1.2.5 Key Vocabulary Terms

Tricuspid Valve

Separates the right atrium from the right ventricle.

Mitral Valve

Separates the left atrium from the left ventricle.

Pulmonary Valve

Permits blood to flow into the pulmonary artery from the right ventricle.

Aortic Valve

Permits blood to flow into the aorta from the left ventricle.

Cardiovascular System

Transport system responsible for carrying oxygen and nutrients to the body and carrying away carbon dioxide and other wastes; composed of the heart, blood vessels, and blood.

Atria

Upper chamber of the heart where blood enters; two atria connect to the lungs and veins.

Ventricles

Lower chamber of the heart where blood exits; consist of left ventricle (to aorta) and right ventricle (to pulmonary artery).

Valves

Body structure that temporarily closes a passage or orifice or permits movement of fluid in only one direction.

Arteries

Vessels that carry blood from the heart through the body, part of the circulatory system.

Veins

Vessels that return typically deoxygenated blood back to the heart.

Pulmonary Circulation

Deoxygenated blood moves from the right ventricle to the lungs to become oxygenated and returns to the left side of the heart.

Systemic Circulation

Series of vessels that bring oxygenated blood from the heart to tissues and return deoxygenated blood to the heart.

Pulmonary Artery

Large blood vessels that carry deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs.

Pulmonary Vein

Blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium.

Aorta

Largest artery in the body that carries oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the rest of the body.

Superior Vena Cava

Second largest vein that returns blood to the right atrium from the upper half of the body.

Inferior Vena Cava

Largest vein that returns blood to the right atrium from body parts below the diaphragm.

Coronary Artery

Blood vessels that supply oxygen to the heart’s tissues.

Auricles

Ear-like extensions of the atria.

Chordae Tendinae

Fibrous cords that attach to the tricuspid and mitral valves.

Papillary Muscle

Muscles in the ventricles that attach to the cusps of the tricuspid and mitral valves via the chordae tendinae.