Heart Healthy Glossary

aorta -the main artery that carries blood away from the heart

artery -one of the tubular vessels that carry blood away from the heart

atrium -one of the hollow cavities of the heart

blood -the liquid that circulates in the heart, arteries, and veins

blood type -classification of blood according to its chemical composition

calorie -a unit for measuring food's ability to produce heat and energy

capillary - any of the tiny, thin-walled tubes that carry blood between arteries and veins

carbohydrate -any of the various compounds of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen including the sugars and starches

clotting of blood - formation of a sticky mass to stop the flow of blood

diet -the food and drink regularly consumed

digestion - the conversion of food into a form that can be absorbed by the body

drug - a substance used as or in medicine

exercise -physical exertion made for the sake of health

fat - any of the chemical esters that occur naturally and are not soluble in water

lymph -a pale liquid consisting chiefly of plasma and white blood cells

marrow - soft vascular tissue that fills the cavities of most bones

metabolism -the sum of the processes by which a substance is handled in the body

muscle -body tissue consisting of long cells that contract when stimulated

nutrition -the process by which an individual takes in and utilizes food material

plasma -the watery, straw-colored part of blood, lymph, or milk

platelet - a colorless disk-shaped body in blood that aids blood clotting

protein - any of the amino acids present in all living matter that are an essential food item

pulmonary circulation -circulation of blood between the heart and lungs

red blood cell -saucer-shaped cell in blood plasma that carries oxygen

respiration - the act or process of breathing

sphygmomanometer -an instrument used to measure blood pressure

starch -a complex carbohydrate that is stored in plants and used for food

stethoscope - an instrument used to listen to heart sounds

systemic circulation -circulation of blood throughout the entire body

vein -one of the tubular branching vessels that carry blood from the capillaries toward the heart

ventricle -a chamber of the heart that receives blood from the atrium of the same side and pumps it into the arteries

vitamin- any of the various organic substances that are essential in small amounts for most animals and mostly obtained from foods

white blood cell -a blood cell that does not contain hemoglobin