liquid component of blood that is left after the cells are removed

Platelet

Small cellular fragment that collects at wounds, cross reacts with clotting factors, and forms a plug to prevent blood loss (also, thrombocyte)

Pulmonary circulation

Flow of blood away from the heart through the lungs were oxygenation occurs, and then returns to the heart again

Red blood cell

erythrocyte; small (7-8 um) biconcave cell without mitochondria (and in mammals without nuclei0 that is packaged with hemoglobin, giving the cell it's red color; transports oxygen through the body

Semilunar valve

Membrane flap of connective tissue between the aorta and the ventricle of the heart (the aortic or pulmonary semilunar valves)

Systemic circulation

Flow of blood away from the heart to the brain,liver , kidneys, stomach, and other organs, the limbs, and the muscles of the body, and then the return of the blood to the heart

Superior vena cava

Drains blood from the jugular vein that comes from the brain and from the veins that come from the arms

Systole

Contraction phase of cardiac cycle when the ventricles are pumping blood into the arteries

Tricuspid valve

One way membranous flap of connective tissue between the atrium and the ventricle in the right side of the heart; also known as the atrioventricular valve

Vasoconstriction

Narrowing of a blood vessel

Vasodilation

Widening of a blood vessel

Vein

Blood vessel that brings blood back to the heart

Vena cava

Major vein of the body returning blood from the upper and lower parts of the body; see the superior vena cava and inferior vena cava

Ventricle

(heart) large inferior chamber of the heart that pumps blood into arteries

Venule

Blood vessel that connects a capillary bed to a vein

White blood cell

leukocyte: large (30 um) cell with nuclei of which there are many types with different roles, including the protection of the body from viruses and bacteria, and cleaning up dead cells and other waste