Heart Basics
The two kinds of chambers in the heart
Atria and ventricles
This category of blood vessels carries blood away from the heart.
Arteries
The heart is covered by this double-layered membrane.
Pericardium
The function of the pulmonary circuit
To oxygenate blood
The names of the two atrioventricular valves share this ending, though one is also known as the Mitral valve.
-cuspid
The more pointed end of the heart has this name. Ironic, since it is closer to the ground.
Apex
The venae cavae bring blood low in this substance back to the heart.
Oxygen
This innermost layer of the heart lines its chambers and is continuous with the linings of the blood vessels.
Endocardium
Deoxygenated blood arrives at this chamber of the heart.
Right atrium
The semilunar valves prevent blood from flowing back into these chambers of the heart.
Ventricles
This side of the heart has the higher muscle mass. It needs that kind of strength to get blood to most of the body!
The left
Blood leaving the heart in the systemic circuit leaves through this major artery. Dissection of this structure can quickly lead to deadly blood loss.
Aorta
This middle layer of the heart is made up of strong muscle tissue.
The myocardium
Blood is pumped from the right ventricle into this blood vessel, the beginning of which is known as a "trunk."
Pulmonary Artery
This structure separates the left and right sides of the heart.
Septum
The heart rests on this muscle. It contracts and relaxes to bring air into and out of the lungs.
Diagphragm
Gas exchange occurs in these tiny blood vessels
Capillaries
This is the outermost layer of the heart's wall. It is continuous with the visceral pericardium.
Epicardium
The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from these blood vessels.
Pulmonary veins
Two numbers describe blood pressure - the diastolic blood pressure (taken when the ventricles are relaxing) and this (taken when the ventricles are contracting.
Systolic blood pressure
The heart is located in this region of the thoracic cavity.
Mediastinum
The circuit that brings oxygenated blood to the body and deoxygenated blood to the heart
The systemic circuit
The pericardium contains this fluid to reduce friction as the heart pumps.
Serous fluid
The chamber that receives deoxygenated blood is also home to these, which send signals to the heart muscles causing them to contract.
Atrioventricular (AV) and Sinoatrial (SA) nodes
This irregular type of heartbeat means that a person's heart is beating more than 100 times per minute.
Tachycardia