4 The Cardiovascular System Free Online FlashCards

What are the three main components of the cardiovascular system?

The cardiovascular system consists of blood, the heart, and blood vessels, which transport materials and help maintain homeostasis.

What does plasma carry in the blood?

Plasma is the mostly water portion of blood that carries dissolved nutrients, hormones, ions, and waste products.

What are the main roles of red cells, white cells, and platelets?

Red blood cells carry most blood oxygen; white blood cells defend against threats; platelets help form clots and limit blood loss.

How do the roles of the atria and ventricles differ?

The atria receive blood, while the ventricles pump blood out of the heart.

What is the function and location pattern of the heart valves?

Heart valves keep blood moving forward. The tricuspid and mitral valves lie between atria and ventricles; the pulmonary and aortic valves are at ventricular exits.

What happens during diastole and systole?

Diastole is relaxation and chamber filling; systole is ventricular contraction and blood ejection.

What route does the heart’s electrical signal follow?

The signal begins at the SA node, pauses at the AV node, then travels through the atrioventricular bundle, bundle branches, and Purkinje fibers to coordinate ventricular contraction.

How is cardiac output calculated?

Cardiac output is heart rate multiplied by stroke volume: $\text{cardiac output} = \text{heart rate} \times \text{stroke volume}$.

What defines an artery, and how are its walls adapted?

Arteries carry blood away from the heart and have relatively thick, elastic walls that withstand higher pressure.

Where does exchange occur between blood and tissues?

Capillaries have thin walls that allow gases, nutrients, water, and wastes to exchange between blood and surrounding tissues.

How are veins adapted to return blood to the heart?

Veins return blood to the heart at lower pressure, hold much of the body’s blood volume, and often use valves to limit backflow.

How do pulmonary and systemic circulation differ?

Pulmonary circulation runs from the right ventricle to the lungs and back to the left atrium. Systemic circulation runs from the left ventricle to the body and returns to the right atrium.