Cardiovascular System: Heart//STUDIED

Flashcards covering the vocabulary of the heart and general cardiovascular physiology.

Pulmonary Circuit

Carries blood to and from the lungs for gas exchange

Systemic Circuit

Carries blood to and from the rest of the body

Arteries

Carry blood away from the heart

Veins

Carry blood to the heart

Capillaries

Small, thin-walled vessels between arteries and veins

Right Atrium

Collects blood from the systemic circuit

Right Ventricle

Pumps blood to the pulmonary circuit

Left Atrium

Collects blood from the pulmonary circuit

Left Ventricle

Pumps blood to the systemic circuit

Base

The flatter top of the heart where the large vessels attach

Apex

The pointed tip of the heart

Pericardium

Double layer of tissue lining the pericardial cavity forming the pericardial sac

Visceral Pericardium

Inner layer of the pericardium closest to the heart's surface

Parietal Pericardium

Outer layer of the pericardium

Pericardial Fluid

Fluid acting as a lubricant between the pericardial layers

Pericarditis

Infection or inflammation of the pericardial space

Cardiac Tamponade

Excess fluid accumulation in the pericardial space

Atria

Thin-walled chambers with an expandable portion called the auricle

Ventricles

Thick-walled chambers of the heart

Coronary Sulcus

Groove dividing the atria and ventricles

Epicardium

Outer layer of the heart wall; same as the visceral pericardium

Myocardium

Middle, muscular wall of the heart

Endocardium

Inner epithelial lining of the heart chambers

Interatrial Septum

Division between the right and left atria

Interventricular Septum

Division between the right and left ventricles

Atrioventricular (AV) Valves

Valves allowing one-way flow from the atria to the ventricles

Superior Vena Cava

Large vein carrying returning blood from the upper body to the right atrium

Inferior Vena Cava

Large vein carrying returning blood from the lower body to the right atrium

Auricle

Expandable portion of the atrium

Papillary Muscles

Extend from the myocardium into the chamber and attach to the chordae tendinae

Chordae Tendinae

Attach to the flaps of the AV valves and prevent them from turning 'inside-out'

Pulmonary Arteries

Carry deoxygenated blood away from the heart to the lungs

Pulmonary Veins

Return oxygenated blood to the left atrium from the lungs

Right AV Valve

Also called the tricuspid valve; located between the right atrium and ventricle

Left AV Valve

Also called the bicuspid or mitral valve; located between the left atrium and ventricle

Semilunar Valves

Valves at the base of the vessels leaving the heart

Pulmonary Semilunar Valve

Valve at the base of the pulmonary trunk

Aortic Semilunar Valve

Valve at the base of the aorta

Murmur

Turbulence of blood flow through the heart

Regurgitation/Insufficiency

Backflow of blood when the heart contracts due to a valve not closing completely

Stenosis

Murmur resulting from stiffened or thickened valve flaps narrowing the opening for blood flow

Foramen Ovale

Opening in the interatrial septum in the fetal heart

Fossa Ovale

Remnant of the foramen ovale in the adult heart

Ductus Arteriosus

Short connection between the pulmonary trunk and aorta in the fetal heart

Ligamentum Arteriosum

Remnant of the ductus arteriosus in the adult

Coronary Circulation

Blood supply to the heart muscle itself

Coronary Arteries

Originate just above the aortic semilunar valve at the base of the aorta

Right Coronary Artery

Carries blood to the right atrium, part of the right and left ventricles, the SA node, and the AV node

Left Coronary Artery

Carries blood to the left atrium, left ventricle, and interventricular septum

Cardiac Veins

Return blood from the heart muscle to the venous circulation

Conducting System

Controls and coordinates the heartbeat

Contractile Cells

Produce the contractions of the heart

Cardiac Cycle

One heartbeat; an electrical event recorded on an ECG

Sinoatrial Node (SA Node)

Pacemaker of the heart; located in the posterior wall of the right atrium

Atrioventricular Node (AV Node)

Located in the floor of the right atrium; receives the electrical impulse from the SA node

AV Bundle

In the interventricular septum; splits into right and left bundle branches

Purkinje Fibers

Conducting fibers branching out to reach all ventricular cardiac muscle cells

Bradycardia

Heart rate that is too slow; less than 60 BPM

Tachycardia

Heart rate that is too fast; greater than 100 BPM

Ectopic Pacemaker

Area of the heart other than the SA or AV nodes setting the pace of the heart

P-Wave

Small wave produced when the atria contract on an ECG

QRS Complex

Complex signal produced when the ventricles contract on an ECG

T-Wave

Small wave produced as the ventricles return to the resting state on an ECG

P-R Interval

Time from the beginning of atrial contraction to the beginning of ventricular contraction on an ECG

Q-T Interval

Time from the beginning of ventricular contraction to the end of ventricular relaxation on an ECG

Cardiac Arrhythmias

Abnormal patterns of cardiac electrical activity

Systole

Contraction

Diastole

Relaxation

S1

Produced by the AV valves closing

S2

Produced by the semilunar valves closing

Stroke Volume

Volume of blood in milliliters ejected per beat

Cardiac Output

Measured in ml/min

Parasympathetic Stimulation

Slows the heart; acetylcholine

Sympathetic Stimulation

Speeds up the Heart; epinephrine and norepinephrine

Systolic Pressure

Peak pressure in the arterial system; coincides with ventricular systole

Diastolic Pressure

Lowest pressure in the arterial system; coincides with ventricular relaxation

Pulse Pressure

Difference between systolic and diastolic pressure

Hypertension

Abnormally high blood pressure

Hypotension

Abnormally low blood pressure

Elastic Rebound

Pushes the blood along in a wave-like motion

Respiratory Pump

Changing pressures in the thoracic cavity that helps venous return

Diffusion

Passive transport; substances move from higher to lower concentration

Filtration

Water and small solutes are forced through the capillary membrane

Reabsorption

Water moves into the bloodstream to dilute solutes

Tissue Perfusion

Blood flow through tissues carrying oxygen and nutrients and removing wastes.

Autoregulation

Immediate, localized adjustments of perfusion in tissues.

Medulla Oblongata

Where cardiovascular centers adjust cardiac output and peripheral resistance

Baroreceptors

Monitor pressure changes

ADH (Antidiuretic Hormone)

Elevates blood volume and pressure by preventing water loss at the kidneys

Angiotensin II

Released in response to decreased renal blood pressure; stimulates aldosterone secretion, ADH production, thirst, cardiac output, and peripheral vasoconstriction

Erythropoietin

Released by the kidneys in response to low BP or low oxygen; stimulates RBC production

Natriuretic Peptides

Released by the heart; lower blood volume and pressure to reduce stress on the heart

Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP)

Produced by the right atrium in response to excessive stretching

Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP)

Produced by ventricular muscle cells