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
A disorder in which the heart loses part of its ability to effectively pump blood, usually as a result of damage to the heart muscle and usually resulting in a backup of fluid into the lungs.
congestive heart failure (CHF)
The blood vessels that carry blood and nutrients to the heart muscle.
coronary arteries
To shock a fibrillating (chaotically beating) heart with specialized electric current in an attempt to restore regular heart beat.
defibrillate
Swelling in the part of body closest to the ground, caused by collection of fluid in the tissues; a possible sign of congestive heart failure.
dependent edema
Widening of a tubular structure such as the coronary artery,
dilation
A condition in which the inner layers of an artery, such as an aorta, become separated, allowing blood at high pressures to flow between the layers.
dissecting aneurysm
An irregular or abnormal heart rhythm.
dysrhythmia
An emergency situation created by excessively high blood pressure, which can lead to serious complications such as stroke or aneurysm.
hypertensive emergency
Death of a body issue, caused by interruption of its blood supply.
infarction
The part of the body closest to the feet.
inferior
A lack of oxygen that deprives tissues of nutrients, usually due to blockage.
ischemia
The inside diameter of an artery or other hollow structure.
lumen
The heart muscle
myocardium
A blockage, usually of a tubular structure such as a blood vessel.
occlusion
The part of the autonomic nervous system that controls rest and digest functions.
parasympathetic nervous system
Th flow of blood through body tissues and vessels.
perfusion
The back surface of the body.
posterior
The return of a pulse and effective blood flow to the body in a patient who previously was in cardiac arrest.
return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC)
The volume of blood ejected with each ventricular contraction.
stroke volume
The part of the body or any body part nearer to the head.
superior
Fight or flight response, a division of the autonomic nervous system.
sympathetic nervous system
A fainting spell or transient loss of consciousness.
syncope
A rapid heart rate, more than 100 beats/min.
tachycardia
A blood clot that has formed within a blood vessel and is floating within the bloodstream.
thromboembolism
one of two chambers of the lower heart
ventricle
Disorganized, ineffective quivering of the ventricles, resulting in no blood flow and state of cardiac arrest.
ventricular fibrillation
A rapid heart rhythm in which the electrical impulse begins in the ventricle (instead of the atrium), which may result in inadequate blood flow and eventually deteriorate into cardiac arrest.
ventricular tachycardia
