PE CRS

Cardiovascular system

The heart and blood vessels circulate blood throughout the body, delivering water, oxygen, and nutrients to cells, while removing waste products like carbon dioxide.

heart

An involuntary muscle that pumps blood throughout the cardiovascular system, consisting of four chambers: two atria and two ventricles.

blood vessels

A transport network of arteries, capillaries, and veins that carries nutrients and waste around the body.

blood

Fluid that circulates through the body, consisting of plasma, red and white blood cells, and platelets.

cardiac cycle

The movement of blood through the heart in one heartbeat, alternating between systole (contraction) and diastole (relaxation).

arteries

Large, thick-walled blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart.

veins

Blood vessels that carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart.

capillaries

Tiny blood vessels where the exchange of gases occurs between blood and cells.

vasodilation

A process where blood vessels widen, increasing blood flow and heat loss.

vasoconstriction

A process where blood vessels narrow, reducing blood flow and heat loss.

systemic circulation

The circuit that carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body and returns deoxygenated blood back to the heart.

pulmonary circulation

The circuit that carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs for oxygenation and returns oxygenated blood back to the heart.

thermoregulation

The maintenance of a stable core body temperature through mechanisms like vasodilation and vasoconstriction.

stroke volume (SV)

The amount of blood ejected from the left ventricle with each heartbeat.

cardiac output (Q̇)

The total volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute, calculated as stroke volume multiplied by heart rate.

expiration

The movement of air out of the lungs.

inspiration

The movement of air into the lungs.

maximum oxygen uptake (VO2 max)

The maximum amount of oxygen that can be used by the body in one minute.

diffusion

The movement of gases from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

vital capacity

The maximum amount of air that can be expelled from the lungs after maximum inhalation.

heart rate

The number of times the heart beats per minute.

tidal volume (TV)

The amount of air inhaled or exhaled in a single breath.

ventilation (V)

The total amount of air exchanged (inhaled and exhaled) during one minute.