Cardiovascular Vocabulary Study Guide
aorta
The largest artery in the body that receives blood from the left
ventricle.
aneurysm
A balloon-like bulge in an artery.
atherosclerosis
A condition in which an artery wall thickens as a result of the buildup
of fatty materials.
artery
A blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart.
atrium/atria
Upper chambers of the heart that receive blood coming into the heart.
blood pressure
(diastolic & systolic)
The pressure that is exerted by the blood against the walls of the
arteries. Systolic over diastolic 120/80.
cardiovascular system
The system that consists of the heart, blood vessels and blood. Also
called the circulatory system.
capillary
A tiny blood vessel where substances are exchanged between the
blood and the body cells.
cholesterol
A waxy fat-like substance, found only in animal products, that builds
up in arteries.
coronary artery
An artery that supplies blood to the heart.
coronary circulation
The flow of blood to and from the tissues of the heart.
diffusion
The process by which molecules from areas of higher concentration to
lower concentration.
heart
A hollow muscular organ that pumps blood throughout the body.
heart attack
A condition in which blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked,
causing heart cells to die.
hypertension
A disorder in which a person’s blood pressure is higher than normal,
also called high blood pressure.
inferior vena cava
The portion of the vena cava that returns blood to the heart from the
lower portion of the body.
lymphatic system
A network of vein-like vessels that returns the fluid that leaks out of
the blood vessels to the bloodstream.
lymph
The fluid that the lymphatic system collects and returns to the blood
system.
lymph node
A small knob of tissue in the lymphatic system that filters lymph
trapping microorganisms.
Landsteiner
An Austrian-American physician discovered the 4 major blood types
and the proteins on red blood cells called the RH factor.
marker molecule
Markers that determine your blood type.
pace maker
A group of cells located in the right atrium that sends out signals that
make the heart muscle contract and regulates the heart beat.
plasma
The liquid part of the blood.
platelet
A cell fragment that plays an important part in forming blood clots.
pulse
The alternating expansion and relaxation of an artery wall as blood
travels through an artery.
pulmonary artery
Only artery that carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the
lungs.
pulmonary vein
Only vein that carries oxygenated blood from the lungs back to the
heart.
pulmonary circulation
The flow of blood from the heart, to the lungs, and back to the heart.
red blood cell
A cell in the blood that takes up oxygen in the lungs and delivers it to
the cells in the body.
RH factor
A protein on red blood cells.
Septum
A wall of tissue that separates the right sides and left sides of the
heart.
Stroke
When the blood supply to a part of your brain is interrupted or
reduced, depriving the brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients.
systemic circulation
The flow of blood to all of the body’s tissues and organs other than
the heart and lungs.
superior vena cava
The portion of the vena cava that returns blood to the heart from the
upper portion of the body.
thymus
The organ located behind the sternum where the white blood cells
(lymphacytes) are produced.
valve
A flap of tissue that prevents blood from flowing away from the heart
(backward).
vein
A blood vessel that carries blood back to the heart.
ventricle
Two lower chambers of the heart that pumps blood out of the heart.
Each ventricle is attached to an artery.
white blood cell
A blood cell that fights disease.
hemoglobin
An iron-containing protein that binds chemically to oxygen molecules and
makes up most of the red blood cells.