Circulation Basics

Vocabulary flashcards covering the components, functions, and structures involved in human circulation and respiration.

Thoracic

Relating to the Thorax.

Thoracic Cavity

The space inside your chest that contains the heart, lungs and major blood vessels. (no ribs included) (The fluid space inside the thorax)

Heart Location

Between both the LL and RL protected by ribs & ( In middle of chest behind breastbone)

Diaphragm

muscle under your lungs that helps you breathe.

Ribs

Curved bones in your chest that form a cage to protect vital organs like your heart and lungs.

Thorax

The middle part of your body between your neck and your belly that holds and protects your heart, lungs, ribs, and blood vessels. (includes ribs)

Lungs

Pair of spongy organs in the chest. They bring oxygen into the blood and remove carbon dioxide waste

Trachea (Tray-kee-yuh)

A tube made of cartilage and tissue that connects your throat to your lungs. It moves air in and out when you breathe.

Systemic Flow

Blood Flow throughout the entire body.

Pulmonary Flow / Pulmonary Blood Flow

the movement of blood from your heart to your lungs and back

Aorta

The main artery that carries oxygen-rich blood out of heart to the body.

Right Atrium

Top right room. It takes in used blood from the body.

Left Atrium

Top left room. It takes in clean blood from the lungs.

Right Ventricle

Bottom right room. It pumps used blood to the lungs.

Left Ventricle

Bottom left room. It pumps clean blood out of the heart to the body. (pumps it to the aorta)

Tricuspid Valve (try-cuss-pid)

Door between the right atrium and right ventricle.

Mitral Valve (my-truul)

Door between the left atrium and left ventricle.

Pulmonary Valve

Door leading from the right ventricle to the lungs. (pulmonary artery)

Aortic Valve

Door leading from the left ventricle to the body. (aorta)

Superior Vena Cava (veenuh-kay-vuh)

Big tube bringing used blood from the upper body.

Inferior Vena Cava (veenuh-kay-vuh)

Big tube bringing used blood from the lower body.

Pulmonary Artery

Tube taking used blood to the lungs.

Pulmonary Vein

Tube bringing clean blood back from the lungs.

Blood

Carries oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and wastes around the body.

Red Blood Cells

Carry oxygen.

White Blood Cells

Help fight infections.

Platelets (playt-lets)

Help blood clot. (by rushing to the site of injury and forming a plug to stop bleeding. )

Plasma

Liquid part of blood that carries substances. ( Nutrients: glucose from food, Hormones, Waste Products, Proteins, and water.)

Arteries

Carry blood away from the heart.

Veins

Carry blood toward the heart.

Capillaries (kap-uh-ler-ees)

Tiny vessels where oxygen, nutrients, and waste.