Chapter 11 - Vocabulary

Question 1

Anemia

Answer 1

a condition of a low erythrocyte count or a low hemoglobin level, which leads to low oxygen levels.

Question 2

Angina

Answer 2

pain in the chest, left shoulder, arm, or neck caused by insufficient blood supply to the cardiac muscles.

Question 3

Angiogram

Answer 3

an X-ray image showing the outline of blood vessels through the use of an injected dye.

Question 4

Angioplasty

Answer 4

a medical procedure that opens up a blocked artery; it is often used to enlarge narrowed openings in coronary arteries.

Question 5

Aorta

Answer 5

the largest blood vessel in the body, connected directly to the heart; the aorta branches into arteries that carry oxygenated blood to the body tissues.

Question 6

Arteriole

Answer 6

the smallest artery, with smooth muscles in its walls.

Question 7

Arteriosclerosis

Answer 7

the loss of elasticity and hardening of the arteries that may be caused by a number of factors including hypertension, age, and plaque buildup.

Question 8

Atherosclerosis

Answer 8

the hardening of the arteries due to the buildup of plaque on or inside the walls of the arteries; atherosclerosis is the most common form of arteriosclerosis.

Question 9

Atrioventricular Valve

Answer 9

the valve located between each atrium and ventricle to prevent the backflow of blood from the ventricles to the atria.

Question 10

Atrioventricular (AV) Node

Answer 10

a mass of conducting cells that transmits the signals from the SA node to the muscles of the ventricles.

Question 11

Atrium

Answer 11

a chamber of the heart that receives blood from the body.

Question 12

Bypass Surgery

Answer 12

a surgical procedure in which arteries are grafted to blocked (or narrowed) coronary arteries in order to reroute blood flow and oxygen to the heart.

Question 13

Cardiac Catheterization

Answer 13

the insertion of a long thin tube called a catheter into the heart through an artery, usually the femoral or brachial artery.

Question 14

Cardiac Cycle

Answer 14

the contractions and relaxations of the heart muscles during a complete heartbeat.

Question 15

Chordae Tendineae

Answer 15

tendons that support the atrioventricular valves.

Question 16

Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan

Answer 16

an X-ray imaging technology that produces cross-sectional image of a three-dimensional object.

Question 17

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

Answer 17

the buildup of plaque on or inside the walls of the coronary arteries.

Question 18

Coronary Blood Vessel

Answer 18

a blood vessel that circulates blood to and from the muscle cells of the heart.

Question 19

Diastole

Answer 19

the period of the cardiac cycle when the ventricles are relaxed; blood fills the ventricles.

Question 20

Diastolic Pressure

Answer 20

the blood pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes.

Question 21

Electrocardiograph

Answer 21

a device that detects the electrical activity of the heart through electrodes placed on the body’s surface.

Question 22

Erythrocyte

Answer 22

a red blood cell.

Question 23

Hemolymph

Answer 23

a mixture of blood and tissue fluid that is the circulating fluid in an open circulatory system.

Question 24

Hypertension

Answer 24

consistent blood pressure above the range of normal values; also called high blood pressure.

Question 25

Leukocyte

Answer 25

a white blood cell.

Question 26

Lymph

Answer 26

tissue fluid collected in lymph vessels and returned to the body.

Question 27

Lymph node

Answer 27

an enlargement in the lymph vessel that acts as a filter to remove bacteria and foreign particles.

Question 28

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scan

Answer 28

an imaging technology that produces images by using a magnetic field to change the orientation of hydrogen atoms in tissues.

Question 29

Myocardial Infarction

Answer 29

the death of cardiac muscle tissue due to oxygen deprivation; also known as a heart attack.

Question 30

Myogenic Muscle

Answer 30

muscle that can contract and relax without input from an external source.

Question 31

Pericardium

Answer 31

a two-layered fluid-filled membrane that surrounds the heart and prevents friction between the heart and other tissues and organs.

Question 32

Platelet

Answer 32

a cell fragment in the blood that is necessary for blood clotting.

Question 33

Plaque

Answer 33

deposits of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other materials on and in the walls of arteries.

Question 34

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan

Answer 34

an imaging technology that produces cross-sectional images from gamma rays emitted by a radioactive tracer injected into body tissues.

Question 35

Pulmonary Circuit

Answer 35

the part of the circulatory system that delivers blood to the lungs.

Question 36

Purkinje Fibre

Answer 36

a conducting fibre that carries the electrical signals from the AV node to the muscle cells of the ventricles.

Question 37

Pus

Answer 37

a yellowish-white fluid formed in infected tissue, consisting of white blood cells and cellular debris.

Question 38

Semilunar Valve

Answer 38

the valve located between the left ventricle and the aorta and the right ventricle and the pulmonary arteries to prevent the backflow of blood when the ventricles relax.

Question 39

Septum

Answer 39

a wall of tissue that divides a body cavity or structure into smaller parts; for example, the ventricle of a mammal’s heart is divided into two cavities by a septum.

Question 40

Serum

Answer 40

the fluid that results when the cells, platelets, and fibrinogen have been removed from whole blood.

Question 41

Sinoatrial (SA) Node

Answer 41

a mass of muscle and nerve cells in the right atrium; initiates the heartbeat and maintains the regular rhythm.

Question 42

Spleen

Answer 42

the largest organ in the lymphatic system; acts as a filter and a reservoir of erythrocytes and leukocytes.

Question 43

Systemic Circuit

Answer 43

the part of the circulatory system that delivers blood around the body.

Question 44

Systole

Answer 44

the period of the cardiac cycle when the ventricles contract; blood is ejected from the ventricles.

Question 45

Systolic Pressure

Answer 45

the blood pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts.

Question 46

Thymus

Answer 46

a glandular organ of the lymphatic system; secretes hormones to promote the maturity of lymphocytes.

Question 47

Vasoconstriction

Answer 47

a decrease in the diameter of arterioles that decreases the blood flow to tissues.

Question 48

Vasodilation

Answer 48

an increase in the diameter (dilation) of arterioles that increases the blood flow to tissues.

Question 49

Ventricle

Answer 49

a chamber of the heart that pumps blood to the body.

Question 50

Venule

Answer 50

the smallest vein; formed by the merging of capillaries.