| A | B |
|---|
| cardiovascular system | the heart, blood and blood vessels; organ system which transport blood throughout the body |
| heart | main organ of the cardiovascular system; pumps blood throughout the body |
| atrium | upper chamber of the heart |
| ventricle | lower chamber of the heart |
| valves | prevent blood from flowing backwards through the heart; located in veins; make "lub-dub" sound |
| arteries | thicket blood vessels; carry blood AWAY from the heart |
| veins | thin blood vessels which carry blood to the heart |
| capillaries | thinnest blood vessels; are "one-cell" thick; allows exchanges between body cells and blood |
| pulmonary circulation | the flow of blood from the heart to the lungs and back to the heart |
| systemic circulation | the flow of blood from the heart to all parts of the body and back to the heart |
| atherosclerosis | a major cause of heart disease; occurs when cholesterol buildup causes the blood vessels to become narrower and less elastic |
| hypertension | abnormally high blood pressure |
| blood | a connective tissue made up of plasma, red blood cells, platelets and white blood cells; carries nutrients and oxygen to all parts of the body |
| Red Blood Cells (RBCs) | red, disc-shaped cells which carry oxygen to body cells; contain hemoglobin |
| platelets | pieces of larger cells which clot together to help stop bleeding |
| White Blood Cells (WBCs) | defend the body against pathogens |
| blood pressure | the force of blood against the walls of arteries |
| transfusion | the injection of blood or blood parts into a person who has lost blood due to an injury or surgery |
| blood types | A, B, AB or O; refers to the type of chemicals you have on the surface of your RBCs |
| plasma | the liquid portion of blood |
| aorta | largest artery in the heart |
| superior vena cava | carries oxygenated blood from the upper parts of the heart; one of the two largest veins |
| inferior vena cava | carries unoxygenated blood from the lower part of the body to the heart |
| right atrium | collection chamber for unoxygenated blood; one of two upper chambers |
| left atrium | collection chamber for oxygenated blood; one of two upper chambers |
| left ventricle | pumps blood into the aorta to be carried to the body; one of two lower chambers |
| septum | separates the right and left sides of the heart |
| pulmonary vein | carries unoxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart |
| pulmonary artery | carries unoxygenated blood from the lungs to get oxygenated |
| aortic valve | keeps blood from flowing backwards into the left ventricle |
| stroke | occurs when a blood vessel becomes clogged or ruptures |
