Notes

alveoli tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange takes place; in this process, Oxygen (O2) is taken from the air that was inhaled and transferred to the blood and Carbon dioxide (CO2) is taken from the blood and transferred to the air, which is then exhaled

aorta the primary artery supplying blood to the body


arteries blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart; all arteries carry oxygenated blood except the pulmonary artery and umbilical arteries in the fetus, both of which carry deoxygenated blood
atria (singular is atrium) the two chambers located at the top of the heart; responsible for receiving blood, storing it up and passing it on to the ventricles
capillaries a network of tiny blood vessels throughout the body that provide oxygen and nutrients to the body's cells


cardio means heart, or pertaining to the heart

cardiovascular refers to the entire blood flow system

carotid artery the artery supplying blood to the head and brain

coronary circuit the coronary arteries supply blood to the heart muscle

deoxygenated blood blood that is oxygen-depleted; blood containing low levels of oxygen

diastole the relaxed phase of the heartbeat; the lower number of blood pressure measurement

hemoglobin the protein in red blood cells used to carry oxygen in the blood

hypertension high blood pressure, elevated to over 140/90 (systole/diastole)

oxygenated blood blood that is rich in oxygen; blood containing high levels of oxygen

pulmonary artery deoxygenated blood is returned from all over the body to the heart, it is then pumped on to the
lungs via the pulmonary artery

pulmonary circuit refers to the blood flow to and from the lungs

pulmonary vein the lungs transfer oxygen (O2) from the air to the blood, it is then returned to the heart via the pulmonary vein

respiratory system refers to the lungs and the oxygen transfer mechanisms within the lungs

septum the wall of muscle that separates the right and left side of the heart

systemic circuit refers to the blood flow system going from the heart to all parts of the body; think of it as the body's highway system for the transport of blood

systole the squeezing or pumping phase of the heartbeat; the top number in blood pressure measurement

vascular means the network of blood vessels: arteries, veins and capillaries
veins blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart; generally speaking, veins carry deoxygenated blood except for the pulmonary vein and the umbilical veins in the fetus, which carry oxygenated blood

ventricles the two lower chambers of the heart; responsible for pumping the blood into the arteries and pushing it on so that blood reaches every cell in the body