Circulatory System Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the lecture on the circulatory system.

Circulatory System

The heart and network of blood vessels that transport blood and dissolved substances throughout the body.

Circulation

The pumping of blood through the entire body by the heart.

Coronary Circulation

The movement of blood within the heart muscle itself.

Pulmonary Circulation

The flow of blood between the heart and lungs.

Systemic Circulation

The flow of blood between the heart and the rest of the body, excluding the lungs.

Double Circulatory System

A system with two separate loops—one for oxygenated blood (left side) and one for deoxygenated blood (right side).

Heart

The muscular organ that pumps blood around the body.

Atria

The two upper chambers of the heart that receive blood.

Ventricles

The two lower chambers of the heart that pump blood out of the heart.

Heart Valves

Flap-like structures that prevent back-flow of blood inside the heart.

Coronary Arteries

Blood vessels that supply the heart muscle with oxygenated blood.

Artery

A blood vessel with thick muscular, elastic walls that carries blood away from the heart under high pressure.

Vein

A blood vessel with thinner walls and valves that carries blood toward the heart.

Capillary

Microscopic blood vessel with walls one cell thick where exchange of materials with body cells occurs.

Capillary Bed

A network of capillaries servicing a specific area of tissue.

Red Blood Cell

Biconcave, nucleus-free cell containing haemoglobin for oxygen transport.

Haemoglobin

Oxygen-binding molecule inside red blood cells.

White Blood Cell

Immune cell containing a nucleus that defends the body against disease.

Lymphocyte

Type of white blood cell that produces antibodies or antitoxins.

Macrophage

Large white blood cell that engulfs and digests microorganisms.

Platelet

Fragment of cell that helps blood clot by forming fibrinogen nets.

Plasma

Straw-colored liquid portion of blood that transports cells, nutrients, hormones, and wastes.

Fibrinogen Fibres

Protein threads produced by platelets that form a net to trap cells and create clots.

Oxygenated Blood

Blood rich in oxygen, handled by the left side of the heart.

Deoxygenated Blood

Blood low in oxygen, handled by the right side of the heart.