Blood and Components
These Blood cells transport oxygen and carbon dioxide throughout the body.
Erythrocytes
This muscular middle layer of the heart is responsible for contraction.
Myocardium
Known as the pacemaker of the heart, this node initiates the electrical signal.
Sinoatrial (SA) Node
These are the smallest blood vessels and the site of oxygen and nutrient exchange.
Capillaries
This blood type is known as the universal donor.
Type O Negative (O−)
This iron-rich protein inside red blood cells is responsible for carrying oxygen.
Hemoglobin
This valve separates the left atrium and left ventricle and pumps oxygenated blood.
Mitral / Bicuspid Valve
This ECG wave represents atrial depolarization (contraction).
P Wave
High blood pressure is medically known as this condition.
Hypertension
This type of stroke is caused by a blocked blood vessel to the brain.
Ischemic Stroke
This plasma protein makes up 60% of plasma proteins and maintains osmotic pressure to prevent fluid leakage.
Albumins
Pulmonary circulation begins here with deoxygenated blood and ends by depositing oxygenated blood into the left atrium.
Right Ventricle
These fibers ensure both ventricles contract simultaneously.
Purkinje Fibers
A buildup of bad cholesterol on artery walls that can lead to blockages is called this.
Plaques
Rh positive blood has this that Rh negative blood does not.
The Rh antigen
This is the term for the percentage of total blood volume that is composed of red blood cells.
Hematocrit
Name all four layers of the heart wall from innermost to outermost.
Endocardium → Myocardium → Epicardium → Pericardium
Name the three waves seen on a normal ECG and what cardiac event each represents.
P wave = atrial depolarization; QRS complex = ventricular depolarization; T wave = ventricular repolarization (relaxation)
Name the arteries that supply blood directly to the heart muscle, and explain what happens when they are completely blocked.
Coronary arteries. Complete blockage causes a myocardial infarction (heart attack) — heart muscle is deprived of oxygen and begins to die.
This type of Stroke is caused by a burst capillary
Hemmorhagic Stroke
A patient's lab results show abnormally low albumin levels. Name TWO organ systems whose health this finding reflects.
Kidney and Liver Health
Trace the complete path of a single red blood cell from the right atrium through pulmonary circulation and back to the aorta, naming every structure it passes through in order.
Right atrium → Tricuspid valve → Right ventricle → Pulmonary valve → Pulmonary artery → Lungs → Pulmonary veins → Left atrium → Bicuspid/Mitral valve → Left ventricle → Aortic valve → Aorta
Starting at the SA node, list the correct order of the heart's electrical conduction pathway and explain why the AV node pauses the signal before it reaches the ventricles.
SA Node → AV Node → Purkinje Fibers. The AV node delays the signal by 0.1 seconds to allow the atria to finish contracting and fill the ventricles with blood before the ventricles contract.
Compare and contrast hypertension and hypotension: give the defining blood pressure characteristic, two symptoms of each, and one cause of each.
Hypertension = high BP; symptoms: headaches, nosebleeds, dizziness, chest pain; cause: plaque buildup/lifestyle. Hypotension = low BP; symptoms: nausea, cold/clammy skin, rapid breathing, excessive thirst; cause: dehydration or hemorrhage.
Explain why Type O- is the Universal Donor and why Type AB+ is the universal receiver
O− has no A, B, or Rh antigens, so no immune reaction is triggered in any recipient. AB+ has both A and B antigens plus the Rh factor, so it can accept blood with any combination of those antigens without reacting.