0) Glossary Flashcards
What is acute coronary syndromes?
A range of life threatening conditions from ustable angina to large myocardial infarction
What is afterload?
The force that the heart is having to work against
pressure in the aorta
What is angina pectoris?
Pain or discomfort in the chest resultin from myocardial ischaemia.
This pain can radiate to the arm, shoulder, jaw region.
What is aortic stenosis?
Stenosis/narrowing of the aortic (semi-lunar valve)
Creates a crescendo-decrescendo/early ejection systolic mumur
What does bradycardia mean?
A slower than normal heart rate
Usually <60 bpm
What are baroreceptors? Where are these located in the heart?
Pressure receptors. Arterial= high pressure sensors in the aortic arch and carotid sinus
What is a chronotrope? What are the different types?
A substance which alters the rhythm of the heart.
Positive= increase heart rate
Negative= decrease heart rate
What does coarctation of the aorta mean?
A discrete narrowing of the aorta near to the site of the ductus arteriosus. Can be preductal or postductal (most common)
What is contractility?
The force of contraction for a given myocardial fibre length.
An increase in C would be seen as an increase in the slope of the rsisng phase of the starling curve.
Positive inotropes such as noradrenaline increase contractility.
What is cyanosis?
Blue colourisation of the skin/mucous membranes due to high circulating levels of deoxygenated Hb in arterial blood.
What is diastole?
Phase of the cardiac cycle when the ventricles are filling and relaxed
What is dyspnoea?
Ana abnormal awareness of breathlessness
What is hydrostatic pressure?
The pressure in a fluid which exerts a force on the walls of the structure or vessel containing the fluid.
What is meant by hypertrophy?
An increase in organ size due to an increase in cell size (cardiac enlargement)
What is meant by hyperplasia?
An increase in organ size due to an increase in cell number
