CIRCULATORY SYSTEM & VITAL SIGNS - REVIEW SHEET
1. Functions of the Circulatory System:
● Transport: Moves oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and waste throughout the body.
● Regulation: Maintains body temperature, pH balance, and fluid balance.
● Protection: Defends against infections and blood loss.
2. Health Care Professions (Cardiac Specialties):
● Cardiologist: A doctor who diagnoses and treats heart conditions and diseases.
● Cardiac Surgeon: A specialist who performs operations on the heart and its major
vessels.
● Cardiac Nurse: A nurse who provides care for patients with heart conditions.
● EKG Technician: A healthcare worker who performs tests to measure the electrical
activity of the heart.
3. Anatomy of the Heart:
● Chambers (4):
○ Right Atrium: Receives deoxygenated blood from the body.
○ Right Ventricle: Pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs.
○ Left Atrium: Receives oxygenated blood from the lungs.
○ Left Ventricle: Pumps oxygenated blood to the body.
● Valves (4):
○ Tricuspid Valve: Between right atrium and right ventricle; prevents backflow.
○ Pulmonary Valve: Between right ventricle and pulmonary artery.
○ Bicuspid/Mitral Valve: Between left atrium and left ventricle.
○ Aortic Valve: Between left ventricle and aorta.
● Septum: Muscular wall that separates left and right sides of the heart.
● Nodes:
○ SA Node (Sinoatrial): Natural pacemaker that starts the heartbeat.
○ AV Node (Atrioventricular): Relays impulse to ventricles with slight delay.
● Vessels:
○ Superior/Inferior Vena Cava: Bring deoxygenated blood from the body to RA.
○ Pulmonary Artery: Carries deoxygenated blood to the lungs.
○ Pulmonary Veins: Carry oxygenated blood from lungs to LA.
○ Aorta: Largest artery; sends oxygenated blood to the body.
4. Structure & Function Match:
● Atria: Thin-walled chambers that receive blood.
● Ventricles: Thick-walled chambers that pump blood.
, ● Left side of the heart: Stronger, pumps to the entire body.
● Right side of the heart: Pumps only to the lungs.
5. Scientific Name for Heart Muscle:
● Myocardium: The muscular tissue of the heart responsible for contraction.
6. Direction of Blood Flow:
● Pathway: Vena Cava → RA → Tricuspid Valve → RV → Pulmonary Valve → Pulmonary
Artery → Lungs → Pulmonary Veins → LA → Bicuspid Valve → LV → Aortic Valve →
Aorta → Body
7. Oxygenated vs Deoxygenated:
● Oxygenated Blood: Found in pulmonary veins, LA, LV, and aorta.
● Deoxygenated Blood: Found in vena cava, RA, RV, and pulmonary artery.
8. Systemic vs Pulmonary Circuits:
● Systemic Circuit: Delivers oxygenated blood from the heart to the body.
● Pulmonary Circuit: Carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs and returns
oxygenated blood back.
9. Cardiac Conduction System:
● SA Node: Generates electrical signal.
● AV Node: Slows signal before passing to ventricles.
● Bundle of His: Pathway for signals from AV node to ventricles.
● Purkinje Fibers: Spread impulse through ventricles to cause contraction.
10. "Lub-Dub" Sound:
● Lub: Closing of AV (tricuspid and bicuspid) valves.
● Dub: Closing of semilunar (pulmonary and aortic) valves.
11. Artificial Pacemaker:
● A device implanted to help regulate abnormal heart rhythms.
● SA Node is the heart’s natural pacemaker.
12. Coronary Arteries:
● Arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle itself.
● Size: About 3-4 mm in diameter.
● Blockage: Can lead to a heart attack (myocardial infarction).
1. Functions of the Circulatory System:
● Transport: Moves oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and waste throughout the body.
● Regulation: Maintains body temperature, pH balance, and fluid balance.
● Protection: Defends against infections and blood loss.
2. Health Care Professions (Cardiac Specialties):
● Cardiologist: A doctor who diagnoses and treats heart conditions and diseases.
● Cardiac Surgeon: A specialist who performs operations on the heart and its major
vessels.
● Cardiac Nurse: A nurse who provides care for patients with heart conditions.
● EKG Technician: A healthcare worker who performs tests to measure the electrical
activity of the heart.
3. Anatomy of the Heart:
● Chambers (4):
○ Right Atrium: Receives deoxygenated blood from the body.
○ Right Ventricle: Pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs.
○ Left Atrium: Receives oxygenated blood from the lungs.
○ Left Ventricle: Pumps oxygenated blood to the body.
● Valves (4):
○ Tricuspid Valve: Between right atrium and right ventricle; prevents backflow.
○ Pulmonary Valve: Between right ventricle and pulmonary artery.
○ Bicuspid/Mitral Valve: Between left atrium and left ventricle.
○ Aortic Valve: Between left ventricle and aorta.
● Septum: Muscular wall that separates left and right sides of the heart.
● Nodes:
○ SA Node (Sinoatrial): Natural pacemaker that starts the heartbeat.
○ AV Node (Atrioventricular): Relays impulse to ventricles with slight delay.
● Vessels:
○ Superior/Inferior Vena Cava: Bring deoxygenated blood from the body to RA.
○ Pulmonary Artery: Carries deoxygenated blood to the lungs.
○ Pulmonary Veins: Carry oxygenated blood from lungs to LA.
○ Aorta: Largest artery; sends oxygenated blood to the body.
4. Structure & Function Match:
● Atria: Thin-walled chambers that receive blood.
● Ventricles: Thick-walled chambers that pump blood.
, ● Left side of the heart: Stronger, pumps to the entire body.
● Right side of the heart: Pumps only to the lungs.
5. Scientific Name for Heart Muscle:
● Myocardium: The muscular tissue of the heart responsible for contraction.
6. Direction of Blood Flow:
● Pathway: Vena Cava → RA → Tricuspid Valve → RV → Pulmonary Valve → Pulmonary
Artery → Lungs → Pulmonary Veins → LA → Bicuspid Valve → LV → Aortic Valve →
Aorta → Body
7. Oxygenated vs Deoxygenated:
● Oxygenated Blood: Found in pulmonary veins, LA, LV, and aorta.
● Deoxygenated Blood: Found in vena cava, RA, RV, and pulmonary artery.
8. Systemic vs Pulmonary Circuits:
● Systemic Circuit: Delivers oxygenated blood from the heart to the body.
● Pulmonary Circuit: Carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs and returns
oxygenated blood back.
9. Cardiac Conduction System:
● SA Node: Generates electrical signal.
● AV Node: Slows signal before passing to ventricles.
● Bundle of His: Pathway for signals from AV node to ventricles.
● Purkinje Fibers: Spread impulse through ventricles to cause contraction.
10. "Lub-Dub" Sound:
● Lub: Closing of AV (tricuspid and bicuspid) valves.
● Dub: Closing of semilunar (pulmonary and aortic) valves.
11. Artificial Pacemaker:
● A device implanted to help regulate abnormal heart rhythms.
● SA Node is the heart’s natural pacemaker.
12. Coronary Arteries:
● Arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle itself.
● Size: About 3-4 mm in diameter.
● Blockage: Can lead to a heart attack (myocardial infarction).
