Pulmonary Circuit

Carries blood to and from the gas exchange surfaces of the lung

Systemic Circuit

transports blood to and from the rest of the body

arteries

carry blood away from the heart

veins

carry blood towards the heart

capillaries

(exchange vessels) interconnect the smallest arteries and veins

right atrium

receives blood from the systemic circuit

right ventricle

receive blood through the right atrium and send blood to the lungs

left atrium

receive blood from the pulmonary veins

left ventricle

sends blood to the systemic circuit

apex

inferior pointed tip

mediastinum

the region between the two pleural cavities.

cardiac muscle cells

interconnected by intercalated discs

intercalated discs

the interlocked membranes of adjacent cells are held together by desmosomes and linked by gap junctions.

foramen ovale

fossa ovalis

pectinate muscles

auricle contain prominent muscular ridges

regurgitation

if the chordae tendineae were cut or the papillary muscles were damaged, backflow

aortic sinuses

prevent the individual cusps from sticking to the wall of the aorta when the valve opens.

valvular heart disease (VHD)

if valve function deteriorates to the point that the heart cannot maintain adequate circulatory flow.