Unit Wordlist and Learning Resources
Unit Wordlist: The Cardiovascular System
The following Terms and Concepts are important in the study of the Cardiovascular System:
| Heart Anatomy
atrium (left, right) ventricle (left, right)
Vascular Anatomy
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Major Blood Vessels (in addition to those near heart)
Circulation Terms
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Cardiac Conduction Terms
atrioventricular bundle branches electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) fibrillation (Atrial, Ventricular) Cardiac Cycle Terms Heart Rate (HR) Blood erythrocytes (red blood cell) leukocytes (white blood cell)
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largest artery in the body, originating from the left ventricle and descending to the abdominal region where it bifurcates into the common iliac arteries at the level of the fourth lumbar vertebra; arteries originating from the aorta distribute blood to virtually all tissues of the body
initial portion of the aorta, rising from the left ventricle for a distance of approximately 5 cm
arc that connects the ascending aorta to the descending aorta; ends at the intervertebral disk between the fourth and fifth thoracic vertebrae
portion of the aorta that continues downward past the end of the aortic arch; subdivided into the thoracic aorta and the abdominal aorta
(also, aortic semilunar valve) valve located at the base of the aorta
located inferiorly, the rounded tip of the heart
the superior aspect of the heart, at the exit of the great vessels (pulmonary trunk, ascending aorta)
extension of an atrium visible on the superior surface of the heart
(also, mitral valve or left atrioventricular valve) valve located between the left atrium and ventricle; consists of two flaps of tissue
string-like extensions of tough connective tissue that extend from the flaps of the atrioventricular valves to the papillary muscles
branches of the ascending aorta that supply blood to the heart; the left coronary artery feeds the left side of the heart, the left atrium and ventricle, and the interventricular septum; the right coronary artery feeds the right atrium, portions of both ventricles, and the heart conduction system
innermost layer of the heart lining the heart chambers and heart valves; composed of endothelium reinforced with a thin layer of connective tissue that binds to the myocardium
thickest layer of the heart composed of cardiac muscle cells built upon a framework of primarily collagenous fibers and blood vessels that supply it and the nervous fibers that help to regulate it
innermost layer of the serous pericardium and the outermost layer of the heart wall
(also, pericardial sac) membrane that separates the heart from other mediastinal structures; consists of two distinct, fused sublayers: the fibrous pericardium and the parietal pericardium
large systemic vein that returns blood to the heart from the inferior portion of the body
(plural = atria) upper or receiving chamber of the heart that pumps blood into the lower chambers just prior to their contraction; the right atrium receives blood from the systemic circuit that flows into the right ventricle; the left atrium receives blood from the pulmonary circuit that flows into the left ventricle
one of the primary pumping chambers of the heart located in the lower portion of the heart; the left ventricle is the major pumping chamber on the lower left side of the heart that ejects blood into the systemic circuit via the aorta and receives blood from the left atrium; the right ventricle is the major pumping chamber on the lower right side of the heart that ejects blood into the pulmonary circuit via the pulmonary trunk and receives blood from the right atrium
extension of the myocardium in the ventricles to which the chordae tendineae attach
left and right branches of the pulmonary trunk that carry deoxygenated blood from the heart to each of the lungs
large arterial vessel that carries blood ejected from the right ventricle; divides into the left and right pulmonary arteries
(also, pulmonary semilunar valve, the pulmonic valve, or the right semilunar valve) valve at the base of the pulmonary trunk that prevents backflow of blood into the right ventricle; consists of three flaps
veins that carry highly oxygenated blood into the left atrium, which pumps the blood into the left ventricle, which in turn pumps oxygenated blood into the aorta and to the many branches of the systemic circuit
(plural = septa) walls or partitions that divide the heart into chambers
large systemic vein; drains blood from most areas superior to the diaphragm; empties into the right atrium
(also, right atrioventricular valve) valve located between the right atrium and ventricle; consists of three flaps of tissue
blood vessel that conducts blood away from the heart
smallest of blood vessels where physical exchange occurs between the blood and tissue cells surrounded by interstitial fluid
network of 10–100 capillaries connecting arterioles to venules
(also, tunica interna) innermost lining or tunic of a vessel
(also, tunica adventitia) outermost layer or tunic of a vessel (except capillaries)
middle layer or tunic of a vessel (except capillaries)
blood vessel that conducts blood toward the heart
continuation of the axillary artery in the brachium; supplies blood to much of the brachial region; gives off several smaller branches that provide blood to the posterior surface of the arm in the region of the elbow; bifurcates into the radial and ulnar arteries at the coronoid fossa
right common carotid artery arises from the brachiocephalic artery, and the left common carotid arises from the aortic arch; gives rise to the external and internal carotid arteries; supplies the respective sides of the head and neck
arises from the common carotid artery and begins with the carotid sinus; goes through the carotid canal of the temporal bone to the base of the brain; combines with branches of the vertebral artery forming the arterial circle; supplies blood to the brain
arises from the common carotid artery; supplies blood to numerous structures within the face, lower jaw, neck, esophagus, and larynx
branch of the aorta that leads to the internal and external iliac arteries
branch from the common iliac arteries; supplies blood to the urinary bladder, walls of the pelvis, external genitalia, and the medial portion of the femoral region; in females, also provide blood to the uterus and vagina
branch of the common iliac artery that leaves the body cavity and becomes a femoral artery; supplies blood to the lower limbs
one of a pair of veins that flows into the inferior vena cava at the level of L5; the left common iliac vein drains the sacral region; divides into external and internal iliac veins near the inferior portion of the sacroiliac joint
drains the pelvic organs and integument; formed from several smaller veins in the region; leads to the common iliac vein
formed when the femoral vein passes into the body cavity; drains the legs and leads to the common iliac vein
continuation of the external iliac artery after it passes through the body cavity; divides into several smaller branches, the lateral deep femoral artery, and the genicular artery; becomes the popliteal artery as it passes posterior to the knee
drains the upper leg; receives blood from the great saphenous vein, the deep femoral vein, and the femoral circumflex vein; becomes the external iliac vein when it crosses the body wall
blood vessels that return “used” blood from the head and neck
branch of the abdominal aorta; supplies each kidney
largest vein entering the inferior vena cava; drains the kidneys and leads to the inferior vena cava
right subclavian arises from the brachiocephalic artery, whereas the left subclavian artery arises from the aortic arch; gives rise to the internal thoracic, vertebral, and thyrocervical arteries; supplies blood to the arms, chest, shoulders, back, and central nervous system
located deep in the thoracic cavity; becomes the axillary vein as it enters the axillary region; drains the axillary and smaller local veins near the scapular region; leads to the brachiocephalic vein
portion of the descending aorta superior to the diaphragm
portion of the aorta inferior to the aortic hiatus and superior to the common iliac arteries
the network of arteries and veins that supplies heart muscle (myocardium) with oxygenated blood and nutrients and removes deoxygenated blood and wastes
the part of the cardiovascular system that carries blood between the heart and lungs
the part of the cardiovascular system that carries blood between the heart and the tissues of the body
in the cardiovascular system, the movement of material from a capillary into the interstitial fluid, moving from an area of higher pressure to lower pressure
in the cardiovascular system, the movement of material from the interstitial fluid into the capillaries
clump of myocardial cells located in the inferior portion of the right atrium within the atrioventricular septum; receives the impulse from the SA node, pauses, and then transmits it into specialized conducting cells within the interventricular septum
(also, bundle of His) group of specialized myocardial conductile cells that transmit the impulse from the AV node through the interventricular septum; form the left and right atrioventricular bundle branches
(also, left or right bundle branches) specialized myocardial conductile cells that arise from the bifurcation of the atrioventricular bundle and pass through the interventricular septum; lead to the Purkinje fibers and also to the right papillary muscle via the moderator band
change in a cell membrane potential from rest toward zero
surface recording of the electrical activity of the heart that can be used for diagnosis of irregular heart function; also abbreviated as EKG
in motor responses, a spontaneous muscle action potential that occurs in the absence of neuromuscular input; in the heart can occur in atria or ventricles
change in voltage of a cell membrane in response to a stimulus that results in transmission of an electrical signal; unique to neurons and muscle fibers
specialized conductile cells within the atria that transmit the impulse from the SA node throughout the myocardial cells of the atrium and to the AV node
the difference in voltage measured across a cell membrane under steady-state conditions, typically -70 mV
specialized myocardial conduction fibers that arise from the bundle branches and spread the impulse to the myocardial contraction fibers of the ventricles
return of the membrane potential to its normally negative voltage at the end of the action potential
known as the pacemaker, a specialized clump of myocardial conducting cells located in the superior portion of the right atrium that has the highest inherent rate of depolarization that then spreads throughout the heart
force exerted by the blood against the wall of a vessel or heart chamber; can be described with the more generic term hydrostatic pressure
the condition in the heart in which the resting heart rate drops below 60 bpm
the condition in the heart in which the resting heart rate is above 100 bpm
amount of blood pumped by each ventricle during one minute; equals HR multiplied by SV
period of time when the heart muscle is relaxed and the chambers fill with blood
period of time when the heart muscle is contracting
number of times the heart contracts (beats) per minute
chronic and persistent blood pressure measurements of 140/90 mm Hg or above
blood pressure cuff attached to a device that measures blood pressure
amount of blood pumped by each ventricle per contraction; also, the difference between EDV and ESV
blood-type classification based on the presence or absence of A and B glycoproteins on the erythrocyte membrane surface
blood-type classification based on the presence or absence of the antigen Rh on the erythrocyte membrane surface
formation of a blood clot; part of the process of hemostasis
(also, red blood cell) mature cell that is composed mostly of hemoglobin and functions primarily in the transportation of oxygen and carbon dioxide
(also, packed cell volume) volume percentage of erythrocytes in a sample of centrifuged blood
(also, white blood cell) colorless, nucleated blood cell, the chief function of which is to protect the body from disease
in blood, the liquid extracellular matrix composed mostly of water that circulates the formed elements and dissolved materials throughout the cardiovascular system
(also, thrombocytes) one of the formed elements of blood that consists of cell fragments broken off from megakaryocytes
