Ch. 7.8 Circulatory System Key Terms
Located between the left ventricle and the aorta. It closes when the left ventricle is finished contracting, allowing blood to flow into the aorta and preventing blood from flowing back into the left ventricle.
aortic valve
Also known as the cardiovascular system. It consists of the heart, blood vessels, and blood. It transports nutrients, wastes, oxygen, carbon dioxide, hormones, and antibodies.
Circulatory
Left atrium
Receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps the blood into the left ventricle for transport to the body cells.
Pericardium
A double-layered membrane, or sac, that covers the outside of the heart. Pericardial fluid fills the space between the layers to prevent friction.
Septum
A muscular wall that separates the heart into a right side and a left side, preventing blood from moving between the two sides.
Abnormal heart rhythms that occur if something interferes with the normal electrical conduction pattern of the heart.
Arrhythmias
The brief period of rest in the cardiac cycle, when the atria relax, and blood returning from the body and lungs enters the atria.
Diastole
Left Ventricle
Pumps blood into the aorta (the largest artery) to send it to all other parts of the body.
Plasma
The fluid or liquid element of blood, making up approximately 55 percent of the volume. It is approximately 90 percent water.
The period of ventricular contraction, when the ventricles contract and push blood into the arteries.
Systole
Carry blood away from the heart. The smallest branches of arteries are called arterioles.
Arteries
A smooth layer of cells that lines the inside of the heart and is continuous with the inside of blood vessels. It allows for the smooth flow of blood.
Endocardium
Leukocytes
Also called White blood cells. Their main function is to fight infection. They are formed in the bone marrow and lymph tissue.
Paulmonary
Located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery. It closes when the right ventricle has finished contracting, preventing blood from flowing back into the right ventricle.
Also called platelets. They are cell fragments important for blood clotting.
Thrombocytes
Often called a tissue because it contains many kinds of cells. Approximately four to six quarts in the average adult.
Blood
Also called Red blood cells. They are produced in the red bone marrow and contain hemoglobin.
Erythrocytes
Mitral valve
Located between the left atrium and the left ventricle. It closes when the left ventricle contracts, allowing blood to flow to the body and preventing blood from flowing back into the left atrium.
Right atrium
Receives blood as it returns from the body cells and pumps the blood into the right ventricle
Tricuspid valve
Located between the right atrium and the right ventricle. It closes when the right ventricle contracts, allowing blood to flow to the lungs and preventing blood from flowing back into the right atrium.
Connect arterioles with venules (smallest veins). Their thin walls allow oxygen and nutrients to pass to the cells and allow carbon dioxide and metabolic products to enter the capillaries.
Capillaries
A complex protein molecule found in erythrocytes that carries both oxygen and carbon dioxide.
mypocardium
The middle, muscular layer of the heart.
right ventricle
Pumps blood into the pulmonary artery, which carries the blood to the lungs for oxygen.
Blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart. They contain valves which keep the blood from flowing in a backward direction.
Veins