Unit 4 - Part 1 Flashcards
Pericardium
A tough membranous sac surrounding the heart. It is made up of two layers with a small amount of fluid between them that acts as lubricant (in the pericardial cavity).
Vena Cava
Superior and inferior. Brings unoxygenated blood back to the heart into the right atrium.
Left Ventricle
Lower left chamber. Receives blood from the left atrium and sends it to the body via the aorta (systemic circuit).
Aorta
Transports highly oxygenated blood away from the heart in the systemic circuit. Monitors blood pressure to the body.
Semilunar Valves
Aortic and pulmonary valves. Just inside the aorta and pulmonary trunk to prevent backflow into the ventricles. Do not need cords to brace them because of their shape and function.
SA Node
Sinoatrial node. Located in the right atrium, near the superior vena cava. It spontaneously generates action potentials without input from the nervous system.
AV Node
Atrioventricular node. Is the only pathway where the action potential from the atria can travel to the ventricles.
Purkinje Fibres
Transmits signals very rapidly around the ventricles of the heart.
Artery
Transports blood away from the heart. Thick walls of muscle and elastic material to withstand high pressure.
Arteriole
The smallest arteries.
Capillary
Smallest blood vessel with no smooth muscle. Involved in exchange of material.
Venule
The smallest veins. Little smooth muscle.
Vein
Transports blood back to the heart at low pressure. More smooth muscle than venule but less than an artery.
Baroreceptors
Stretch sensitive mechanoreceptors found in vessel walls of the carotid artery and aorta.
Diastolic Pressure
Time when the ventricle relaxes (lowest arterial pressure).
Systolic Pressure
Time when the heart is contracting (highest arterial pressure).
Myocardial Infarction
Heart attack. Caused from a lack of blood supply to the heart.
Left Atrium
Upper left chamber. Receives blood from the pulmonary veins and sends it to the left ventricle.
Pulmonary Trunk
Brings unoxygenated blood to the pulmonary arteries from the right ventricle to go the lungs.
AV Valves
Atrioventricular valves. Tricuspid and bicuspid/mitral valves. Attached on the ventricular side to collagenous cords that holds the valves and prevents them from being pushed back into the atrium.
Bundle of His
The AV bundle. Where the action potential goes after the AV node.
Bundle Branches
The two pathways that separate from the bundle of His.
Systole
Contraction.
Diastole
Relaxation.