Cardiovascular/Heart Flashcards
Aortic aneurysm
diagnosis of enlarged aorta; due to a weakened aortic wall
Aortic dissection
diagnosis in which the arterial wall splits apart
Arrhythmia
Disturbance of rhythm in the heartbeat
Aortic rupture
Diagnosis in which the arterial wall breaks open as could happen in aortic dissection, ruptured aortic aneurysm trauma
Atrial fibrillation
Irregular beating of the atria; indicates that the sinus node is not conducting a normal sinus rhythm; “a fib”
Atrial flutter
Irregular beating of the atria; often described as “a-flutter with 2 to 1 block or 3 to 1 block”
Atrial septal defect
ASD; a hole in the atrial septum that causes blood in the RA and LA to mix
Bradycardia
Slow heart rate (HR < 60)
Cardiac ischemia
Decreased blood flow through the coronary vessels and to the heart; usually diagnosed by ST segment depressions on EKG
Cardiomegaly
Enlarged heart
Cardiomyopathy
Disease of the heart muscle
Dilated cardiomyopathy
Dysfunctional heart muscle because of an enlarged heart
Extra systoles
Extra beats of the heart heard during auscultation
Friction rub
Described as grating, scratching sound of the heart indicative of pericarditis
Gallop
Three or four sounds, resembling the sounds of gallop