A Level PE - The Cardiovascular System

Definition

Keyword

The capacity of the heart to generate its own impulses

A small mass of cardiac muscle found in the wall of the right atrium that generates the heartbeat

This node relays the impulse between the upper and lower sections of the heart

When the heart contracts

A collection of heart muscle cells that transmit electrical impulses from the AVN via the bundle branches to the ventricles

Muscle fibres that conduct impulses in the walls of the ventricles

Part of the autonomic nervous system that speeds up heart rate

Part of the autonomic nervous system that decreases heart rate

The most important part of the brain as it regulates processes that keep us alive such as breathing and heart rate

Tiny structures in the carotid arteries and aortic arch that detect changes in blood acidity caused by an increase/decrease in the concentration of carbon dioxide

Special sensors in tissues in the aortic arch, carotid sinus, heart and pulmonary vessels that respond to changes in blood pressure to either increase or drecrease heart rate

Sensory nerve endings in the muscles, tendons and joints that detect changes in muscle movement

A stress hormone that is release by the sympathetic nerves and cardiac nerve during exercise which causes an increase in heart rate

The volume of blood pumped out by the hearts ventricles in each contraction

When the heart relaxes to fill with blood

The percentage of blood pumped out by the left ventricle per beat

The volume of blood pumped out by the heart ventricles per minute

The thickening of the muscular wall of the heart so it becomes bigger and stronger; also can mean a larger ventricular cavity

A decrease in resting heart rate to below 60 beats per minute

Definition

Keyword

Occurs when arteries harden and narrow as they become clogged up by fatty deposits

A fatty deposit found in the inner lining of an artery

Chest pain that occurs when the blood supply through the coronary arteries to the muscles of the heart is restricted

Occurs when the blood supply to the brain is cut off

Where the athlete is able to meet the oxygen demand with the oxygen supply

The force exerted by the blood against the blood vessel wall

The pressure in the arteries when the ventricles are contracting

The pressure in the arteries when the ventricles are relaxing

The return of blood to the right side of the heart via the vena cava

The fluid part of blood that surrounds blood cells and transports them

An iron-containing pigment found in red blood cells, which combines with oxygen to form oxyhaemoglobin

An iron-containing muscle pigment in slow-twitch muscles which has a higher affinity for oxygen than haemoglobin

'Powerhouse' of the cell where energy production occurs

When an increase in blood carbon dioxide and a decrease in pH results in a reduction of the affinity haemoglobin for oxygen

A measure of acidity

The redistribution of cardiac output

The widening of the blood vessels to increase the flow of blood into the capillaries

The narrowing of the blood vessels to reduce blood flow into the capillaries

The difference between the oxygen content of the arterial blood arriving at the muscles and the venous blood leaving the muscles