Agglutination (ah-glue-ti-NA-shun): Clumping of blood cells brought about by the mixing of blood types.

Alveoli (al-VEE-oh-lie): Air sacs of the lungs. Antibody (AN-ti-bod-ee): Specialized substance produced by the body that can provide immunity against a specific antigen. Antigen (AN-ti-jen): Any substance that, when introduced to the body, is recognized as foreign and activates an immune response. Aorta (ay-OR-ta): Main artery of the body. Arteriole (ar-TEER-e-ohl): Small artery. Artery (AR-te-ree): Vessel that carries blood away from the heart. Atria (AY-tree-a): Upper chambers of the heart that receive blood from the veins. Atrioventricular (AV) node (a-tree-oh-ven-TRICK-ular): Node of specialized tissue lying near the bottom of the right atrium that fires an electrical impulse across the ventricles, causing them to contract. Atrioventricular (AV) valves: Valves located between the atria and ventricles. Blood pressure: Pressure or force the blood exerts against the inner walls of the blood vessels. Capillary (CAP-i-lair-ee): Minute blood vessel that connects arterioles with venules. Cardiac cycle (CAR-dee-ack): Series of events that occur in the heart during one complete heartbeat. Cholesterol (ko-LESS-ter-ol): Fatlike substance produced by the liver that is an essential part of cell membranes and body chemicals; when present in excess in the body, it can accumulate on the inside walls of arteries and block blood flow.

Diaphragm (DIE-ah-fram): Membrane of muscle separating the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. Diastole (die-ASS-te-lee): Period of relaxation and expansion of the heart when its chambers fill with blood. Diffusion (dif-FEW-shun): Movement of molecules from an area of greater concentration to an area of lesser concentration. Endocardium (en-doe-CAR-dee-um): Thin membrane lining the interior of the heart. Epicardium (ep-i-CAR-dee-um): Lubricating outer layer of the heart wall and part of the pericardium. Erythrocyte (e-RITH-re-site): Red blood cell. Filtration (fill-TRAY-shun): Movement of water and dissolved materials through a membrane from an area of higher pressure to an area of lower pressure. Hemoglobin (HEE-muh-glow-bin): Iron-containing protein pigment in red blood cells that can combine with oxygen and carbon dioxide. Hepatic portal circulation (heh-PAT-ick POR-tal): System of blood vessels that transports blood from the digestive organs and the spleen through the liver before returning it to the heart. Interstitial fluid (in-ter-STI-shul): Fluid found in the spaces between cells. Leukocyte (LUKE-oh-site): White blood cell. Megakaryocyte (meg-ah-CARE-ee-oh-site): Large cell in the red bone marrow that breaks up into small fragments that become platelets. Myocardium (my-oh-CAR-dee-um): Cardiac muscle layer of the heart wall. Osmosis (oz-MOE-sis): Diffusion of water through a semipermeable membrane.

Pericardium (pair-i-CAR-dee-um): Tough, fibrous, two-layered membrane sac that surrounds, protects, and anchors the heart. Plasma (PLAZ-muh): Fluid portion of blood. Platelets (PLATE-lets): Irregular cell fragments in blood that are involved in the process of blood clotting. Pulmonary circulation (PULL-mo-nair-ee): System of blood vessels that transports blood between the heart and lungs. Purkinje fibers (purr-KIN-gee): Specialized cardiac muscle fibers that conduct nerve impulses through the heart. Red blood cells: Most numerous blood cells in the blood, they carry oxygen bonded to the hemoglobin within them. Semilunar valves (sem-eye-LOO-nar): Valves located between the ventricles and the major arteries into which they pump blood. Serous fluid (SIR-us): Clear, watery, lubricating fluid produced by serous membranes, which line body cavities and cover internal organs. Sinoatrial (SA) node (sigh-no-A-tree-al): Node of specialized tissue lying in the upper area of the right atrium that fires an electrical impulse across the atria, causing them to contract. Sinusoids (SIGH-nuh-soids): Larger than normal capillaries whose walls are also more permeable, allowing proteins and blood cells to enter or leave easily. Sphygmomanometer (sfig-moe-ma-NOM-i-tur): Instrument used to measure blood pressure. Systemic circulation (sis-TEM-ick): System of blood vessels that transports blood between the heart and all parts of the body other than the lungs.

Systole (SIS-te-lee): Rhythmic contraction of the heart. Thrombocyte (THROM-bow-site): Platelet. Vein (VAIN): Vessel that carries blood to the heart. Vena cava (VEE-na KAY-va): Either of two large veins that return blood to the right atrium of the heart. Ventricles (VEN-tri-kuls): Lower chambers of the heart that contract to pump blood into the arteries. Venule (VEN-yool): Small vein. White blood cells: Cells in blood that defend the body against viruses, bacteria, and other invading microorganisms.

Aorta - largest artery in the body - receives oxygenated blood at pressure directly from the left ventricle and takes it to the body. Anterior Vena Cava - think from top of body - large vein that collects deoxygenated blood from head and arms and returns it to the right atrium of the heart. Posterior Vena Cava - think from bottom of body - large vein that collects deoxygenated blood from the abdomen and lower body and returns it to the right atrium of the heart. Pulmonary Artery- think to lungs - receives deoxygenated blood at pressure directly from the right ventricle and takes it to the lungs. Pulmonary Vein - think from lungs - carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart. Coronary Arteries - think to heart - branch off the aorta and take oxygenated blood to the heart muscle. Coronary Veins - think from heart - return deoxygenated blood from the heart muscle to the right atrium. Carotid Arteries - think to head - takes oxygenated blood to head. Jugular Veins - think from head - takes deoxygenated blood from head back to the anterior vena cava. Subclavian Arteries - think under clavicles to arms - takes oxygenated blood to the arms. Subclavian Veins- think under clavicles - brings deoxygenated blood from the arms back to the anterior vena cava. Mesenteric Arteries - think to intestines - takes oxygenated blood to the intestines. Hepatic Portal Vein - think from intestines directly to the liver - carries blood rich in nutrients to the liver for processing before returning to the heart. Hepatic Vein - think from liver - returns deoxygenated blood from the liver to the posterior vena cava. Renal Arteries - think to kidneys - takes oxygenated blood to kidneys. Renal Veins - think from kidneys - returns deoxygenated blood from the kidneys to the posterior vena cava. Iliac Arteries - think to legs - takes oxygenated blood to the legs.

- think from legs - returns deoxygenated blood from the legs to the posterior vena cava.
Iliac Veins