Cardiovascular System Notes
Key terms:
cardiovascular system: a collection of organs that transport blood throughout the body (consists of heart
and blood vessels)
heart: organ made of cardiac muscle with four chambers; responsible for pumping blood
atrium: chamber of the hear in the UPPER section
ventricle: LOWER chambers of the heart
valves: flap-like structures in heart near arteries the close to prevent blood from going backward
blood pressure: the force with which blood is pumped through the arteries
artery: a blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart to the body’s organs
capillary: a tiny blood vessel that allows the exchange between blood and cells in other tissue
vein: a blood vessel that carries blood back to the heart
atherosclerosis: cholesterol builds along the walls of blood vessels; causes heart attack when clogs
vessels totally
hypertension: abnormally high blood pressure
stroke: blood vessel to brain becomes clogged or ruptures; part of the brain receives no oxygen and brain
cells die
heart attack: heart muscle cells die and part of the heart muscle is damaged
heart failure: heart can’t pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs → organs may be damaged due
to lack of oxygen and fluids/waste build-up
