Cardiovascular Emergencies (ch. 17)

Question 1

acute coronary syndrome (ACS)

Answer 1

A group of symptoms caused by myocardial ischemia; includes angina and myocardial infarction.

Question 2

acute myocardial infarction (AMI)

Answer 2

A heart attack; death of heart muscle following obstruction of blood flow to it. “Acute” in this context means “new” or “happening right now.”

Question 3

angina pectoris

Answer 3

Transient (short-lived) chest discomfort caused by partial or temporary blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle; also called angina.

Question 4

anterior

Answer 4

The front surface of the body; the side facing you in the standard anatomic position.

Question 5

aorta

Answer 5

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.

Question 6

aortic aneurysm

Answer 6

A weakness in the wall of the aorta that makes it susceptible to rupture.

Question 7

aortic valve

Answer 7

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 its blood into the aorta; one of four heart valves.

Question 8

artifact

Answer 8

A tracing on an ECG that is the result of interference, such as patient movement, rather than the heart’s electrical activity.

Question 9

asystole

Answer 9

The complete absence of all heart electrical activity.

Question 10

atherosclerosis

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

atrium

Answer 11

One of the two upper chambers of the heart.

Question 12

automaticity

Answer 12

The ability of cardiac muscle cells to contract without stimulation from the nervous system.

Question 13

autonomic nervous system

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

bradycardia

Answer 14

A slow heart rate, less than 60 beats/min.

Question 15

cardiac arrest

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

cardiac output

Answer 16

A measure of the volume of blood circulated by the heart in 1 minute, calculated by multiplying the stroke volume by the heart rate.

Question 17

cardiogenic shock

Answer 17

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.

Question 18

congestive heart failure (CHF)

Answer 18

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.

Question 19

coronary arteries

Answer 19

The blood vessels that carry blood and nutrients to the heart muscle.

Question 20

defibrillate

Answer 20

To shock a fibrillating (chaotically shaking) heart with specialized electric current in an attempt to restore a normal, rhythmic beat.

Question 21

dependent edema

Answer 21

Swelling in the part of the body closest to the ground, caused by collection of fluid in the tissues; a possible sign of congestive heart failure.

Question 22

dilation

Answer 22

Widening of a tubular structure such as a coronary artery.

Question 23

dissecting aneurysm

Answer 23

A condition in which the inner layers of an artery, such as the aorta, become separated, allowing blood (at high pressures) to flow between the layers.

Question 24

dysrhythmia

Answer 24

An irregular or abnormal heart rhythm.

Question 25

hypertensive emergency

Answer 25

An emergency situation created by excessively high blood pressure, which can lead to serious complications such as stroke or aneurysm.

Question 26

infarction

Answer 26

Death of a body tissue, usually caused by interruption of its blood supply.

Question 27

inferior

Answer 27

Below a body part or nearer to the feet.

Question 28

ischemia

Answer 28

A lack of oxygen that deprives tissues of necessary nutrients, resulting from partial or complete blockage of blood flow; potentially reversible because permanent injury has not yet occurred.

Question 29

lumen

Answer 29

The inside diameter of an artery or other hollow structure.

Question 30

myocardium

Answer 30

The heart muscle.

Question 31

occlusion

Answer 31

A blockage, usually of a tubular structure such as a blood vessel.

Question 32

parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 32

The part of the autonomic nervous system that controls vegetative functions such as digestion of food and relaxation.

Question 33

perfusion

Answer 33

The circulation of oxygenated blood within an organ or tissue in adequate amounts to meet the cells’ current needs.

Question 34

posterior

Answer 34

The back surface of the body; the side away from you in the standard anatomic position.

Question 35

return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC)

Answer 35

The return of a pulse and effective blood flow to the body in a patient who previously was in cardiac arrest.

Question 36

stroke volume

Answer 36

The volume of blood ejected with each ventricular contraction.

Question 37

superior

Answer 37

Above a body part or nearer to the head.

Question 38

sympathetic nervous system

Answer 38

The part of the autonomic nervous system that controls active functions such as responding to fear (also known as the fight-or-flight system).

Question 39

syncope

Answer 39

A fainting spell or transient loss of consciousness.

Question 40

tachycardia

Answer 40

A rapid heart rate, more than 100 beats/min.

Question 41

thromboembolism

Answer 41

A blood clot that has formed within a blood vessel and is floating within the bloodstream.

Question 42

ventricle

Answer 42

One of the two lower chambers of the heart.

Question 43

ventricular fibrillation

Answer 43

Disorganized, ineffective quivering of the ventricles, resulting in no blood flow and a state of cardiac arrest.

Question 44

ventricular tachycardia

Answer 44

A rapid heart rhythm in which the electrical impulse begins in the ventricle (instead of the atria), which may result in inadequate blood flow and eventually deteriorate into cardiac arrest.