Ch. 7.8 Circulatory System Key Terms
Located between the left ventricle and the aorta, the largest artery in the body. 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
Brief period of rest in the cardiac cycle
Diastole
Upper chamber of the heart, receives oxygenated blood from the lungs
left atrium
A layer of tissue that forms the heart, a double layered membrane, or sac, that covers the outside of the heart
Pericardium
A muscular wall that separates the heart into a right side and a left side. It prevents blood from moving between the right and left sides of the heart
Septum
Abnormal heart rhythms and can be mild to life threatening
Arrhythmias
Also known as the cardiovascular system, is often referred to as the transportation system of the body. It consists of the heart, blood vessels, and blood. It transports nutrients and waste, oxygen and carbon dioxide, hormones, and antibodies contained in the blood
circulatory system
Lower chamber of the heart, receives blood from the left atrium and pumps the blood into the aorta for transport to the body cells
left ventricle
Upper chamber of the heart, receives blood as it returns from the body cells
right atrium
A period of ventricular contraction after diastole In the cardiac cycle
Systole
Carry blood away from the heart. the aorta is the largest one of these in the body
Arteries
Tissue forming the heart, 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
white blood cells, not as numerous as are erythrocytes. They are formed in the bone marrow and lymph tissue and usually live about 3-9 days, the main function is to fight infection
Leukocytes
Lower chamber of the heart, receives blood from the right atrium and pumps the blood into the pulmonary artery, which carries the blood to the lungs for oxygen
right ventricle
Blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart. Venules are the smallest branches of these and connect with the capillaries.
Veins
Flows through the circulatory system and is often called a tissue because it contains many kinds of cells. This circulates continuously throughout the body and transports oxygen from the lungs to the body cells, nutrients from the digestive tract to the body cells, metabolic and waste products from the body cells to the organs of exertion, and much more
Blood
red blood cells, produced in the red bone marrow at a rate of about one million per minute. Live approximately 120 days before being broken down by the liver and spleen
Erythrocytes
The thickest layer of tissue that forms the heart, the muscular middle layer
Myocardium
Located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery, a blood vessel that carries blood to the lungs. It closes when the right ventricle has finished contracting, preventing blood from flowing back into the right ventricle
pulmonary 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.
tricuspid valve
Connect arterioles with venules, the smallest veins. They are located in close proximity to almost every cell in the body. They have thin walls that contain only one layer of cells. These thin walls allow oxygen and nutrients to pass through to the cells and allow carbon dioxide and metabolic products from the cells to enter these
Capillaries
a complex protein composed of the protein molecule called globin and the iron compound called heme. It carries both oxygen and carbon dioxide, it gives blood its red color.
Hemoglobin
Located between the left atrium and left ventricle. It closes when the left ventricle is contracting, allowing blood to flow into the aorta (for transport to the body) and preventing blood from flowing back into the left atrium
mitral valve
A fluid that is approximately 90% water, with many dissolved, or suspended, substances. Among the substances are blood proteins such as fibrinogen and prothrombin; Nutrients such as vitamins, carbohydrates, and proteins; mineral salts or electrolytes such as potassium, calcium, and sodium and much more
Plasma
also called platelets, are usually described as fragments or pieces of cells because they lack nuclei and vary in shape and size. They are formed in the bone marrow and live for about 5-9 days. Important for clotting process, secrete serotonin which causes the blood vessel to spasm and narrow, decreasing the flow of blood
Thrombocytes