Cardio

2. The smallest unit of the circulatory system where the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste products takes place.
7. The fluid that fills the space between the parietal and visceral layers of the pericardium.
8. The specific sound produced by the closure of the aortic and pulmonary valves.
10. The thin, serous membrane that forms the outer layer of the heart and the inner layer of the pericardium.
11. The process by which new red blood cells are produced.
14. The specialized cardiac muscle cells that transmit electrical impulses throughout the heart.
17. A substance that prevents blood clotting, either naturally occurring or administered as a medication.
19. A rare blood disorder characterized by the presence of red blood cells of unequal size.
20. A condition where a valve of the heart, most commonly the mitral valve, fails to close properly, causing backflow of blood.

1. The specific name for the small, specialized bundle of cardiac muscle fibers that transmits the cardiac impulse from the AV node to the ventricles.
3. A type of lipoprotein that carries cholesterol from the liver to the body's cells, often referred to as "bad" cholesterol.
4. A peptide hormone produced by the heart that helps regulate blood pressure and fluid balance.
5. The condition of the heart muscle thickening in response to a chronic workload, such as hypertension.
6. A vessel that carries blood from a capillary bed to a larger vein.
9. The term for the force exerted by blood against the walls of the arteries.
12. A temporary, often painful, sensation in the chest caused by a lack of oxygen to the heart muscle.
13. A condition in which the blood has an abnormally low number of red blood cells or hemoglobin.
15. A type of white blood cell characterized by a large, kidney-shaped nucleus and the ability to phagocytize pathogens.
16. The valve separating the right atrium and the right ventricle.
18. The rhythmic contraction and relaxation of the atria.
21. The largest artery in the body, branching from the left ventricle.