CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM EXAM STUDY
GUIDE 2026 PRACTICE MATERIALS
●● function of the cardiovascular system. Answer: - delivers
oxygen/nutrients to cells and tissues
- removes carbon dioxide and waste products from cells and tissues
●● a hollow cone organ which weighs less than a pound and is about the
size of your fist;
located in the inferior mediastinum. Answer: heart
●● directed towards the left hip and rests on the diaphragm. Answer:
apex
●● points toward the right shoulder and lies beneath the 2nd rib.
Answer: base
●● double-walled sac which encloses the heart. Answer: pericardium
●● loose, superficial part of the sac;
helps to protect the heart and anchors it to the diaphragm and sternum.
Answer: fibrous pericardium
, ●● deep to the fibrous pericardium;
includes parietal and visceral pericardium. Answer: serous pericardium
●● outside layer that lines the inner surface of the fibrous pericardium.
Answer: parietal pericardium
●● next to heart;
also known as the epicardium;
connective tissue layer. Answer: visceral pericardium
●● a slippery lubricating fluid that fills space between layers of
pericardium. Answer: serous/pericardial fluid
●● middle layer that contracts;
consists of thick bundles of cardiac muscle twisted in ring-like
arrangement;
reinforced by fibrous connective tissue "heart's skeleton". Answer:
myocardium
●● what junctions does myocardium contain?. Answer: 1.) tight
junctions: bind the cells together
2.) gap junctions: allows ions to between cells
GUIDE 2026 PRACTICE MATERIALS
●● function of the cardiovascular system. Answer: - delivers
oxygen/nutrients to cells and tissues
- removes carbon dioxide and waste products from cells and tissues
●● a hollow cone organ which weighs less than a pound and is about the
size of your fist;
located in the inferior mediastinum. Answer: heart
●● directed towards the left hip and rests on the diaphragm. Answer:
apex
●● points toward the right shoulder and lies beneath the 2nd rib.
Answer: base
●● double-walled sac which encloses the heart. Answer: pericardium
●● loose, superficial part of the sac;
helps to protect the heart and anchors it to the diaphragm and sternum.
Answer: fibrous pericardium
, ●● deep to the fibrous pericardium;
includes parietal and visceral pericardium. Answer: serous pericardium
●● outside layer that lines the inner surface of the fibrous pericardium.
Answer: parietal pericardium
●● next to heart;
also known as the epicardium;
connective tissue layer. Answer: visceral pericardium
●● a slippery lubricating fluid that fills space between layers of
pericardium. Answer: serous/pericardial fluid
●● middle layer that contracts;
consists of thick bundles of cardiac muscle twisted in ring-like
arrangement;
reinforced by fibrous connective tissue "heart's skeleton". Answer:
myocardium
●● what junctions does myocardium contain?. Answer: 1.) tight
junctions: bind the cells together
2.) gap junctions: allows ions to between cells
