Cardiovascular System: Anatomy, Physiology, and Diseases

Functions of Cardiovascular System

Moves blood throughout the body and transports oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and wastes in the blood.

cardi/o

heart

vascul

blood vessels

-ar

pertaining to

The heart

a muscular organ that furnishes power to maintain blood flow.

Pericardium

a membranous sac enclosing the heart.

peri-

surrounding

cardi

heart

-um

singular noun ending

Epicardium

External layer of the heart.

Myocardium

Muscular, thickest middle layer of the heart.

Endocardium

Inner lining of the heart.

Coronary arteries

Supply oxygen-rich blood to the myocardium.

Coronary veins

Remove waste products from the myocardium.

Atria

Two upper chambers of the heart where all blood enters.

Ventricles

Two lower chambers that pump blood throughout the entire body.

Septum of the Heart

A wall that separates the chambers of the heart.

Interatrial septum

Separates the atria.

Interventricular septum

Separates the ventricles.

Tricuspid valve

Controls opening between right atrium and right ventricle.

Pulmonary (semilunar) valve

Between right ventricle and pulmonary artery.

Mitral valve

Between the left atrium and left ventricle.

Aortic (semilunar) valve

Between the left ventricle and the aorta.

Pulmonary circulation

Flow of blood between the heart and lungs.

Systemic circulation

Flow of blood to all parts of the body except the lungs.

Sinoatrial (SA) node

Heart's natural pacemaker located in the posterior wall of the right atrium.

Atrioventricular (AV) node

Located on the floor of the right atrium.

Bundle of His

Located within the interventricular septum.

Purkinje fibers

Located within the walls of ventricles; stimulation causes ventricles to contract.

Arteries

Carry blood away from the heart.

Aorta

The largest artery in the body.

Arterioles

Small arteries that carry blood to the capillaries.

Capillaries

Single endothelial layer that allows transfer of oxygen/nutrients from blood to the cells.

Venules

Smallest veins that join to form larger veins.

Veins

Carry blood toward the heart; valves prevent backflow of blood.

Pulse

Created by rhythmic pressure against the walls of an artery caused by contraction of the heart.

Blood Pressure

Amount of systolic and diastolic pressure exerted against the walls of arteries.

Systolic pressure

Pressure when ventricles contract.

Diastolic pressure

Pressure when ventricles relax.

Erythrocytes

Mature red blood cells produced by red bone marrow that transport oxygen to the tissues.

Hemoglobin

Oxygen-carrying blood protein pigment.

White Blood Cells (WBC)

Leukocytes that defend the body against infective organisms and foreign substances.

Thrombocytes

Also known as Platelets; activate by clumping together to form a clot to stop bleeding.

Rh Factor

Defines presence or absence of Rh antigen on red blood cells

Rh positive

Rh antigen present

Rh negative

Rh antigen absent

Atherosclerosis

Caused by buildup of plaque on interior walls of arteries

Lumen

Opening within the vessels which blood flows

Ischemia

Due to restricted blood flow causing insufficient supply of oxygen to the tissues

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

Most common type of heart disease

Angina

Also known as Chest Pain (CP)

Stable Angina

Resolves with rest

Unstable Angina

Chronic, may be a precursor to a heart attack

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

Heart is unable to discharge all the blood it receives, resulting in congestion

Carditis

Inflammation of the heart

Endocarditis

Inflammation of the inner lining of the heart

Pericarditis

Inflammation of the pericardium

Myocarditis

Inflammation of the myocardium

Cardiomyopathy

Term to describe all diseases of the heart muscle

Heart Murmur

Often caused by defective heart valves

Arrhythmia

Loss of normal rhythm of heartbeat

Aneurysm

Localized weak area or enlargement of wall of an artery

Arteriosclerosis

Any group of diseases characterized by thickening and loss of elasticity of arterial walls

Chronic Venous Insufficiency

Venous circulation is inadequate due to partial vein blockage or to the leakage of venous valves

Phlebitis

Inflammation of a vein

Embolus

Foreign object circulating in blood such as a blood clot, air/gas, or piece of tissue

Sepsis

Also known as septicemia, a potentially life-threatening infection that results from bacteria or other infectious organisms entering the bloodstream

Hemorrhage

Large amount of blood loss in a short time

Leukemia

Cancer characterized by progressive number of abnormal leukocytes in tissues, organs, and blood

Anemia

Decreased number of erythocytes (RBC's)

Hypertension

Elevation of arterial blood pressure

Hypotension

Lower-than-normal arterial blood pressure

Heart Cath

Cardiac catheterization

Angiography

Radiographic study of blood vessels after injecting of contrast medium

Coronary Angiography

Pre and Post Intervention

Venography

Image of a specific vein after contrast dye is injected

Duplex Ultrasound

Diagnostic procedure to image vessels and blood flow

Holter Monitor

Portable E K G worn by ambulatory patient

Stress Test

Monitoring with E K G while patient exercises on treadmill, or is injected with a chemical to increase the heart rate

Thallium stress test

Injecting thallium and assessing blood flow through coronary arteries during exercise

Nitroglycerin

Vasodilator that is prescribed to prevent or relieve the pain of angina by dilating the blood vessels to the heart

Carotid Endarterectomy

Removal of the portion of clogged carotid artery

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)

Replaces blocked coronary artery with a vein from the leg or chest

Automated external defibrillator (AED)

Automatically samples rhythm and externally shocks the heart, if needed

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)

Regulates heartbeats and defibrillates if disruption of heart's rhythm occurs

Artificial pacemaker

Electronic device regulates the heartbeats

Cardiac ablation

Scars or destroys the heart tissue that is triggering an abnormal heart rhythm

Valvuloplasty

Surgical repair of heart valve

Heart valve replacement

Replacement of heart valve; usually aortic or mitral

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement

Collapsible replacement valve expands to resume function of defective valve

Aneurysm clipping

Placement of clip at the neck of aneurysm

Hemostasis

Stop or control bleeding

-emia

Blood, blood condition

erythr/o

Red

hem/o, hemat/o

Blood, relating to the blood

leuk/o

White

phleb/o

Vein

tachy-

Fast, rapid

thromb/o

Clot

ven/o

Vein