Glossary of Terms for
Transport

Aorta - the biggest artery in an organism that sends blood from the heart to the other body tissues

Aortic Arches - the "hearts" of the earthworm

Atria - the upper thin walled chambers of the heart

Atrioventricular Node - a small group of nerve cells located in the base of the right atrium which causes the ventricles to contract

Atrioventricular Valves - flap valves that control the movement of blood from the atria to the ventricles

Bicuspid Valve - an A-V valve that has two flaps and is located on the left side of the heart

Capillaries - the smallest blood vessels that connect arterioles and venules; they form an intricate network throughout the body for the interchange of various substances, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, between blood and tissue cells

Cardioaccelerator Nerve - nerve that speeds up the rate of heartbeat

Circulatory System - a linking system for the cells of an organism which is complex and provides contact with the outside environment

Closed Circulatory System - a system in which the blood is always contained within tubes or vessels inside the body

Coronary Circulation - a branch of systemic circulation that supplies blood to the muscles of the heart

Cyclosis - the movement of cytoplasm through a cell

Diastole - the period of relaxation during a heart beat

Dorsal Vessel -one of two major blood vessels; runs above the digestive tract of the earthworm

Electrocardiogram - a machine that records the electrical currents that are sent when the heart contracts

Gastrovascular Cavity - the internal body cavity of a coelenterate (hydra)

Heart - the organ responsible for pumping fluid (blood) throughout the entire circulatory system

Hemoglobin - a protein in red blood cells that increases the amount of oxygen that the blood can carry

Hepatic-Portal Circulation - a branch of systemic circulation that carries high nutrient blood to the liver from the digestive tract

Hypertension - chronic high blood pressure

Inferior Vena Cava - major vein in the body that returns blood to the right atrium from the lower body

Intercellular Fluid - a colorless watery fluid that helps to move materials between the body's cells and the capillaries

Lymph - the name of the intercellular fluid and proteins once it is in the lymphatic system

Lymph Nodes - glands found along the lymphatic vessels that filter foreign matter from lymph

Lymphatic System - a system of vessels which returns excess fluid or proteins from intracellular spaces to the blood

Open Circulatory System - a pathway that allows blood to flow or travel over the body tissue; blood is under very low pressure but is moving fast enough to meet the organism's needs

Pericardium - the sac that covers and protects the heart

Pulmonary Artery - artery that supplies blood to the lungs

Pulmonary Circulation - pathways for blood which removes carbon dioxide and adds oxygen  by carrying the blood between the heart and lungs

Pulse - the expansion and relaxation felt in an artery after the left ventricle contracts

Renal Circulation - a branch of systemic circulation that carries blood to and from the kidneys to remove metabolic wastes

Respiratory Gases - gases such as oxygen are taken into an organism and carbon dioxide is taken out of an organism

Septum - muscular division which separates the left and right ventricles of the heart

Sinoatrial Node - a small group of nerve cells that are located in the right atrium which makes the atrium contract

Sphymomanometer - an instrument used to check the pressure on the blood in an artery

Superior Vena Cava - major vein in the body which returns blood to the right atrium of the heart from the upper body like the head, arms, and chest

Systemic Circulation - major pathway for blood which carries blood from the heart to the entire body excluding the lungs

Systole - the period of contraction during a heart beat

Transport - when substances move around within a cell; substances go in, out or are distributed in the organism

Tricuspid Valve - an A-V valve that has three flaps and is located on the right side of the heart

Tubular Heart - a sac of cardiac muscle that contracts from the rear and forces the blood forward to the head in the grasshopper

Vagus Nerves - nerves that slow down the rate of the heartbeat

Valve - flaps in a vein, lymph vessel, or heart to prevent the backward flow of blood

Vein - a vessel that carries blood to the heart from the body

Ventral Vessel - one of two major blood vessels in the earthworm; runs below of the digestive tract

Ventricles - the thick walled lower chambers of the heart