Cardiovascular pathophysiology Flashcards
what are congenital heart conditions
= a range of developmental defects that affect heart function. They can be apparent before birth, but it can takes from weeks to years to detect it. There is genetic linkage, but it can also be caused by maternal illness or exposure to toxins as a foetus.
what is meant by systemic circulation
the circuit of vessels supplying oxygenated blood to and returning deoxygenated blood from the tissues of the body
what is meant by pulmonary circulation
the system of blood vessels that forms a closed circuit between the heart and the lungs
what is meant by acyanotic
a heart defect that affects the normal flow of blood
how do we label the seriousness of a heart defect
very small defects are hydrodynamically irrelevant. This is because there is high resistance compared to the route the blood is meant to take, so blood is encouraged to take the usual route. Some blood will still leak out of the defect, but it isn’t a huge issue.
However, large defects are dangerous because a left to right shunt can cause volume overload. This can cause pulmonary hypotension and reverse the flow of blood, causing issues with oxygen saturation.
what does stenosis mean
the narrowing of a gap
what is meant by hypertrophy regarding the heart
the enlargement or thickening of the walls of the heart. usually due to the heart becoming more strong
what is fatigue
a feeling of constant tiredness or weakness
what is tachypnoea
rapid breathing
what is dyspnoea?
difficulty breathing, shortness of breathe, breathlessness
what is exercise intolerance
the reduced ability of the heart to perform activities that involve demanding movement of your body
what is efficacy?
the ability to produce a desired or intended result.
name some inflammatory heart conditions
– endocarditis, myocarditis, and pericarditis. They are conditions associated with infection, cancer, and autoimmune diseases.
what is an autoimmune disease
where the immune system attacks the body. it happens when the body’s natural defense system can’t tell the difference between your own cells and foreign cells, causing the body to mistakenly attack normal cells
define heart failure
where the heart is unable to supply the body with enough blood
what is necrosis
the death of body tissue. It occurs when too little blood flows to the tissue.
what is meant by cardiac tamponade
where there is restricted space for the heart to operate. it happens when extra fluid builds up in the space around the heart. This fluid puts pressure on the heart and prevents it from pumping well.
what is hypotension
low blood pressure