| anemia |
A medical condition of the blood in which somebody has too few (below normal) red cells in his blood, making him look pale and feel weak |
| atrioventricular (AV) valve |
Either of the two valves located between the atrium and the ventricle through which blood flows |
| atrium |
Either of the two upper spaces in the heart used to pump blood. The left atrium or the right
atrium |
| colony-stimulating factor (CSF) |
These are blood-borne compounds that cause (stimulates differentiation and maturation) cells in the bone marrow to produce new blood cells |
| diastole |
Relaxation of the heart during cardiac cycle |
| electrocardiogram (ECG) |
ECG is the abbreviation for ‘electrocardiogram’. It is a medical test (graphic representation) that measures and records electrical activity of the heart) |
| fibrin |
A thread-like non-globular protein formed by platelets during clot formation (Clot Formation: Fibrinogen forms an insoluble mesh of fibrin that traps RBCs and platelets) |
| hemoglobin (Hb) |
A substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen and contains iron |
| myocardium |
The middle and largest of the three layers of the heart wall composed of cardiac muscle |
| plasma |
The clear, yellowish liquid part of blood, in which the blood cells, etc. float; The extracellular fluid in blood vessels in which formed elements are suspended |
| plasma protein |
Protein dissolved in blood plasma. Main plasma proteins include albumins, globulins, and clotting proteins |
| precapillary sphincter |
A Smooth muscle ring at the origin of the capillaries to control blood flow into them |
| pulmonary circuit |
Circulatory pathway consisting of pulmonary trunk, pulmonary arteries and pulmonary veins; takes deoxygenated blood to the lungs and returns oxygenated blood to the heart |
| Purkinje fibers |
Modified cardiac muscle fibers; part of the electrical conduction system of our heart originating from the atrioventricular node and spreading into the two ventricles |
| systemic circuit |
One of the two cardiovascular pathways; the system of blood vessels that transport blood from the left ventricle and back to the right atrium of heart |
| systole |
Contraction period of the heart (either the ventricles or the atria) during the cardiac cycle |
| ventricle |
One of four main hollow spaces (cavity) in our brain filled with cerebrospinal fluid. The inferior chamber of the heart |
| venule |
A small blood vessel that takes blood from capillaries to larger veins |
