Cardiovascular System: Vocabulary

Question 1

auscultation

Answer 1

the process of listening to the sounds within the body by using a stethoscope

Question 2

cardiology

Answer 2

heart specialty

Question 3

catheter

Answer 3

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

Question 4

infarct

Answer 4

an area of tissue within an organ or part that undergoes necrosis following the loss of its blood supply

Question 5

ischemia

Answer 5

the localized and temporary deficiency of blood supply due to an obstruction to the circulation

Question 6

murmur

Answer 6

an abnormal heart sound such as a soft blowing sound or harsh click

Question 7

orthostatic hypotension

Answer 7

sudden drop in BP a person experiences when standing up suddenly

Question 8

palpitations

Answer 8

pounding, racing heartbeats

Question 9

plaque

Answer 9

a yellow, fatty deposit of lipids in an artery that are the hallmark of atherosclerosis

Question 10

sphygmomanometer

Answer 10

instrument for measuring BP

Question 11

stent

Answer 11

a stainless steel tube placed within a blood vessel or a duct to widen the lumen

Question 12

stethoscope

Answer 12

instrument for listening to body sounds

Question 13

angina pectoris

Answer 13

chest pain

Question 14

arrhythmia

Answer 14

irregularity in the heartbeat or action

Question 15

cardiac arrest

Answer 15

complete stopping of heart activity

Question 16

cardiomyopathy

Answer 16

disease of the myocardium

Question 17

congestive heart failure CHF

Answer 17

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

Question 18

coronary artery disease CAD

Answer 18

insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle due to an obstruction of one or more coronary arteries

Question 19

endocarditis

Answer 19

inflammation of the lining membranes of the heart

Question 20

fibrillation

Answer 20

abnormal quivering or contraction of heart fibers

Question 21

flutter

Answer 21

arrhythmia in which the atria beat too rapidly

Question 22

myocardial infarction

Answer 22

heart attack

Question 23

myocarditis

Answer 23

inflammation of the muscle layer of the heart wall

Question 24

pericarditis

Answer 24

inflammation of the pericardial sac around the heart

Question 25

aneurysm

Answer 25

weakness in the wall of an artery resulting in localized widening of the artery

Question 26

arteriosclerosis

Answer 26

hardened artery

Question 27

atherosclerosis

Answer 27

formation of yellowish plaques of cholesterol on the inner walls of arteries

Question 28

embolus

Answer 28

blood clot that has broken off from a thrombus somewhere else in the body

Question 29

hemorrhoid

Answer 29

varicose veins in the anal region

Question 30

hypertension HTN

Answer 30

blood pressure above the normal range

Question 31

hypotension

Answer 31

decrease in BP

Question 32

polyarteritis

Answer 32

inflammation of several arteries

Question 33

thrombophlebitis

Answer 33

inflammation of a vein resulting in the formation of blood clots within the vein

Question 34

thrombus

Answer 34

blood clot forming within a blood vessel

Question 35

varicose veins

Answer 35

swollen and distended veins usually in the legs

Question 36

angiography

Answer 36

xrays taken after the injection of an opaque material into a blood vessel

Question 37

venography

Answer 37

process of recording a vein

Question 38

electrocardiography

Answer 38

process of recording the electrical activity of the heart

Question 39

cardiopulmonary resuscitation CPR

Answer 39

restore cardiac output and oxygenated air to the lungs for a person in cardiac arrest

Question 40

defibrillation

Answer 40

procedure that converts serious irregular heartbeats by giving electric shocks to the heart using an instrument defibrillator

Question 41

pacemaker implantation

Answer 41

electrical device that substitutes for the natural pacemaker of the heart

Question 42

arterial anastomosis

Answer 42

surgical joining together of two arteries

Question 43

coronary artery bypass graft

Answer 43

open-heart surgery in which a blood vessel from another location in the body is grafted to route blood around a blocked coronary artery

Question 44

embolectomy

Answer 44

removal of an embolus or clot from a blood vessel

Question 45

endarterectomy

Answer 45

removal of the diseased or damaged inner lining of an artery

Question 46

anticoagulant

Answer 46

prevent blood clot formation WARFARIN

Question 47

diuretic

Answer 47

increases urine production which reduces plasma and blood volume resulting in lower BP

Question 48

vasoconstrictor

Answer 48

contracts smooth muscle in walls of blood vessels, raises BP

Question 49

vasodilator

Answer 49

relaxes the smooth muscle in the walls of arteries.. increasing the diameter which reduces BP