16. Cardiovascular Emergencies Flashcards
A group of symptoms caused by myocardial ischemia; includes angina and myocardial infarction.
acute coronary syndrome
A heart attack
acute myocardial infarction (AMI)
Transient (short-lived) chest discomfort caused by partial or temporary blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle.
angina pectoris
The front surface of the body.
anterior
The main artery, which receives blood from the left ventricle and delivers it to all the other arteries that carry blood to the tissues of the body.
aorta
A weakness in the wall of the aorta that makes it susceptible to rupture.
aortic aneurysm
The one-way valve that lies between the left ventricle and the aorta and keeps blood from flowing back into the left ventricle after the left ventricle ejects blood into the aorta.
aortic valve
A tracing on an ECG that is the result of interference, such as patient movement, rather than the heart’s electrical activity.
artifact
The complete absence of all heart electrical activity.
asystole
A disorder in which cholesterol and calcium build up inside the walls of blood vessels, eventually leading to partial or complete blockage of blood flow.
atherosclerosis
upper chambers of the heart, the right atrium receives blood from the vena cavae, the left atrium receives blood from the pulmonary vein.
atrium
The ability of cardiac muscle cells to contract without stimulation from the nervous system.
automaticity
The part of the nervous system that controls the involuntary activities of the body such as the heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion of food.
autonomic nervous system
A slow heart rate, less than 60 beats/min.
bradycardia
When the heart fails to generate effective and detectable blood flow; pulses are not palpable in cardiac arrest, even if muscular and electrical activity continues in the heart.
cardiac arrest
A measure of the volume of blood circulated by the heart in 1 minute, multiplying stroke volume by heart rate.
cardiac output
A state in which not enough oxygen is delivered to the tissues of the body, caused by low output of blood from the heart. It can be a severe complication of a large acute myocardial infarction, as well as other conditions.
cardiogenic shock