The Heart: Glossary

A

aorta

the largest artery in the body, which delivers blood from the heart to the rest of the body

artery

a blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart to the rest of the body

atrium

one of the upper two hollow chambers of the heart (A)that collects blood as it enters the heart and before it is pumped to the ventricles (V)

B

blood

a fluid found in humans and other animals which provides nutrients and oxygen to all parts of the body. Blood carries away waste, and helps fight disease

blood pressure

the measure of how hard blood is pushing against the walls of your arteries

C

capillaries

tiny blood vessels whose walls are so thin that oxygen, nutrients, and waste products flow through them

cardiac

a word that means something having to do with the heart

cardiologist

a physician trained in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heart disease

carotid arteries

arteries in your neck that supply blood to the brain

chamber

one of 4 sections of the heart, like rooms in the heart

cholesterol

a waxy substance found only in the food that comes from animals

circulation

the movement of blood through the vessels

clot

a sticky mass that stops blood flow

coronary arteries

the blood vessels that carry blood from the aorta to the heart muscle

coronary circulation

the system of blood vessels that supply blood to the heart muscle

D

diastolic blood pressure

the lowest blood pressure, measured in the arteries when the heart muscle is relaxed between beats

H

heart

the muscular organ that pumps your blood around your body

heart attack

death of an area of heart tissue due to a blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle. Symptoms may include nausea, shortness of breath, and pain in the chest, arm, or neck. It is also called a myocardial infarction

heart rate

another term for a heartbeat or rhythm. The number of times the heart beats in a minute. A normal heart rate ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute at rest

heart valves

valves within the heart that open and close automatically to control blood flow into, through, and out of the heart

N

nutrient

anything needed for growth and life.The nutrients essential for human beings are proteins, carbohydrates, fats and oils, minerals, vitamins, and water

O

oxygen

a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas, that is necessary to live

P

platelet

one of three kinds of formed elements found in blood that aids in the clotting of the blood

pulmonary artery

the artery leading from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs

pulmonary veins

the four veins that deliver blood from the lungs and to the left atrium

S

sphygmomanometer

(SFIG-moe-muh-NOM-e-ter) an instrument that measures blood pressure

stethoscope

an instrument used to listen to sounds from the heart and lungs

V

valve

flap-like structures within the heart that open and close to control the flow of blood through and out of the heart

vein

a blood vessel that carries blood from the body toward the heart

ventricle

one of the two lower chambers (V)of the heart. The right ventricle sends blood to the lungs, and the left ventricle sends blood carrying oxygen to the rest of the body. The ventricles are the main pumping chambers of the heart and they contract at the same time

vertebrate

a classification on animals that have a spinal column. Vertebrates include birds, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and fish

vessel

the tubes that carry blood around the body. Arteries, capillaries, veins are all blood vessels