Cardiovascular System

major function

transportation of nutrients and oxygen

transport vehicle

blood

heart

muscular organ that pumps blood throughout the body

blood vessels

tubelike structures that carry blood throughout the body

vascular system

blood circulating inside blood vessels

arteries

carry blood away from heart

veins

drain tissues and return blood to heart

capillaries

extend & branch through tissues and connect smallest arteries to smallest veins

aorta

largest artery in body

vena cava

largest vein in the body

atrioventricular valves (AV valves)

located between atrium & ventricles on each side

semilunar valves

guards the bases of the two large arteries leaving the ventricular chambers

incompetent valves

forces the heart to pump/re-pump the same blood back because the valves do not close properly and blood back-flows

pulmonary circulation

circulation from the right side of the heart to the lungs and back to the left side of the heart

systemic circulation

second circuit from left side of heart thru body tissues and back to right side of heart

autonomic nervous system

acts like brakes and gas pedals to decrease or increase heart rate depending on which division is activated

intrinsic conduction system

built into the heart tissue and sets its basic rhythm--\> composed of a special tissue found nowhere else in the body

cardiac cycle

The events of one complete heartbeat

cardiac output

amount of blood pumped out by each side of heart in one minute

stroke volume

volume of blood pumped out by a ventricle with each heartbeat

vascular system

blood circulating inside blood vessels; closed transport system

vital signs

pulse

pulse

Beat of the heart as felt through the walls of the arteries.

blood pressure

the pressure that is exerted by the blood against the walls of blood vessels

systolic pressure

the pressure in the arteries at the peak of ventricular contraction

diastolic pressure

The pressure that remains in the arteries during the relaxing phase of the heart's cycle (diastole) when the left ventricle is at rest.

peripheral resistance

the opposition to flow that blood encounters in vessels away from the heart

pericarditis

inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart

incompetent valve

forces the heart to pump and repump the same blood because the valve does not close properly and blood backflows

valvular stenosis

the valve flaps become stiff

angina pectoris

crushing chest pain

myocardial infarction

heart attack

ischemia

lack of adequate blood supply to the heart muscle

fibrillation

a rapid

tachycardia

rapid heart rate (over 100 beats per minute)

bradycardia

heart rate less than 60 beats per minute

heart murmur

abnormal or unusual heart sounds

congestive heart failure

-pumping of heart is progressively impaired -Cardiac output cannot meet body needs

varicose veins

abnormally swollen

thrombophlebitis

Inflammation of a vein that results when a clot forms in a vessel with poor circulation

hypotension

low blood pressure

orthostatic hypotension

temporary low BP and dizziness when suddenly rising from a sitting or reclining position

circulatory shock

a condition in which the blood vessels are inadequately filled and blood cannot circulate normally

hypertension

persistent high blood pressure; sustained pressure of 140/90 or higher

congenital heart defects

structural abnormalities caused by the failure of the heart to develop normally before birth

apex

pointed inferior tip of heart

base

broad posterosuperior aspect of heart

pericardium

double walled sac that encloses heart

fibrous pericardium

loosely fitting superficial part of the pericardium

serous pericardium

slippery

epicardium

part of heart wall