Sports Med Chapter 15

pulmonary artery

an artery leaving the right ventricle that brings blood with low oxygen levels and high carbon dioxide levels to the lungs for gas exchange

veins

blood vessels that carry blood toward the heart from all organs and cells in the body

ventricles

the lower chambers of the heart

occlusive dressing

a petroleum-based dressing with a thin, plastic film designed to keep out air and moisture from a wound

shock

a serious condition of the body that is the precursor to death

gauze dressing

a woven, flexible, absorbent cloth applied to a wound

coronary arteries

arteries that bring nutrients and oxygen to the muscle tissues of the heart

arteries

blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to all organs and cells in the body

standard precautions

infection control guidelines designed to protect workers from exposure to disease, spread by contact with blood or other bodily fluids

pulse pressure

the difference between the diastolic and systolic pressures in the heart

systolic

the high number in a blood pressure reading, representing the pressure that is created by the contraction of the left ventricle

aorta

the largest artery in the body; it receives blood from the left ventricle of the heart

diastolic

the lower number in a blood pressure reading, representing the pressure that is maintained by the recoil of elastic artery walls after they are expanded by the contraction of the left ventricle

septum

the muscular wall that separates the atria and the ventricles

cardiac conduction system

the nervelike cells within the heart muscle that coordinate the contractions of the heart so that the atria contract first, followed by the ventricles

target heart rate

the percentage of the maximum heart rate that is safe to reach during exercise; it is typically 50% to 75% of maximum

pulse

the rhythmical beating of the heart

arterioles

the smallest arteries

capillaries

the smallest blood vessels with walls; so thin that exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste products occurs easily

venules

the smallest veins

cardiorespiratory system

the structures of the body involved in gas exchange and gas transport; it includes structures of the circulatory system and the respiratory system

atria

the upper chambers of the heart

plasma

the yellowish liquid of the blood

platelets

tiny cell fragments in blood that aid in clotting