D313 Cardiovascular System Key Terms with
Complete Solutions 2025
pericardial cavity - ANSWER cavity surrounding the heart filled with a lubricating serous
fluid that reduces friction as the heart contracts
cardiac notch - ANSWER depression in the medial surface of the superior lobe of the left
lung where the apex of the heart is located
atrium (plural = atria) - ANSWER upper or receiving chamber of the heart that pumps
blood into the lower chambers just prior to their contraction; the right atrium receives
blood from the systemic circuit that flows into the right ventricle; the left atrium
receives blood from the pulmonary circuit that flows into the left ventricle
ventricle - ANSWER one of the primary pumping chambers of the heart located in the
lower portion of the heart; the left ventricle is the major pumping chamber on the lower
left side of the heart that ejects blood into the systemic circuit via the aorta and receives
blood from the left atrium; the right ventricle is the major pumping chamber on the
lower right side of the heart that ejects blood into the pulmonary circuit via the
pulmonary trunk and receives blood from the right atrium
pulmonary circuit - ANSWER blood flow to and from the lungs
systemic circuit - ANSWER blood flow to and from virtually all of the tissues of the body
pulmonary trunk - ANSWER large arterial vessel that carries blood ejected from the right
ventricle; divides into the left and right pulmonary arteries
pulmonary arteries - ANSWER left and right branches of the pulmonary trunk that carry
deoxygenated blood from the heart to each of the lungs
,pulmonary capillaries - ANSWER capillaries surrounding the alveoli of the lungs where
gas exchange occurs: carbon dioxide exits the blood and oxygen enters
pulmonary veins - ANSWER veins that carry highly oxygenated blood into the left atrium,
which pumps the blood into the left ventricle, which in turn pumps oxygenated blood
into the aorta and to the many branches of the systemic circuit
inferior vena cava - ANSWER large systemic vein that returns blood to the heart from
the inferior portion of the body
superior vena cava - ANSWER large systemic vein that returns blood to the heart from
the superior portion of the body
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - ANSWER pathological enlargement of the heart,
generally for no known reason
pericardium (also pericardial sac) - ANSWER membrane that separates the heart from
other mediastinal structures; consists of two distinct, fused sublayers: the fibrous
pericardium and the parietal pericardium
mesothelium - ANSWER simple squamous epithelial portion of serous membranes, such
as the superficial portion of the epicardium (the visceral pericardium) and the deepest
portion of the pericardium (the parietal pericardium)
endocardium - ANSWER innermost layer of the heart lining the heart chambers and
heart valves; composed of endothelium reinforced with a thin layer of connective tissue
that binds to the myocardium
,myocardium - ANSWER thickest layer of the heart composed of cardiac muscle cells built
upon a framework of primarily collagenous fibers and blood vessels that supply it and
the nervous fibers that help to regulate it
epicardium - ANSWER innermost layer of the serous pericardium and the outermost
layer of the heart wall
endothelium - ANSWER layer of smooth, simple squamous epithelium that lines the
endocardium and blood vessel
atrioventricular septum - ANSWER cardiac septum located between the atria and
ventricles; atrioventricular valves are located here
valve - ANSWER in the cardiovascular system, a specialized structure located within the
heart or vessels that ensures one-way flow of blood
atrioventricular valves - ANSWER one-way valves located between the atria and
ventricles; the valve on the right is called the tricuspid valve, and the one on the left is
the mitral or bicuspid valve
coronary sinus - ANSWER large, thin-walled vein on the posterior surface of the heart
that lies within the atrioventricular sulcus and drains the heart myocardium directly into
the right atrium
chordae tendineae - ANSWER string-like extensions of tough connective tissue that
extend from the flaps of the atrioventricular valves to the papillary muscles
papillary muscle - ANSWER extension of the myocardium in the ventricles to which the
chordae tendineae attach
, pulmonary valve - ANSWER valve at the base of the pulmonary trunk that prevents
backflow of blood into the right ventricle; consists of three flaps
aortic valve - ANSWER valve located at the base of the aorta
lumen - ANSWER interior of a tubular structure such as a blood vessel or a portion of the
alimentary canal through which blood, chyme, or other substances travel
artery - ANSWER blood vessel that conducts blood away from the heart; may be a
conducting or distributing vessel
elastic artery - ANSWER artery with abundant elastic fibers located closer to the heart,
which maintains the pressure gradient and conducts blood to smaller branches
muscular artery - ANSWER artery with abundant smooth muscle in the tunica media
that branches to distribute blood to the arteriole network
arteriole - ANSWER very small artery that leads to a capillary
capillary - ANSWER smallest of blood vessels where physical exchange occurs between
the blood and tissue cells surrounded by interstitial fluid
perfusion - ANSWER distribution of blood into the capillaries so the tissues can be
supplied
microcirculation - ANSWER blood flow through the capillaries
Complete Solutions 2025
pericardial cavity - ANSWER cavity surrounding the heart filled with a lubricating serous
fluid that reduces friction as the heart contracts
cardiac notch - ANSWER depression in the medial surface of the superior lobe of the left
lung where the apex of the heart is located
atrium (plural = atria) - ANSWER upper or receiving chamber of the heart that pumps
blood into the lower chambers just prior to their contraction; the right atrium receives
blood from the systemic circuit that flows into the right ventricle; the left atrium
receives blood from the pulmonary circuit that flows into the left ventricle
ventricle - ANSWER one of the primary pumping chambers of the heart located in the
lower portion of the heart; the left ventricle is the major pumping chamber on the lower
left side of the heart that ejects blood into the systemic circuit via the aorta and receives
blood from the left atrium; the right ventricle is the major pumping chamber on the
lower right side of the heart that ejects blood into the pulmonary circuit via the
pulmonary trunk and receives blood from the right atrium
pulmonary circuit - ANSWER blood flow to and from the lungs
systemic circuit - ANSWER blood flow to and from virtually all of the tissues of the body
pulmonary trunk - ANSWER large arterial vessel that carries blood ejected from the right
ventricle; divides into the left and right pulmonary arteries
pulmonary arteries - ANSWER left and right branches of the pulmonary trunk that carry
deoxygenated blood from the heart to each of the lungs
,pulmonary capillaries - ANSWER capillaries surrounding the alveoli of the lungs where
gas exchange occurs: carbon dioxide exits the blood and oxygen enters
pulmonary veins - ANSWER veins that carry highly oxygenated blood into the left atrium,
which pumps the blood into the left ventricle, which in turn pumps oxygenated blood
into the aorta and to the many branches of the systemic circuit
inferior vena cava - ANSWER large systemic vein that returns blood to the heart from
the inferior portion of the body
superior vena cava - ANSWER large systemic vein that returns blood to the heart from
the superior portion of the body
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - ANSWER pathological enlargement of the heart,
generally for no known reason
pericardium (also pericardial sac) - ANSWER membrane that separates the heart from
other mediastinal structures; consists of two distinct, fused sublayers: the fibrous
pericardium and the parietal pericardium
mesothelium - ANSWER simple squamous epithelial portion of serous membranes, such
as the superficial portion of the epicardium (the visceral pericardium) and the deepest
portion of the pericardium (the parietal pericardium)
endocardium - ANSWER innermost layer of the heart lining the heart chambers and
heart valves; composed of endothelium reinforced with a thin layer of connective tissue
that binds to the myocardium
,myocardium - ANSWER thickest layer of the heart composed of cardiac muscle cells built
upon a framework of primarily collagenous fibers and blood vessels that supply it and
the nervous fibers that help to regulate it
epicardium - ANSWER innermost layer of the serous pericardium and the outermost
layer of the heart wall
endothelium - ANSWER layer of smooth, simple squamous epithelium that lines the
endocardium and blood vessel
atrioventricular septum - ANSWER cardiac septum located between the atria and
ventricles; atrioventricular valves are located here
valve - ANSWER in the cardiovascular system, a specialized structure located within the
heart or vessels that ensures one-way flow of blood
atrioventricular valves - ANSWER one-way valves located between the atria and
ventricles; the valve on the right is called the tricuspid valve, and the one on the left is
the mitral or bicuspid valve
coronary sinus - ANSWER large, thin-walled vein on the posterior surface of the heart
that lies within the atrioventricular sulcus and drains the heart myocardium directly into
the right atrium
chordae tendineae - ANSWER string-like extensions of tough connective tissue that
extend from the flaps of the atrioventricular valves to the papillary muscles
papillary muscle - ANSWER extension of the myocardium in the ventricles to which the
chordae tendineae attach
, pulmonary valve - ANSWER valve at the base of the pulmonary trunk that prevents
backflow of blood into the right ventricle; consists of three flaps
aortic valve - ANSWER valve located at the base of the aorta
lumen - ANSWER interior of a tubular structure such as a blood vessel or a portion of the
alimentary canal through which blood, chyme, or other substances travel
artery - ANSWER blood vessel that conducts blood away from the heart; may be a
conducting or distributing vessel
elastic artery - ANSWER artery with abundant elastic fibers located closer to the heart,
which maintains the pressure gradient and conducts blood to smaller branches
muscular artery - ANSWER artery with abundant smooth muscle in the tunica media
that branches to distribute blood to the arteriole network
arteriole - ANSWER very small artery that leads to a capillary
capillary - ANSWER smallest of blood vessels where physical exchange occurs between
the blood and tissue cells surrounded by interstitial fluid
perfusion - ANSWER distribution of blood into the capillaries so the tissues can be
supplied
microcirculation - ANSWER blood flow through the capillaries
