Category 1
flaplike structures in the wall of the aorta near its origin that prevent blood from returning to the left ventricle of the heart
aortic valve
arteries that supply blood to the wall of the heart
coronary arteries
blood vessels that return blood from the venules of the myocardium to the coronary sinus
cardiac veins
large vessel on the posterior surface of the heart into which the cardiac veins drain
coronary sinus
phase of the cardiac cycle when a heart chamber wall contracts
systole
phase of the cardiac cycle when a heart chamber wall relaxes
diastole
series of myocardial contractions and relaxations that constitute a complete heartbeat
cardiac cycle
mass of specialized cardiac muscle tissue that controls the rhythm of the heartbeat
pacemaker
specialized muscle fibers that conduct the cardiac impulse from the AV bundle into the ventricular walls
purkinjie fibers
vessels that transport blood from the heart
arteries
small branches of an artery that communicate with capillary networks
arterioles
decrease in the diameter of a blood vessel
vasoconstriction
increase in the diameter of a blood vessel
vasodilation
a small blood vessel that connects an arteriole and a venule
capillaries
vessel that carries blood from a capillary to a vein
venule
vessels that carries blood toward the heart
vein
arterial blood pressure reached during the systolic phase of the cardiac cycle
systolic pressure
lowest arterial blood pressure during the diastolic phase of the cardiac cycle
diastolic pressure