apex
point, tip of heart; rests
on diaphragm
arteries
vessels that carry blood
away from the heart.
arterioles
blood vessels that are
smaller branches off of
arteries
atria
2 upper chambers of
the heart
atrioventricular (AV)
bundle (bundle of His)
extends from the AV
node into and through
the interventricular
septum
atrioventricular (AV)
node
base of heart
bicuspid valve
blood pressure
bradycardia
relays the impulse to
contract from the atria to
the ventricles; delays
signal 0.1 seconds
broader area of heart's outline
located at the 3rd right and
left intercostal space; blood
vessels enter and exit
also known as the mitral valve,
is the left atrioventricular valve.
It consists of two cusps of
endocardium.
measurement of the force
exerted by the heart against the
arterial walls when the heart
contracts and relaxes;
systole/diastole
a heart rate below 60
beats per minute.
capillaries
the smallest of the blood
vessels and the sites of
exchange between the
blood and tissue cells.
cardiac output
amount of blood
pumped out of a
ventricle in one minute.
chordae tendineae
tendinous strings that extend
from the cusps of the AV valves
to the papillary muscles of the
heart, thus preventing valve
inversion.
coronary artery
the artery that branches
from the aorta to supply
blood to the heart
diastole
period of the cardiac
cycle when either the
ventricles or the atria are
relaxing.
ductus arteriosus
ductus venosus
a blood vessel in a fetus that
bypasses pulmonary circulation
by connecting the pulmonary
artery directly to the ascending
aorta
blood entering the fetus through
the umbillical vein is conducted via
the ductus venosus into the
interior vena cava to bypass the
hepatic circulation
electrocardiogram
a record of the electrical
activity of the heart that,
if abnormal, may indicate
heart disease
endocardium
the membrane that lines
the cavities of the heart
and forms part of the
heart valves
epicardium
visceral layer of serous
pericardium
foramen ovale
connects the left and right
atria, allowing blood to flow
directly from the right to the
left side of the heart
hepatic portal
circulation
transfers nutrient rich
blood from intestinal
capillary bed to a hepatic
capillary bed
interventricular
septum
wall that separates the
right and left ventricles
intrinsic conduction
system
SA node, AV node, Av bundle,
bundle branches, perkinje
fibers; coordinates the heart's
basic rhythm
ligamentum arteriosum remnant of the prenatal
ductus arteriosis
mediastinum
central compartment of the thoracic
cavity; contains the heart, the great
vessels of the heart, esophagus,
trachea, phrenic nerve, cardiac nerve,
thoracic duct, thymus, and lymph
nodes of the central chest
myocardium
layer of the heart wall
composed of cardiac
muscle.
pericardium
double-layered serosa
enclosing the heart and
forming its superficial
layer.
peripheral resistance
a measure of the amount of
friction encountered by blood
as it flows through the blood
vessels.
pulmonary circulation
system of blood vessels
that carry blood to and
from the lungs for gas
exchange.
purkinje fibers
modified cardiac muscle
fibers of the conduction
system of the heart.
renin
substance released by the
kidneys that is involved
with raising blood
pressure
sinoatrial (SA) node
pacemaker of the heart;
located in the right
atrium wall
stroke volume
the volume of blood
pumped out by a
ventricle with each
heartbeat
systemic circulation
system of blood vessels
that carries nutrient and
oxygen-rich blood to all
body organs.
systole
contraction of the heart
tachycardia
a heart rate over 100
beats per minute.
tricuspid valve
valve between the right
atrium and the right
ventricle
tunica externa
outer layer of a blood
vessel which connects it
to surrounding tissues
tunica intima
This is the name for the inner
endothelial lining of blood
vessels that includes a thin
connective tissue layer as well
tunica media
valves
middle layer of artery; made
up of smooth muscle fibers
and thick layer of elastic
connective tissue
flap of tissue in the heart
between large
arteries/chambers that prevents
blood from flowing backwards
vasoconstriction
narrowing of blood
vessels.
veins
blood vessels that return
blood toward the heart
from the circulation.