Cardiovascular Flashcards
adrenaline
a hormone secreted from the adrenal glands in times of stress
aldosterone
adrenal steroid hormone that acts on the renal tubules
aneurysms
a localised dilation of an artery
angina pectoris
thoracic pain caused most often by myocardial anorexia as a result of atherosclerosis or spasm of the coronary arteries
angiotensin
a polypeptide in the blood that causes vasoconstriction, increased blood pressure, and the release of aldosterone from the adrenal cortex
arrhythmia
abnormal heart rhythms
atheroma
the basic lesion of atherosclerosis, characterised by excessive accumulation of lipids in the wall of the aorta and major arteries
atherosclerosis
a systemic arterial disease characterised by an accumulation of lipids, fibrosis, and calcification of the arterial wall
atrial myxoma
a benign, pedunculated, gelatinous heart tumour that most often occurs in the left atrium
atrial septal defect
a congenital cardiac anomaly characterised by an abnormal opening between the atria
cardiac temponade
compression of the heart by blood in the pericardial cavity, usually presenting as a complication of a ruptured myocardial infarct or a dissection of the aorta at its root
cardiac transplantation
a surgical transplant procedure performed on patients with end-stage heart failure
congenital heart disease
a circulatory disturbance caused by cardiac pump failure
creatine kinase
an enzyme found in the blood and several organs. its concentration is typically elevated in serum after skeletal muscle or cardiac muscle injury
cyanosis
a bluish discolouration of the skin indicating a lack of oxygen
diabetes mellitus
a metabolic disease caused by a lack of insulin (type 1)or by tissue resistance to insulin (type II) that adversely affects the metabolism of glucose and results in hyperglycaemia
endocardial mural thrombus
a clot attached to the wall of the vessels of the innermost layer of the hearts chambers
endocarditis
an inflammation of the inner heart lining and cardiac valves, usually caused by bacteria
gangrene
a form of death of tissue, usually caused by loss of blood supply, bacterial invasion, and subsequent putrefaction
hyperlipidemia
an excess of lipids, including glycolipids, lipoproteins, and phospholipids in the plasma
hypertension
elevation of arterial blood pressure
hypertensive stroke
a form of stoke caused by intracerebral hemorrhage in hypertensive persons, usually related to a sudden rupture of damaged brain arteries
hypotension
a condition characterised by low arterial blood pressure
lymphangitis
an inflammation of the lymphatic vessels, usually resulting from an acute streptococcal infection of one of the extremities
myocardial infarct
ishemic necrosis of the heart muscle presenting clinically as chest pain, heart failure, or sudden death
myocarditis
an inflammation of the myocardium, usually caused by viruses
pericarditis
inflammation of the pericardium, usually accompanied by formation of a serous, fibrinous, or purulent exudate on its internal
Raynauds disease
a disease of unknown ethology characterised by intermittent attacks of ischemia of the extremities, including fingers, toes, ears, and nose presumably as a result of vascular spasm. similar symptoms are found in persons with systemic lupus erythematous and systemic sclerosis of cryoglobulinemia, called Raynaud’s disease
renin
an enzyme produced by the juxtaglomerular apparatus cells of the kidney, which increases blood pressure by acting on angiotensinogen
rheumatic fever
an immunologic reaction to streptococci that affects the joints and the heart
tetralogy of fallot
a congenital heart disease characterised by four specific defects, including interventricular septal defect, dextroposition of the aorta over-riding the septal defect, stenosis of pulmonary arteries, and right ventricular hypertrophy
thrombophlebitis
an inflammation of thromboses veins, usually in the lower extremities
troponin
a group of proteins, normally found in cardiac myocytes, that are released from damaged heart cells during an infarction. its serum concentration is elevated soon after the onset of myocardial infarction and therefore a troponin test is used for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction
ventricular aneurysm
a localised dilation or saccular protrusion in the wall of the left ventricle, usually caused by scarring of a healed myocardial infarct
ventricular rupture
a tear in the muscle wall of the left ventricle as a result of myocardial necrosis in an infarct. it may cause bleeding into the pericardial cavity, cardiac tamponade, and sudden cardiac death
ventricular septal defect
the most common cardiac anomaly, characterised by one or more abnormal openings in the septum separating the left from the right ventricle
Atherosclerotic aneurysms
are aneurysms caused by atherosclerosis and typically occur in the abdominal aorta, thus generating abdominal aortic aneurysms.
atherosclerotic intestinal disease
intestinal ischemic syndrome are caused by atherosclerosis leading to narrowing or blockage of the vessels
atherosclerotic / hypertensive renal disease
elevated blood pressure caused by kidney disease. some people with renal hypertension can be helped by angioplasty, stenting or surgery on the blood vessels of the kidney
cardiomegaly
abnormal enlargement of the heart
cardiomyopathy
chronic disease of the heart muscle
congestive heart failure
aka heart failure. a condition in which the heart muscle is weakened and can’t pump as well as it usually does. the main pumping chambers of the heart (the ventricles) can change size and thickness, and either can’t contract (squeeze) or can’t relax (fill) as well as they should. this triggers fluid retention, particularly in the lungs, legs and abdomen
coronary heart (artery) disease
occurs when the coronary artery clogs and narrows because of the buildup of plaque
hemopericardium
refers to blood in the pericardial sac of the heart. clinically similar to pericardial effusion, and depending on the volume and rapidity with which it develops, may cause cardiac tamponade
hypersensitivity vasculitis
an extreme reaction to a drug, infection, or foreign substance. it leads to inflammation and damage to blood vessels, mainly in the skin.
hypertensive encephalopathy
refers to the transient migratory neurologic symptoms that are associated with the malignant hypertensive state in a hypertensive emergency. symptoms include: headache, nausea, vomiting, restlessness, confusion, seizures and coma
myoglobin
a red protein containing ham, which carries and stores oxygen in muscle cells. structurally similar to a subunit of haemoglobin
pancarditis
inflammation of the entire heart: the pericardium, myocardium, and endocardium
peripheral vascular disease
is a blood circulation disorder that causes the blood vessels outside of your heart and brain to narrow, block, or spasm.
giant cell temporal arteries
is an inflammation of the lining of your arteries
varicose veins
are swollen, twisted veins that lie just under the skin and usually occur in the legs
vasculitis
inflammation of a blood vessel or blood vessels
