ALL TERMINOLOGY Flashcards
Cardi/O
Heart
Systole
the contraction phase of the cardiac cycle during which blood is ejected from the heart chambers
Diastole
the relaxation phase of the cardiac cycle during which the heart chambers fill with blood
Depolarization
electrical stimulation of the heart muscle cells in preparation to contraction
Repolarization
return of heart muscle cells to the resting unstimulated state
Cardiac Standstill
stopping of the effective contractions of the heart (quivering instead of contracting) because of life-threatening arrhythmia
Cardioversion
the use of electrical or mechanical maneuvers to restore the normal rhythm of the heart
Precordium
the area of the chest overlying the heart
Ischemia
reduced blood supply to an organ or a tissue
Hypertrophy
thickening, enlargement of a muscle
Dyspnea
shortness of breath (SOB)
Pacemaker
a device that generates/ regulates the heart rhythm
Arrhythmia
irregular heart beats.
Angina Pectoris
temporary chest pain caused by myocardial ischemia
Myocardial Infarction
heart attack (death of myocardial tissue caused by blockage of its blood supply)
EKG Electrodes
conductive patches that are attached to the skin and enable recording of electrical activity of the heart
EKG Leads
recording of the electrical activity of the heart from dilferent angles.
EKG Artifact
man-made errors of EKG that should not normally exist.
Ectopic Beat
a heart beat that originates outside the natural pacemaker of the heart (SA Node)
Palpitation
awareness of heart beats such as in case of irregular beats (arrhythmia)
Somatic Tremors
EKG artifacts that result from patient’s movement while recording the EKG
Tachycardia
rapid heart beats (faster than 100 beat per minute).
Tachyarrhythmia
rapid irregular heart beats
Bradycardia
slow heart beats (slower than 60 bpm)
Fibrillation
very rapid and irregular contractions of the heart (quivering or twitching)
Cardiac Arrest
Stopping or complete arrest of the heart
