| A | B |
|---|
| cardiologist | doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders of the heart |
| Systemic circulation | circulation of blood around the body |
| Pulmonary circulation | circulation of blood through the lungs |
| mediastinum | space between the lungs in which the heart is located |
| myocardium | muscle layer of heart wall |
| endocardium | smooth inside layer of the heart wall |
| epicardium; visceral pericardium | thin, smooth layer that covers the outside of the heart |
| parietal pericardium | membrane that lines the inside of the fibrous pericardium |
| fibrous pericardium | tough outer layer of tissue that anchors the heart and prevents it from overexpanding |
| coronary arteries | vessels that branch off the aorta to bring blood supply to the tissues of the heart |
| atrium | upper chamber of the heart |
| ventricle | lower chamber of the heart |
| interatrial septum | wall between the two upper chambers of the heart |
| interventricular septum | wall between the two lower chambers of the heart |
| tricuspid valve | valve that controls the flow of blood between the right atrium and ventricle |
| mitral/bicuspid valve | valve that controls the flow of blood between the left atrium and ventricle |
| pulmonary semilunar valve | valve that controls the blood from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery |
| aortic semilunar valve | valve that controls the flow of blood from the left ventricle to the aorta |
| sinoatrial (SA) node | the natural pacemaker of the heart |
| atrioventricular (AV) node | the point at which the electrical impulse of the heart is paused before continuing to the ventricles |
| arteries | vessels that carry blood away from the heart |
| arterioles | small artery branches |
| capillaries | small vessels where gas exchange takes place |
| venules | small vein branches |
| veins | vessels that carry blood towards the heart; have valves to prevent backflow |
| aorta | main artery of systemic circulation |
| pulmonary artery | vessel that carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs |
| vena cava | vessel that carries deoxygenated blood from the body to the heart |
| pulmonary vein | vessel that carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart |
| pulse | pressure wave that passes along the arteries after the heart contracts |
| blood pressure | measurement of the amount of force exerted on vessel walls by blood |
| systole | contraction phase of the heartbeat |
| diastole | relaxation phase of the heartbeat |
| base | superior aspect of the heart; origin of major blood vessels |
| apex | inferior aspect of the heart |
| heart sounds | the sounds made by the closing of valves |
| 120/80 | average normal blood pressure |
