Cardiovascular System: Vocabulary Flashcards
auscultation
the process of listening to the sounds within the body by using a stethoscope
cardiology
heart specialty
catheter
a flexible tube inserted into the body for the purpose of moving fluids into or out of the body. used to place dye into blood vessels so they may be visualized on xrays
infarct
an area of tissue within an organ or part that undergoes necrosis following the loss of its blood supply
ischemia
the localized and temporary deficiency of blood supply due to an obstruction to the circulation
murmur
an abnormal heart sound such as a soft blowing sound or harsh click
orthostatic hypotension
sudden drop in BP a person experiences when standing up suddenly
palpitations
pounding, racing heartbeats
plaque
a yellow, fatty deposit of lipids in an artery that are the hallmark of atherosclerosis
sphygmomanometer
instrument for measuring BP
stent
a stainless steel tube placed within a blood vessel or a duct to widen the lumen
stethoscope
instrument for listening to body sounds
angina pectoris
chest pain
arrhythmia
irregularity in the heartbeat or action
cardiac arrest
complete stopping of heart activity
cardiomyopathy
disease of the myocardium
congestive heart failure CHF
pathological condition of the heart in which there is a reduce outflow of blood from the left side of the heart because the left ventricle myocardium has become too weak to efficiently pump blood. edema
coronary artery disease CAD
insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle due to an obstruction of one or more coronary arteries
endocarditis
inflammation of the lining membranes of the heart
fibrillation
abnormal quivering or contraction of heart fibers
flutter
arrhythmia in which the atria beat too rapidly
myocardial infarction
heart attack
myocarditis
inflammation of the muscle layer of the heart wall
pericarditis
inflammation of the pericardial sac around the heart
aneurysm
weakness in the wall of an artery resulting in localized widening of the artery
arteriosclerosis
hardened artery
atherosclerosis
formation of yellowish plaques of cholesterol on the inner walls of arteries
embolus
blood clot that has broken off from a thrombus somewhere else in the body
hemorrhoid
varicose veins in the anal region
hypertension HTN
blood pressure above the normal range
hypotension
decrease in BP
polyarteritis
inflammation of several arteries
thrombophlebitis
inflammation of a vein resulting in the formation of blood clots within the vein
thrombus
blood clot forming within a blood vessel
varicose veins
swollen and distended veins usually in the legs
angiography
xrays taken after the injection of an opaque material into a blood vessel
venography
process of recording a vein
electrocardiography
process of recording the electrical activity of the heart
cardiopulmonary resuscitation CPR
restore cardiac output and oxygenated air to the lungs for a person in cardiac arrest
defibrillation
procedure that converts serious irregular heartbeats by giving electric shocks to the heart using an instrument defibrillator
pacemaker implantation
electrical device that substitutes for the natural pacemaker of the heart
arterial anastomosis
surgical joining together of two arteries
coronary artery bypass graft
open-heart surgery in which a blood vessel from another location in the body is grafted to route blood around a blocked coronary artery
embolectomy
removal of an embolus or clot from a blood vessel
endarterectomy
removal of the diseased or damaged inner lining of an artery
anticoagulant
prevent blood clot formation WARFARIN
diuretic
increases urine production which reduces plasma and blood volume resulting in lower BP
vasoconstrictor
contracts smooth muscle in walls of blood vessels, raises BP
vasodilator
relaxes the smooth muscle in the walls of arteries.. increasing the diameter which reduces BP
