From Textbook (Anatomy Vocabulary) - Unit 6: The Circulatory System

cardiopulmonary

Pertaining to the heart and lungs

cardiothoracic

Pertaining to the heart and thoracic cavity

cardiovascular system

Body system that includes the heart and the blood vessels (vascular structures)

circulatory system

Continuous, circular pathway that the blood takes as it moves through the body. Circulation is the process of moving the blood through the system. The circulatory system consists of the systemic circulation and the pulmonary circulation.

mediastinum

Irregularly shaped, central area in the thoracic cavity that lies between the lungs. It contains the heart, parts of the great vessels, as well as the thymus, trachea, and esophagus.

pulmonary circulation

The arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins going to, within, and coming from the lungs

systemic circulation

The arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins everywhere in the body, except in the lungs

aortic valve

Heart valve between the left ventricle and the aortaatrium

chordae tendineae

Rope-like strands that support the tricuspid and mitral valve leaflets and keep them tightly closed when the ventricles are contracting

ductus arteriosus

Temporary blood vessel in the fetal heart that connects the pulmonary trunk to the aorta. It closes within 24 hours after birth.

endocardium

Innermost layer that lines the atria, ventricles, and valves of the heart

foramen ovale

Temporary, oval-shaped opening in the interatrial septum of the fetal heart. It closes within 24 hours after birth.

heart

Organ that pumps blood throughout the body. It contains four chambers, the septum (a center wall), and four valves. The lower tip of the heart is the apex. The adjective for heart is cardiac.

mitral valve

Heart valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle. It is also known as the bicuspid valve. It has two (bi-) leaflets or cusps.

myocardium

Muscular layer of the heart

pericardium

Membrane that surrounds the heart as the pericardial sac and is filled with pericardial fluid. The part of the membrane next to the surface of the heart is the visceral pericardium or epicardium. The part in the outer wall of the pericardial sac is the parietal pericardium.

pulmonary valve

Heart valve between the right ventricle and the pulmonary trunk

tricuspid valve

Heart valve between the right atrium and right ventricle. It has three (tri-) leaflets or cusps.

valve

Structure that opens and closes to control the flow of blood. Heart valves include the tricuspid valve, pulmonary valve, mitral valve, and aortic valve. There are also valves in some of the large veins to prevent backflow of blood.

ventricle

Each of the two large, lower chambers of the heart

aorta

Largest artery. It receives oxygenated blood from the left ventricle. It includes the ascending aorta, the aortic arch, the thoracic aorta, and the abdominal aorta.

arteriole

Smallest branch of an arteryartery

axillary artery

Artery that carries oxygenated blood to the axilla (armpit) area

blood vessels

Large and small channels through which the blood circulates throughout the body. These include arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins that are also known as vascular structures. The lumen is the central opening inside a blood vessel through which the blood flows.

brachial artery

Artery that carries oxygenated blood to the upper arm

capillary

Smallest blood vessel in the body. A capillary network connects the arterioles to the venules. The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place in the capillaries.

carotid artery

Artery that carries oxygenated blood to the neck, face, head, and brain. If these arteries are compressed, the lack of blood to the brain will cause a person to become unconscious.

coronary artery

Artery that carries oxygenated blood to the myocardium (heart muscle)

endothelium

Smooth layer that lines the inner wall of a blood vessel. It is also known as the intima.

femoral artery

Artery that carries oxygenated blood to the upper leggreat vessels

iliac artery

Artery that carries oxygenated blood to the hip and groin area

jugular vein

Vein that carries blood from the head to the superior vena cavaperoneal artery

popliteal artery

Artery that carries oxygenated blood to the back of the knee and then branches into the tibial and peroneal arteries

portal vein

Vein that carries blood from the intestines to the liver

pulmonary artery

Artery that carries blood away from the heart to the lungs. The pulmonary artery is the only artery that carries blood that has a low level of oxygen.

pulmonary vein

Vein that carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart. The pulmonary vein is the only vein that carries blood that has a high level of oxygen.

pulse

The bulging of the wall of an artery located near the surface as blood is pumped by the heart

radial artery

Artery that carries oxygenated blood to the thumb side of the lower arm (along the radius bone)

renal artery

Artery that carries oxygenated blood to the kidneys

aphenous vein

Vein that carries blood from the leg to the groin

subclavian artery

Artery that carries oxygenated blood to the shoulder. It goes underneath (sub-) the clavicle (collar bone).

tibial artery

Artery that carries oxygenated blood to the front and back of the lower leg

ulnar artery

Artery that carries oxygenated blood to the little finger side of the lower arm (along the ulna bone)

vasculature

Blood vessels associated with a particular organ

vasoconstriction

Constriction of smooth muscle in the wall of a blood vessel that causes the lumen to decrease in size

vasodilation

Relaxation of smooth muscle in the wall of a blood vessel that causes the lumen to increase in size

vein

Blood vessel that carries blood from the body back to the heart. This blood has a low level of oxygen and a high level of carbon dioxide and waste products of cellular metabolism from the cells. The exception is the pulmonary veins that carry blood that has a high level of oxygen from the lungs back to the heart.

venae cavae

The two major veins. The superior vena cava carries blood from the head, neck, arms, and chest back to the right atrium of the heart. The inferior vena cava carries blood from the abdomen, pelvis, and legs back to the right atrium.

venule

Smallest branch of a vein

atrioventricular (AV) node

Small area of tissue between the right atrium near the septum. The AV node is part of the conduction system of the heart and receives electrical impulses from the SA node.

bundle branches

Part of the conduction system of the heart after the bundle of His. At the apex of the heart, the branches split into the right bundle branch to the right ventricle and the left bundle branch to the left ventricle. Then, each divides into the Purkinje fibers that spread across the ventricles.

bundle of His

Part of the conduction system of the heart after the AV node. It splits into the right and left bundle branches.

conduction system

System that carries the electrical impulse that makes the heart beat. It consists of the SA node, AV node, bundle of His, bundle branches, and Purkinje fibers.

depolarization

To begin a contraction of the heart, an impulse from the SA node changes the permeability of the myocardial cell membrane. Positive sodium ions, then positive calcium ions, outside the cell move through the cell membrane, and more calcium ions stored in the cell are released. This reverses the normally negative state in a resting myocardial cell and causes a contraction.

diastole

Resting period between contractions

ectopic site

Area within the heart that can produce an electrical impulse but is not part of the conduction system. It sometimes overrides the impulse of the SA node and produces an abnormal heart rhythm.

refractory period

Short period of time when the myocardium is unresponsive to electrical impulses

repolarization

To end a contraction of the heart, positive potassium ions diffuse out of the cell, while molecular pumps move positive sodium and some calcium ions out of the cell and move the rest of the calcium ions into storage within the cell. This restores the slightly negative state of a resting myocardial cell.

sinoatrial node

Pacemaker of the heart. Small area of tissue in the posterior wall of the right atrium. The SA node originates the electrical impulse for the entire conduction system of the heart.

systole

Contraction of the atria or the ventricles