CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM Flashcards
A congenital condition where the ductus arteriosus, a vessel between the pulmonary artery and aorta, fails to close after birth.
Patent Ductus Arteriosus
What is Coarctation of the Aorta?
Narrowing of the aorta at the site where the ductus arteriosus closes, causing decreased blood flow to the lower body.
What are common radiographic signs of Coarctation of the Aorta?
Two bulges of the aorta and rib notching caused by enlarged collateral vessels.
What is a Septal Defect?
A defect in the wall (septum) that separates the heart’s chambers, allowing blood to be shunted between the chambers.
What are the two main types of Septal Defects?
Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) and Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD).
Which Septal Defect is more serious, ASD or VSD?
VSD
A congenital heart defect where the aorta arises from the right ventricle, and the pulmonary artery arises from the left ventricle, creating two separate circulatory systems.
Transposition of the Great Vessels?
What are the four components of Tetralogy of Fallot?
Pulmonary stenosis,
ventricular septal defect,
overriding aorta,
right ventricular hypertrophy.
What is the classic radiographic appearance of Tetralogy of Fallot?
A boot-shaped heart.
Abnormalities in the heart valves, such as stenosis or incompetency, which can lead to heart failure.
Valvular Disease
A condition where the mitral valve does not close properly, allowing blood to leak back into the atrium during systole.
Mitral Valve Prolapse
A condition where the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs, leading to congestion of the circulatory system.
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
What is the primary cause of left-sided heart failure?
Hypertension.
What radiographic signs indicate left-sided heart failure?
Cardiomegaly and pulmonary vascular congestion.
What is Right-Sided Heart Failure?
Failure of the right ventricle to pump blood efficiently, leading to systemic venous congestion and peripheral edema.
What is the primary cause of Right-Sided Heart Failure?
Pulmonary hypertension, often caused by lung diseases.
What is Cor Pulmonale?
Right ventricular hypertrophy and heart failure due to pulmonary hypertension.
A degenerative condition characterized by the buildup of fibrofatty plaques in arteries, leading to narrowing and hardening.
Atherosclerosis
What are risk factors for Atherosclerosis?
High LDL cholesterol,
smoking,
hypertension,
diabetes,
obesity
sedentary lifestyle.
A condition caused by the buildup of plaques in the coronary arteries, leading to reduced blood flow to the heart.
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
What are common complications of CAD?
Angina pectoris,
myocardial infarction (MI),
heart failure.
What is the primary cause of Myocardial Infarction (MI)?
An acute thrombus in a coronary artery leading to ischemia and necrosis of heart muscle.
What is the primary symptom of Myocardial Infarction?
Severe chest pain that may radiate to the left arm or neck.
What are the three types of Aneurysms?
Saccular
fusiform,
dissecting
A type of aneurysm where A localized bulge on one side of an artery wall, often occurring in cerebral arteries.
Saccular Aneurysm
A type of aneurysm where A bulge that affects the entire circumference of an artery, often found in the abdominal aorta.
Fusiform Aneurysm
What is a Dissecting Aneurysm?
A tear in the arterial wall that allows blood to flow between the layers of the wall, forming an intramural hematoma.
What is the primary imaging modality for detecting Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (AAAs)?
Ultrasound, MRI, and CT.
What is the threshold for surgical repair of an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)?
An aneurysm larger than 6 cm in diameter.
The formation of blood clots within a vein, often in the lower extremities.
Venous Thrombosis
What is the most serious complication of Venous Thrombosis?
pulmonary embolism (PE)
A blockage of a pulmonary artery caused by a blood clot, fat, or air embolism.
Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
What are common causes of Aortic Dissection?
Hypertension,
atherosclerosis,
connective tissue disorders.
What is a Greenfield filter used for?
To prevent pulmonary emboli by trapping clots in the inferior vena cava.
What are the most common locations for atherosclerotic plaque buildup?
Coronary arteries
aorta
carotid arteries.
What is Mitral Valve Stenosis?
Narrowing of the mitral valve, reducing blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle.
What is Cardiomegaly?
Enlargement of the heart, often seen in congestive heart failure.
What is the “boot-shaped” heart a sign of?
Tetralogy of Fallot.
What is the “water bottle” sign on a chest radiograph indicative of?
Pericardial effusion.
What is the “snowman” sign seen on a chest radiograph?
Total anomalous pulmonary venous return.
Inflammation of the inner lining of the heart, often caused by bacterial infection.
Endocarditis
What is the most common cause of Infective Endocarditis?
Streptococcal or staphylococcal infection.
Thickening of the heart muscle, particularly the septum, reducing blood flow out of the heart.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
A disease of the heart muscle that affects its ability to pump blood.
Cardiomyopathy
What is the most common cause of Sudden Cardiac Death in young athletes?
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.
A condition in which the heart’s ability to pump blood is decreased because the heart’s main pumping chamber is enlarged and weakened.
Dilated Cardiomyopathy
What is the hallmark symptom of Dilated Cardiomyopathy?
Fatigue and shortness of breath.
What is Restrictive Cardiomyopathy?
A condition where the walls of the heart become rigid, restricting the heart’s ability to fill with blood.
An abnormal bulging of the wall of the aorta.
Aortic Aneurysm
What is the “knuckle” sign on a chest X-ray?
A finding indicative of pulmonary embolism.
What is the gold standard imaging modality for diagnosing Aortic Dissection?
CT angiography.
What is the most common cause of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)?
Atherosclerosis.
What is the primary treatment for Coronary Artery Disease?
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
What is the “apple-core” lesion a sign of?
Atherosclerotic narrowing of an artery.
Inflammation of the heart muscle, often caused by viral infections.
Myocarditis
Inflammation of the pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart.
Pericarditis
What is a Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm?
Aneurysm of the thoracic aorta, often caused by trauma or congenital anomalies.
What is a common cause of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm?
Marfan syndrome.
What is the “three sign” in a chest X-ray indicative of?
Coarctation of the aorta.
An aneurysm in the popliteal artery, which is located behind the knee.
Popliteal Aneurysm
Death of lung tissue caused by blockage of the blood supply to the lungs, often due to pulmonary embolism.
Pulmonary Infarction
What is the most common cause of Pulmonary Hypertension?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
What is a Saccular Aneurysm most commonly associated with?
Cerebral aneurysms.
What is the difference between Stable Angina and Unstable Angina?
Stable angina occurs with exertion and is relieved by rest,
unstable angina occurs at rest and is a medical emergency.
What is the most common congenital heart defect?
Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD).
What is the primary symptom of an Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)?
A heart murmur.
A life-threatening condition where the heart suddenly can’t pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs.
Cardiogenic Shock
What are the common causes of Cardiogenic Shock?
Severe heart attack (MI), heart failure, or arrhythmias.
What is the most common cause of Sudden Cardiac Death?
Ventricular fibrillation.
What is the most common cause of Pulmonary Embolism?
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
What is the hallmark radiographic sign of Heart Failure on chest X-ray?
Cardiomegaly and pulmonary edema.
What is the “bat wing” appearance on chest X-ray indicative of?
Pulmonary edema.
Narrowing of the aortic valve, leading to obstructed blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta.
Aortic Stenosis
What is Tricuspid Valve Stenosis?
Narrowing of the tricuspid valve, reducing blood flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle.
Narrowing of the pulmonary valve, obstructing blood flow from the right ventricle to the pulmonary arteries.
Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
Backflow of blood from the left ventricle into the left atrium due to improper closure of the mitral valve.
Mitral Regurgitation
Increased pressure in the pulmonary arteries, leading to right heart failure.
Pulmonary Artery Hypertension (PAH)
A congenital condition where the aortic valve has only two leaflets instead of three.
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
small, painless red lesion on the palms or soles, often seen in Infective Endocarditis.
Janeway lesion
A painful, red nodule on the fingers or toes, seen in Infective Endocarditis.
Osler node
Accumulation of fluid in the pericardial sac, compressing the heart and reducing its ability to pump.
Cardiac Tamponade
What is the Beck’s Triad associated with Cardiac Tamponade?
Hypotension
muffled heart sounds
jugular venous distention.
Stress-induced cardiomyopathy, often mimicking a heart attack but without blocked coronary arteries.
Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy
What is the hallmark radiographic sign of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy?
Left ventricular ballooning, often seen in echocardiography.
What is the common term for Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy?
Broken heart syndrome.
What is an Aortic Ulcer
A penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer that can lead to intramural hematoma or aortic dissection.
A congenital heart defect where the tricuspid valve is abnormally formed and positioned.
Ebstein’s Anomaly
Excess fluid accumulation in the pericardial sac around the heart.
Pericardial Effusion
tear in the inner layer of the aorta, allowing blood to flow between the layers of the aortic wall.
Aortic Dissection
What is the “false lumen” seen in an Aortic Dissection?
The new channel created between the layers of the aortic wall due to the dissection.
What is the DeBakey Classification of Aortic Dissection?
A classification system that divides dissections into three types based on location:
Type I (ascending and descending aorta),
Type II (ascending aorta only),
Type III (descending aorta only).
A genetic disorder that affects connective tissue, often leading to cardiovascular complications such as aortic aneurysm.
Marfan Syndrome
A heart attack that occurs without noticeable symptoms.
Silent Myocardial Infarction
What group is most likely to experience a Silent Myocardial Infarction?
Diabetic patients due to neuropathy.
What is the primary function of a Pacemaker?
To regulate the heart’s rhythm by sending electrical impulses to the heart muscle
A condition in which a long-standing congenital heart defect causes pulmonary hypertension and reversal of blood flow through the defect.
Eisenmenger Syndrome
A rare aneurysm that occurs in one of the sinuses of the aortic valve, potentially causing rupture into the heart chambers.
Sinus of Valsalva Aneurysm
