Body Systems (Cardiovascular)

Cells

Cells

the tiny structural units of every living things. Building blocks of human body. Smallest unit of life.

Tissues

a group of cells that have similar structure and that function together as a unit.

Epithelial Tissues

tissue that functions as covering

Connective Tissues

tissue that functions a supportive role

Nervous Tissues

tissue that controls the body

Muscle Tissues

tissue that process the movement in the body

Organs

a group of tissues and can perform extremely complex functions.

Heart

organ that specialises the pumping of blood around the body

Lungs

organ that takes in oxygen and expels carbon dioxide waste

Kidney

organ that filters the blood

Stomach

organ that digests food

Cardiovascular System

The transport system of the body. The beating heart and the blood pressure provide the force required to move blood around the body.

Heart

the main component of cardio system. It is a muscular organ that sits slightly to the left of central in the chest cavity, between the lungs.

Arteries

These are blood vessels that have muscular walls and a smooth lining and carry blood away from the heart.

Aorta

It is the largest artery in the body.

Veins

blood vessels that carry blood toward the heart and have small valves to control the correct direction of the flow of the blood.

Capillaries

very small blood vessels at the ends of the arteries. The walls are thin to allow for nutrients and oxygen to pass into the cells, and waste products to pass back into the circulation.

Blood

a connective tissue and, although it is in a liquid form and is the delivery mode for oxygen and nutrients, it also aids in the removal of metabolic wastes and helps distribute hormones.

Angina

a chest pain or discomfort caused by insufficient blood flow and oxygen to the muscle of the heart and is usually a symptom of CAD

Atherosclerosis

This is a build-up of plaque within the walls of the blood vessels

Cardiologist

A person who studies the heart – the 'heart specialist'

Carditis

Inflammation of the heart

Cerebrovascular accident (CVA)

also known as Stroke

Coronary arteries

The arteries that encircle (like a crown) the heart muscle and supply it with blood

Myocardial infarction

also known as Heart attack

Plasma

A pale-yellow fluid that contains protein, gases and salts.

Red blood cells

transport oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from body tissues.

Erythrocytes

also known as RBC.

120 days

The average life span of an RBC

Haemoglobin

gives blood the colour red.

reticulocytes

Bone marrow releases RBCs into circulation in immature form as _______.

Platelets

small colourless fragments split from cells in bone marrow. They initiate contraction of damaged blood vessels to minimise blood loss, form haemostatic plugs in injured vessels and accelerate blood coagulation.

Thrombocytes

also known as platelets.

White blood cells

have five different types and all participate in the body's defence and immune system.

leukocytes

also known as WBC

deoxygenated blood

In the adult circulation, _______ from the body enters the right atrium of the heart. It passes through a valve into the right ventricle and from there is pumped through the pulmonary valve to the lungs.

reoxygenated

In the lungs the blood is ______ and returned to the left atrium of the heart. This is then pumped through a valve into the left ventricle and then pumped out the aorta via the aortic valve, for distribution through the body.

autonomic nervous system

a component of the peripheral nervous system that regulates involuntary physiologic processes including heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, digestion, and sexual arousal.

intrinsic conduction system

a system that sets the basic rhythm of the beating heart by generating impulses which stimulate the heart to contract

pulse/heartbeat

the contractions that occur regularly between 60-100 times every minute.

blood pressure

a force exerted by the blood on the walls of the arteries each heartbeat

Systolic blood pressure

larger number, the pressure in the arteries as the heart pumps out blood during each beat.

Diastolic blood pressue

lower number, pressure as the heart relaxes before the next beat.

Congenital heart disease

A condition that is present at birth; there are defects in the heart and/or related large blood vessels at the time of birth.

Ventricular septal defect

a hole between the right and left ventricle of the heart and is the most common defect.

Patent ductus arteriosus

an extra blood vessel; a connection between the pulmonary artery and the aorta (this is also normal before birth but should close just after birth).

Atrial septal defect

an opening between the right and left atria of the heart (while this is normal as a foetus it closes just after birth).

Coactation of the aorta

a narrowing of the descending aorta.

Tetralogy of fallot

the most serious of the heart defects and is a combination of four defects.

Coronary artery disease (CAD)

is when the coronary arteries become narrowed due to a slow build-up of fatty deposits, called 'plaque' or 'atheroma'.

Deep vein thrombosis

It is where a blood clot forms in a deep vein of the body, usually in the leg.

Cholesterol

a fatty substance produced naturally by your body and found in your blood.

Hypertension

a high arterial blood pressure where the pressure is >140/90. While it is a disease process in itself, it is also a risk factor for cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and kidney disease.

Varicose veins

these are knobbly, twisted and darkish-blue in appearance. They are most commonly found on the legs.

Spider veins

these are smaller, visible veins and are closer to the skin surface. They are mostly found on the legs or face.