BIOL 2402 Cardiovascular System Lecture Updated 2-4-25 - Tagged

Cardiovascular System

The organ system that circulates blood throughout the body, consisting of the heart, blood vessels, and blood.

Arteries

Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.

Veins

Blood vessels that carry blood towards the heart.

Aortic Arch

The part of the aorta that bends between the ascending and descending aorta.

Endocarditis

Inflammation or infection of the endocardium, often affecting heart valves.

Chordae Tendinae

Heart strings that connect the papillary muscles to the tricuspid valve and the mitral valve in the heart.

Mitral Valve Prolapse

A condition where the mitral valve does not close properly, allowing blood to leak backward into the left atrium.

Sulcus

An indention on the surface of an organ such as the heart.

Septum

A wall dividing two chambers, such as the atria and ventricles of the heart.

Cardiac Cycle

The sequence of events that occur in the heart during one complete heartbeat.

Echocardiogram (ECG or EKG)

A test that records the electrical activity of the heart over a period of time.

Tachycardia

An abnormally fast heart rate of over 100 beats per minute.

Bradycardia

A slower than normal heart rate, typically fewer than 60 beats per minute.

Stroke

A medical emergency involving a disruption of blood supply to the brain.

Aneurysm

A bulge or ballooning in the wall of an artery.

Fibrillation

An irregular, often rapid heart rate that can lead to poor blood flow.

Myocardial Infarction

Also known as a heart attack; it occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked.

Hemorrhagic Stroke

A type of stroke caused by bleeding in the brain.

Ischemic Stroke

A type of stroke that occurs when a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain is obstructed.

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

A temporary period of symptoms similar to those of a stroke.

Pulmonary Circulation

The passage of blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs and back to the left side of the heart.

Systemic Circulation

The pathway of blood from the left side of the heart to the rest of the body and back to the right side of the heart.