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Circulatory System
Blood and Circulation Vocab
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| heart | organ made of cardiac muscle tissue, located behind the sternum and between the lungs |
| atrium | upper chambers of the heart--right atrium and left atrium |
| ventricle | lower chambers of the heart--right ventricle and left ventricle |
| coronary circulation | the flow of blood to and from the tissues of the heart |
| pulmonary circulation | the flow of blood through the heart, to the lungs, and back to the heart |
| systemic circulation | the movement of oxygen-rich blood to all of your organs and body tissues (except the heart and lungs) |
| artery | blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart |
| vein | blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart |
| capillary | microscopic blood vessels that connect arteries and veins |
| blood pressure | the pressure your blood puts on artery walls |
| cardiovascular disease | any disease that affects the heart, blood vessels, and blood; include atherosclerosis, hypertension, and heart failure |
| atherosclerosis | one type of cardiovascular disease where fatty deposits of cholesterol build up on arterial walls |
| hypertension | when blood pressure is consistently higher than normal (aka high blood pressure); causes extra strain on the heart when it pumps blood |
| plasma | liquid part of blood; made mostly of water |
| hemoglobin | molecule that carries oxygen and carbon dioxide; makes up red blood cells |
| platelet | irregularly shaped cell fragments that help clot blood |
| white blood cells | fight bacteria, viruses, and other invaders of your body |
| red blood cells | special cells with no nucleus that carry oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from cells; made of hemoglobin |
| lymph | excess tissue fluid that diffuses into lymphatic capillaries |
| lymphatic system | carries lymph through a network of lymph capillaries and vessels, and drains it into large veins near the heart' helps fight infections and diseases |
| lymphocyte | a type of white blood cell that fights infection |
| lymph node | bean-shaped organs found throughout the body that filter out microorganisms and foreign materials taken up by the lymphocytes |