Cardiovascular System Flashcards
Aort/o
Aorta
Arteri/o
Artery
Ather/o
Fatty paste
Atri/o
Atrium
Coron/o
Circle or crown
Pector/o, steth/o
Chest
Sphygm/o
Pulse
Thromb/o
Clot
Ven/o, phleb/o
Vein
Varic/o
Swollen, twisted vein
Ventricul/o
Ventricle (belly or pouch)
Atrium
Upper right or left chamber of the heart
Endocardium
Membrane lining the cavities of the heart
Epicardium
Membrane forming the outer layer of the heart
Interatrial septum
Partition between the right and left atria
Interventricular septum
Partition between the right and left ventricles
Myocardium
Heart muscle
Pericardium
Protective sac enclosing the heart composed of two layers with fluid between
Visceral pericardium
Layer closest to the heart
Parietal pericardium
Outer layer
Pericardial cavity
Fluid-filled cavity between the pericardial layers
Ventricle
Lower right or left chamber of the heart
Heart valves
Structure within the heart that open and close with the heartbeat to regulate the one-way flow of blood
Aortic valve
Heart valve between the left ventricle and the aorta
Mitral valve/bicuspid valve
Heart valve between the left atrium and left ventricle
Pulmonary semilunar valve
Heart valve opening from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery
Tricuspid valve
Valve between the right atrium and the right ventricle
Valve of the veins
Valves located at intervals within the lining of veins, especially in the legs, which constrict with muscle action to move the blood returning to the heart
Arteries
Vessels that carry blood from the heart to the arterioles
Aorta
Large artery that is the main trunk of the arterial system branching from the left ventricle
Arterioles
Small vessels that receive blood from the arteries
Capillaries
Tiny vessels that join arterioles and venules
Veins
Vessels that carry blood to the heart from the venules
Systemic circulation
Circulation of blood throughout the body via arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins to deliver oxygen and nutrients to body tissues
Coronary circulation
Circulation of blood through the coronary blood vessels to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle tissue
Pulmonary circulation
Circulation of blood from the pulmonary artery through the vessels in the lungs and back to the heart via the pulmonary vein, providing for the exchange of gases
Diastole
To expand; period during the cardiac cycle when blood enters the relaxed ventricles from the atria
Systole
To contract; period during the cardiac cycle when the heart is in contraction and blood is ejected through the aorta and the pulmonary artery
Normotension
Normal blood pressure
Hypotension
Low blood pressure
Hypertension (HTN)
High blood pressure
Sinoatrial (SA) node
The pacemaker; highly specialized, neurological tissue impeded in the wall of the right atrium; responsible for initiating electrical conduction of the heartbeat, causing the atria to contract and firing conduction of impulses to the AV node
Atrioventricular (AV) node
Neurological tissue in the center of the heart that receives and amplifies the conduction of impulses from the SA node to the bundle of His
Bundle of His
Neurological fibers extending from the AV node to the right and left bundle branches that fire the impulse from the AV node to the Purkinje fibers
Purkinje fibers, purkinje network
Fibers in the ventricles that transmit impulses to the right and left ventricles, causing them to contrast
Polarization
Resting; resting state of a myocardial cell
Depolarization
Change of a myocardial cell from a polarized (resting) state to a state of a contraction
Repolarizarion
Recharging of the myocardial cell from a contracted state back to a resting state
Normal sinus rhythm (NSR)
Regular rhythm of the heart cycle stimulated by the SA node (60-100bpm)
Aneurysm
A widening; a bulging of the wall of the heart, aorta, or artery caused by a congenital defect of acquired weakness
Saccular aneurysm
A sac-like bulge on one side
Fusiform aneurysm
A spindle-shaped bulge
Dissecting aneurysm
A split or tear of the vessel wall
Angina pectoris
Chest pain caused by a temporary loss of oxygenated blood to heart muscle; often caused by narrowing of the coronary areries
Arteriosclerosis
Thickening, loss of elasticity, and calcification (hardening) of the arterial walls
Atherosclerosis
A form of arteriosclerosis characterized by the buildup of fatty substances that harden within the walls of arteries
Atheromatous plaque
A swollen area within the lining of an artery caused by the buildup of fat
Claudication
To limp; pain in a limb (especially the calf) while walking that subsides after rest; caused by inadequate blood supply
Constriction
Compression of a part that causes narrowing (stenosis)
Diaphoresis
Profuse sweating
Embolus
A clot carried in the bloodstream that obstructs the flow of blood when it lodges
Heart murmur
An abnormal sound from the heart produced by defects in the chambers or valves
Infarct
To stuff; a localized area of necrosis caused by ischemia resulting from occlusion of a blood vessel
Ischemia
To hold back blood; decreased blood flow to tissue caused by constriction or occlusion of a blood vessel
Perfusion deficit
Lack of flow through a blood vessel caused by narrowing, occlusion, etc.
Occlusion
Plugging; an obstruction or a closing off
Palpitation
Subjective experience of pounding, skipping, or racing heartbeats
Stenosis
Condition of narrowing of a part
Thrombus
A stationary blood clot
Vegetation
To grow; an abnormal growth of tissue around a valve, generally as a result of infection
Acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
Signs and symptoms indicating an active process of atherosclerotic plaque buildup or formation of a thrombus, or spasm within a coronary artery, causing reduction or loss of blood flow to myocardial tissue; includes unstable angina and other pathological events leading to myocardial infarction (MI); early diagnosis and rapid treatment are critical to avoid or minimize damage to heart muscle
Arrhythmia
Any of several kinds of irregularity or loss of rhythm of the heartbeat
Dysrhythmia- bradycardia
Slow heart rate (less than 60 bpm)
Dysrhythmia- fibrillation
Chaotic, irregular contractions of the heart, as in atrial or ventricular fibrillation
Dysrhythmia- premature ventricular contraction (PVC)
A ventricular contraction preceding the normal impulse initiated by the SA node (pacemaker)
Dysrhythmia- tachycardia
Fast heart rate (greater than 100 bpm)
Bacterial endocarditis
A bacterial inflammation that affects the endocardium or the heart valves
Cardiac tamponade
Compression of the heart produced by the accumulation of fluid in the pericardial sac, as results from pericarditis or trauma, causing rupture of a blood vessel within the heart
Cardiomyopathy
A general term for disease of the heart muscle, such as alcoholic cardiomyopathy (damage to the heart muscle caused by excessive alcohol consumption)
Congenital anomaly of the heart
Malformations of the heart that are present at birth
Atrial septal defect (ASD)
An opening in the septum separating the atria
Coarctation of the aorta
Narrowing of the descending portion of the aorta, resulting in a limited flow of blood to the lower part of the body
Patent ductus arteriosis
An abnormal opening between the pulmonary artery and the aorta caused by failure of the fetal ductus arteriosus to close after birth
Ventricular septal defect
An opening in the septum separating the ventricles
Congestive heart failure/left ventricular failure
Failure of the left ventricle to pump an adequate amount of blood to meet the demands of the body, resulting in a “bottleneck” of congestion in the lungs that may extend to the veins, causing edema in lower portions of the body
Cor pulmonale/ right ventricular failure
Enlargement of the right ventricle, resulting from chronic disease within the lungs, that causes congestion within the pulmonary circulation and resistance of blood flow to the lungs
Coronary artery disease (CAD)
A condition affecting arteries of the heart that reduces the flow of blood and the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the myocardium; most often caused by atherosclerosis
Hypertension HTN
Persistently high blood pressure
Essential hypertension, primary hypertension
High blood pressure attributed to no single cause; risks include smoking, obesity, increased salt intake, hypercholesterolemia, and hereditary factors
Secondary hypertension
High blood pressure caused by the effects of another disease
Mitral valve prolapse (MVP)
Protrusion of one or both cusps of the mitral valve back into the left atrium during ventricular contraction, resulting in incomplete closure and back flow of blood
Myocardial infarction
Heart attack; death of myocardial tissue caused by ischemia as a result of an occlusion of a coronary artery; usually caused by atherosclerosis; symptoms include pain in the chest or upper body, shortness of breath, diaphoresis, and nausea
Myocarditis
Inflammation of myocardium; most often caused by viral or bacterial infection
Pericarditis
Inflammation of the pericaridum
Rheumatic heart disease
Damage to heart muscle and heart valves by rheumatic fever
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)
The abrupt cessation of any cardiac output (CO), most commonly as the result of ventricular fibrilltion; causes sudden death unless defibrillation is initiated immediately
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
Formation of a clot in a deep vein of the body, occurring most often in the femoral and iliac veins
Phlebitis
Inflammation of a vein
Thrombophlebitis
Inflammation of a vein associated with a clot formation
Varicose veins
Abnormally swollen, twisted veins with defective valves, most often seen in the legs
Auscultation
Physical examination method of listening to sounds within the body with a stethoscope
Gallop
Abnormal heart sound that mimics the gait of a horse; related to abnormal ventricular contraction
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
An electrical picture of the heart represented by positive and negative deflections on a graph labeled with the letters P, Q, R, S, and T, which correspond to events of the cardiac cycle
Stress electrocardiogram (stress ECG or EKG)
Electrocardiogram of the heart recorded during the induction of controlled physical exercise using a treadmill or ergometer (bicycle); useful in detecting heart conditions
Holter ambulatory monitor
Portable electrocardiograph worn by the patient that monitors electrical activity of the heart over 24 hours; useful in detecting periodic abnormalities
Intracardiac electrophysiological study (EPS)
Invasive procedure involving placement of catheter-guided electrodes within the heart to evaluate and map the electrical conduction of cardiac arrhythmias; intracardiac catheter ablation may be performed at the same time to treat the arrhythmia
Intracardiac catheter ablation
Use of radio frequency waves sent through a catheter within the heart to treat arrthymias by selectively destroying myocardial tissue at sites that generate abnormal electrical pathways
Magnetic resonance angiography
Magnetic resonance imaging of the heart and blood vessels for evaluation of pathology
Nuclear medicine imaging
Radionuclide organ imaging of the heart after administration of radioactive isotopes to visualize structures and to analysis functions
Myocardial radionuclide perfusion scan
Scan of the heart made after an IV injection of an isotope as it is absorbed by myocardial cells in proportion to blood flow throughout the heart; useful in evaluating coronary artery disease (CAD)
Myocardial radionuclide perfusion stress scan
Nuclear perfusion scan of the heart that is made before and after the induction of controlled physical exercise stress in pts who are unable to ambulate
Multiple gated acquisition scan (MUGA)
Nuclear image of the beating heart in motion made as radioactive isotopes are injected in the bloodstream and traced through the heart’s chambers; useful in evaluating the pumping function of the ventricles
Positron-emission tomography (PET) scan of the heart
Use of specialized nuclear isotopes and computed tomographic techniques to produce perfusion images and to study the cellular metabolism of the heart; can be performed at rest or with stress
Radiology
X-ray imaging
Angiography
Process of x-ray imaging a blood vessel after injection of contrast medium, most commonly after catheter placement
Angiogram
Record obtained by angiography
Coronary angiogram
X-ray image of the blood vessels of the heart using a catheter to inject contrast
Arteriogram
X-ray image of a particular artery
Aortogram
X-ray image of the aorta
Venogram
X-ray image of a vein
Cardiac catheterization
Introduction of a flexible , narrow tube through a vein or artery into the heart to withdraw samples of blood, to measure pressures within the heart chambers or vessels, and to inject contrast media for fluoroscopic radiography and cine film imaging of the chambers of the heart and coronary arteries; often includes interventional procedures such as angioplasty and atherectomy
Left heart catheterization
X-ray imaging of the left ventricular cavity and coronary arteries
Right heart catheterization
Measurement of oxygen saturation and pressure readings of the right side of the heart
Ventriculogram
X-ray image of the ventricles
Stroke volume (SV)
Measurement of the amount of blood ejected from a ventricle in one contraction
Cardiac output (CO)
Measurement of the amount of blood ejected per minute from either ventricle of the heart
Ejection fraction
Measurement of the volume percentage of left ventricular contents ejected with each contraction
Computed tomographic angiography (CTA)
Specialized, noninvasive, three-dimensional computed tomographic scan of the heart and circulation of the “greater” blood vessels, such as the coronary arteries, aorta, and pulmonary veins; performed with or without contrast
Sonography
Sonographic imaging
Echocardiography (echo)
Recording of sound waves through the heart to evaluate structure and motion
Stress echocardiogram (stress echo)
Echocardiogram of the heart recorded during the induction of controlled physical exercise or a pharmaceutical agent that produces the effect of exercise stress in pts who are unable to ambulate; useful in detecting conditions such as ischemia or infarction
Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)
Echocardiogram of the heart after placement of an ultrasonic transducer at the end of an endoscope inside the esophagus
Doppler sonography
Ultrasound technique used to evaluate blood flow to determine the presence of a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or carotid insufficiency, or to determine flow through the heart, chambers, valves, and so on
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)
Grafting a portion of a blood vessel retrieved from another part of the body to bypass an occluded coronary artery, restoring circulation to myocardial tissue; the traditional method includes temporary arrest of the heart with circulation of the patients blood through a heart-lung machine during the procedure; an alternative, off-pump approach uses a stabilizer to perform the procedure on the beating heart; the abbreviation CABG is pronounced “cabbage”
Anastomosis
Opening; the joining of two blood vessels to allow flow from one to the other
Endarterectomy
Surgical removal of the lining of an artery to clear a blockage caused by a clot or atherosclerotic plaque buildup
Valve replacement
Surgery to replace a diseased heart valve with an artificial valve, there are two types of artificial valves: tissue valves, most commonly made from animal tissue and mechanical valves, made from synthetic material
Valvuloplasty
Surgical repair of a defective heart valve
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)
Interventional procedures used to treat coronary artery disease (CAD) performed at the time of cardiac catheterization in a specialized lab setting instead of the traditional operating room
Angioscopy, vascular endoscopy
Use of a flexible fiber optic angioscope (accompanied by an irrigation system, camera, video recorder, and monitor) that is guided through a specific blood vessel to visually assess a lesion and to select the mode of therapy
Atherectomy
Excision of atheromatous plaque from within an artery utilizing a device housed in a flexible catheter that selectively cuts away or pulverizes tissue buildup
Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)
A method for treating the narrowing of a coronary artery by inserting a specialized catheter with a balloon attachment, then inflating the balloon to dilate and open the narrowed portion of the vessel and restore blood flow to the myocardium; most often includes the placement of a stent
Intravascular stent placement
Implantation of a device used to reinforce the wall of a vessel and assure its patency (openness); most often used to treat a stenosis or a dissection or to reinforce patency of a vessel after angioplasty
Defibrillation
Termination of ventricular fibrillation by delivering an electrical stimulus to the heart; most commonly, this is done by applying the electrodes of the defibrillator externally to the chest wall, but it can also be performed internally, such as during open heart surgery or via an implanted decice
Defibrillator
Device that delivers the electrical stimulus in defibrillation
Cardioversion
Restoration of a fast or irregular heart rate to a normal rhythm, either by pharmaceutical means or by delivery of electrical energy
Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)
An implanted, battery-operated device with rate-sensing leads; the device monitors cardiac impulses and initiates an electrical stimulus as needed to stop ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia
Pacemaker
A device used to treat slow heart rates (bradycardia) by electrically stimulating the heart to contract; most often, it’s implanted with lead wires and battery circuitry under the skin, but it can also be placed on a temporary basis externally with lead wires inserted into the heart via a vein
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor
Drug that suppresses the conversion of angiotensin in the blood by ACE; used in the treatment of hypertension
Antianginal
Drug that dilates coronary arteries, restoring oxygen to the tissues to relieve the pain of angina pectoris
Antiarrhythmic
Drug that counteracts cardiac arrhythmia
Anticoagulant
Drug that prevents clotting of the blood; commonly used in the treatment of thrombophlebitis and myocardial infarction
Antihypertensive
Drug that lowers blood pressure
Beta-adrenergic blocking agents, beta blockers
Agents that inhibit responses to sympathetic adrenergic nerve activity, causing a slowing of electrical conduction and heart rate and a lowering of the pressure within the walls of the vessels; used to treat angina pectoris and hypertension
Calcium- channel blockers
Agents that inhibit the entry of calcium ions into heart muscle cells, causing a slowing of the heart rate, a lessening of the demand for oxygen and nutrients, and a relaxing of the smooth muscle cells of the broken vessels to cause dilation; used to prevent or treat angina pectoris, some arrhythmias, and hypertension
Cardiotonic
Drug that increases the force of myocardial contractions in the heart; commonly used to treat congestive heart failure (CHD)
Diuretic
Drug that increases the secretion of urine; commonly prescribed in treating hypertension
Hypolipidemic
Drug that reduces serum fat and cholesterol
Thrombolytic agents
Drugs used to dissolve blood clots; used in acute management of myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke
Vasoconstrictor
Drug that causes a narrowing of the blood vessels, thereby decreasing blood flow
Vasodilator
Drug that causes dilation of the blood vessels, thereby increasing blood flow