Cardiovascular Disorders, Diagnosis, Treatment Flashcards
aneurysm
AN-u-rizm
A localized abnormal dilation of a blood vessel, usually an artery, caused by weakness of the vessel wall; may eventually burst
angina pectoris
an-JI-nah PEK-to-ris
A feeling of constriction around the heart or pain that may radiate to the left arm or shoulder, usually brought on by exertion; caused by insufficient blood supply to the heart
arrhythmia
ah-RITH-me-ah
Any abnormality in the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat (literally “without rhythm”; note doubled r); also called dysrhythmia
atherosclerosis
ath-er-o-skler-O-sis
The development of fatty, fibrous patches (plaques) in the lining of arteries, causing narrowing of the lumen and hardening of the vessel wall; the most common form of arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) (root ather/o means “porridge” or “gruel”)
cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
ser-eh-bro-VAS-ku-lar
Sudden damage to the brain resulting from reduction of blood flow; causes include atherosclerosis, embolism, thrombosis, or hemorrhage from a ruptured aneurysm; commonly called stroke
clubbing
KLUB-ing
Enlargement of the ends of the fingers and toes caused by growth of the soft tissue around the nails (see FIG. 3-17); seen in a variety of diseases in which there is poor peripheral circulation
bradycardia
brad-e-KAR-de-ah
A slow heart rate of less than 60 bpm
coarctation of the aorta
ko-ark-TA-shun
Localized narrowing of the aorta with restriction of blood flow
diaphoresis
di-ah-fo-RE-sis
Profuse sweating
C-reactive protein (CRP)
Protein produced during systemic inflammation, which may contribute to atherosclerosis; high CRP levels can indicate cardiovascular disease and its prognosis
deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
throm-BO-sis
Thrombophlebitis involving the deep veins
cyanosis
si-ah-NO-sis
Bluish discoloration of the skin caused by lack of oxygen in the blood (adjective: cyanotic)
dissecting aneurysm
An aneurysm in which blood enters the arterial wall and separates the layers; usually involves the aorta
dyslipidemia
dis-lip-ih-DE-me-ah
Disorder in serum lipid levels, which is an important factor in development of atherosclerosis; includes hyperlipidemia (high lipids), hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol), and hypertriglyceridemia (high triglycerides)
dyspnea
DISP-ne-ah
Difficult or labored breathing (-pnea)
edema
eh-DE-mah
Swelling of body tissues caused by the presence of excess fluid (see FIG. 3-2); causes include cardiovascular disturbances, kidney failure, inflammation, and malnutrition
embolism
EM-bo-lizm
Obstruction of a blood vessel by a blood clot or other matter carried in the circulation
embolus
EM-bo-lus
A mass carried in the circulation; usually a blood clot, but also may be air, fat, bacteria, or other solid matter from within or from outside the body
heart block
An interference in the electrical conduction system of the heart resulting in arrhythmia
fibrillation
fih-brih-LA-shun
Spontaneous, quivering, and ineffectual contraction of muscle fibers, as in the atria or the ventricles
heart failure
A condition caused by the inability of the heart to maintain adequate blood circulation
hypertension
hi-per-TEN-shun
A condition of higher-than-normal blood pressure; essential (primary, idiopathic) hypertension has no known cause
hemorrhoid
HEM-o-royd
A varicose vein in the rectum
infarct
in-FARKT
An area of localized tissue necrosis (death) resulting from a blockage or a narrowing of the artery that supplies the area
ischemia
is-KE-me-ah
Local deficiency of blood supply caused by circulatory obstruction
myocardial infarction (MI)
mi-o-KAR-de-al in-FARK-shun
Localized necrosis (death) of cardiac muscle tissue resulting from blockage or narrowing of the coronary artery that supplies that area; myocardial infarction is usually caused by formation of a thrombus (clot) in a vessel
murmur
An abnormal heart sound
occlusion
o-KLU-zhun
A closing off or obstruction, as of a vessel
patent ductus arteriosus
PA-tent DUK-tus
ar-tere-e-O-sus
Persistence of the ductus arteriosus after birth; the ductus arteriosus is a vessel that connects the pulmonary artery to the descending aorta in the fetus to bypass the lungs
phlebitis
fleh-BI-tis
Inflammation of a vein
plaque
Plak
A patch; with regard to the cardiovascular system, a deposit of fatty material and other substances on a vessel wall that impedes blood flow and may block the vessel; atheromatous plaque
rheumatic heart disease
ru-MAT-ik
Damage to heart valves after infection with a type of Streptococcus (group A hemolytic Streptococcus); the antibodies produced in response to the infection produce valvular scarring usually involving the mitral valve
septal defect
SEP-tal
An opening in the septum between the atria or ventricles; a common cause is persistence of the foramen ovale (for-A-men o-VAL-e), an opening between the atria that bypasses the lungs in fetal circulation
shock
Circulatory failure resulting in an inadequate blood supply to the tissues; cardiogenic shock is caused by heart failure; hypovolemic shock is caused by a loss of blood volume; septic shock is caused by bacterial infection
stenosis
steh-NO-sis
Constriction or narrowing of an opening
stroke
See cerebrovascular accident
syncope
SIN-ko-pe
A temporary loss of consciousness caused by inadequate blood flow to the brain; fainting
thrombophlebitis
throm-bo-fleh-BI-tis
Inflammation of a vein associated with formation of a blood clot
tachycardia
tak-ih-KAR-de-ah
An abnormally rapid heart rate, usually over 100 bpm
thrombosis
throm-BO-sis
Development of a blood clot within a vessel
thrombus
THROM-bus
A blood clot that forms within a blood vessel (root: thromb/o)
varicose vein
VAR-ih-kose
A twisted and swollen vein resulting from breakdown of the valves, pooling of blood, and chronic dilatation of the vessel (root: varic/o); also called varix (VAR-iks) or varicosity (var-ih-KOS-ih-te)
ablation
ab-LA-shun
Removal or destruction. In cardiac ablation, a catheter is used to destroy a portion of the heart’s conduction pathway to correct an arrhythmia
angioplasty
AN-je-o-plas-te
A procedure that reopens a narrowed vessel and restores blood flow; commonly accomplished by surgically removing plaque, inflating a balloon within the vessel, or installing a device (stent) to keep the vessel open
artificial pacemaker
A battery-operated device that generates electrical impulses to regulate the heartbeat; it may be external or implanted, may be designed to respond to need, and may have the capacity to prevent tachycardia
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
kar-de-o-PUL-mo-nar-e re-sus-ih-TA-shun
Restoration of cardiac output and pulmonary ventilation after cardiac arrest using artificial respiration and chest compression or cardiac massage
cardioversion
KAR-de-o-ver-zhun
Correction of an abnormal cardiac rhythm; may be accomplished pharmacologically, with antiarrhythmic drugs, or by application of electric current
coronary angiography
KOR-o-na-re an-je-OG-rah-fe
Radiographic study of the coronary arteries after introduction of an opaque dye by means of a catheter threaded through blood vessels into the heart
coronary artery bypass
graft (CABG)
Surgical creation of a shunt to bypass a blocked coronary artery; the aorta is connected to a point past the obstruction with another vessel or a piece of another vessel, usually the left internal mammary artery or part of the leg’s saphenous vein
coronary calcium scan
Method for visualizing vessel-narrowing calcium deposits in coronary arteries; useful for diagnosing coronary artery disease in people at moderate risk or those who have undiagnosed chest pain; also known as a heart scan
creatine kinase MB (CK-MB)
KRE-ah-tin KI-naze
Enzyme released in increased amounts from cardiac muscle cells following myocardial infarction (MI); serum assays help diagnose MI and determine the extent of muscle damage
CT angiography (CTA)
an-je-OG-rah-fe
Computed tomography scan used to visualize vessels in the heart and other organs; requires only a small amount of dye injected into the arm; can rule out blocked coronary arteries that may cause a myocardial infarction (heart attack) in people with chest pain or abnormal stress tests
echocardiography
ek-o-kar-de-OG-rah-fe
A noninvasive method that uses ultrasound to visualize internal cardiac structures
defibrillation
de-fib-rih-LA-shun
Use of an electronic device (defibrillator) to stop fibrillation by delivering a brief electric shock to the heart; the shock may be delivered to the surface of the chest, as by an automated external defibrillator (AED), or directly into the heart through wire leads, using an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)
lipoprotein
lip-o-PRO-tene
A compound of protein with lipid; lipoproteins are classified according to density as very low-density (VLDL), low-density (LDL), and high-density (HDL); relatively higher levels of HDLs have been correlated with cardiovascular health
percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)
Dilatation of a sclerotic blood vessel by means of a balloon catheter inserted into the vessel and then inflated to flatten plaque against the arterial wall
stent
A small metal device in the shape of a coil or slotted tube that is placed inside an artery to keep the vessel open, for example, after balloon angioplasty
stress test
Evaluation of physical fitness by continuous ECG monitoring during exercise; in a thallium stress test, a radioactive isotope of thallium is administered to trace blood flow through the heart during exercise
troponin (Tn)
tro-PO-nin
A protein in muscle cells that regulates contraction; increased serum levels, primarily in the forms TnT and TnI, indicate recent myocardial infarction (MI)
