Chap 11, Cardiovascular System Flashcards
aorta
Largest artery in the body.
arteriole
Small artery.
artery
Largest type of blood vessel; carries blood away from the heart to all parts of the body. Notice that artery and away begin with an “a.”
atrioventricular bundle (bundle of His)
Specialized muscle fibers connecting the atria with the ventricles and transmitting electrical impulses between them. His is pronounced “hiss.”
atrioventricular node (AV node)
Specialized tissue in the wall between the atria. Electrical impulses pass from the pacemaker (SA node) through the AV node and the atrioventricular bundle or bundle of His toward the ventricles.
atrium (plural: atria)
One of two upper chambers of the heart
capillary
Smallest blood vessel. Materials pass to and from the bloodstream through the thin capillary walls.
carbon dioxide
Gas (waste) released by body cells, transported via veins to the heart, and then to the lungs for exhalation.
deoxygenated blood
Blood that is oxygen-poor.
diastole
Relaxation phase of the heartbeat.
electrocardiogram, EKG or ECG
Record of the electricity flowing through the heart. The electricity is represented by waves or deflections called P, QRS, or T.
endocardium
Inner lining of the heart.
endothelium
Innermost lining of blood vessels.
mitral valve
Valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle; bicuspid valve.
murmur
abnormal swishing sound caused by improper closure of the heart valves.
myocardium
Muscular, middle layer of the heart.
normal sinus rhythm
Heart rhythm originating in the sinoatrial node with a rate in patients at rest of 60 to 100 beats per minute.
oxygen
Gas that enters the blood through the lungs and travels to the heart to be pumped via arteries to all body cells.
sinoatrial node, or SA node (pacemaker)
Pacemaker of the heart. Specialized nervous tissue in the right atrium that begins the heartbeat. An artificial cardiac pacemaker is an electronic apparatus implanted in the chest to stimulate heart muscle that is weak and not functioning.
pericardium
Double-layered membrane surrounding the heart.
pulmonary artery
Artery carrying deoxygenated (oxygen-poor blood) from the heart to the lungs.
pulmonary circulation
Flow of blood from the heart to the lungs and back to the heart.
pulmonary valve
valve positioned between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery.
pulmonary vein
One of two pairs of vessels carrying oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart.