Cardiovascular System Study Notes

Cardiovascular System Overview

  • Comprised of heart and blood vessels.
  • Moves blood to deliver nutrients and oxygen to body tissues.

Blood Vessels

  • Types: Arteries, Veins, Capillaries.
  • Arteries: Carry oxygenated blood away from heart (except pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood).
    • Smaller branches turn into arterioles and capillaries.
  • Veins: Carry deoxygenated blood back to heart (except pulmonary veins carry oxygenated blood).
    • Start as capillaries, enlarge to venules and veins.
  • Capillaries: One cell layer thick, facilitate exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and waste.

Heart Structure and Function

  • Size of human fist, weighs less than one pound.
  • Pumps blood through two systems:
    1. Pulmonary Circulation - Sends deoxygenated blood to lungs.
    2. Systemic Circulation - Sends oxygenated blood throughout the body.
  • Blood Flow Sequence (Right Side):
    1. Blood enters right atrium via superior/inferior vena cava.
    2. Flows to right ventricle through tricuspid valve.
    3. Right ventricle contracts, blood exits via pulmonary valve to pulmonary artery.
  • Blood Flow Sequence (Left Side):
    1. Oxygen-rich blood from lungs enters left atrium via pulmonary veins.
    2. Flows to left ventricle through mitral valve.
    3. Left ventricle contracts, blood exits through aortic valve to aorta.
  • Heart Layers: Epicardium (outer), Myocardium (muscle), Endocardium (inner).
  • Enclosed in pericardial sac for protection.

Medical Terms Related to Cardiovascular System

  • Angina: Chest pain due to oxygen deficiency.
  • Angiocarditis: Inflammation of heart and vessels.
  • Angioplasty: Surgical vessel repair.
  • Arteriosclerosis: Artery hardening.
  • Atherosclerosis: Lipid deposits causing arterial fibrosis.
  • Bradycardia: Slow heartbeat.
  • Cardiomegaly: Enlarged heart.
  • Cyanosis: Blue skin due to oxygen deficiency.
  • Diastole: Heart relaxation phase.
  • Embolism: Traveling blood clot.
  • Hypertension: Excessive arterial pressure.
  • Pacemaker: Device to control heart rhythm.
  • Systole: Heart contraction phase.

Medical Abbreviations

  • Be familiar with standard abbreviations for arteries and veins used in medical records documentation.