Ch 15 Key Terms

Question 1

acute myocardial infarction (AMI)

Answer 1

the interruption of blood supply to part of the heart, causing death of heart muscle. Also known as a heart attack.

Question 2

advanced life support (ALS)

Answer 2

a level of EMS care for which providers are trained and authorized to insert advanced airway devices, initiate intravenous lines, and give medications.

Question 3

angina pectoris

Answer 3

sudden chest pain due to an inadequate supply of oxygen to the heart muscle; also called angina.

Question 4

aorta

Answer 4

the large muscular artery that originates at the heart and serves as the main trunk of the arterial system.

Question 5

aortic aneurysm

Answer 5

an abnormal dilation, bulging, or ballooning of the aorta.

Question 6

arrhythmia

Answer 6

abnormal heart rhythm.

Question 7

asystole

Answer 7

absence of a heartbeat due to lack of cardiac electrical activity.

Question 8

atherosclerosis

Answer 8

a form of arteriosclerosis in which cholesterol and lipid plaques form within the walls of arteries.

Question 9

automated external defibrillator

AED

Answer 9

a medical device used to deliver an electrical shock to a patient in an effort to restore an effective heart rhythm.

Question 10

automatic implantable cardioverter

defibrillator (AICD)

Answer 10

lethal heart rhythms and then delivers an electrical shock to the heart to restore an effective heart rhythm.

Question 11

basic life support (BLS)

Answer 11

a basic level of EMS care for which providers are trained and authorized to provide basic interventions, including noninvasive airway devices, application of oxygen, CPR, and basic first aid.

Question 12

cardiac arrest

Answer 12

cessation of a functional heartbeat.

Question 13

cardiogenic shock

Answer 13

a condition whereby body tissues are oxygen deprived due to the heart’s inability to adequately pump blood; may follow a large acute myocardial infarction.

Question 14

cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

Answer 14

a procedure to revive a patient who is pulseless and not breathing.

Question 15

cardioversion

Answer 15

the restoration of a normal rhythm of the heart by electrical shock.

Question 16

congestive heart failure

Answer 16

failure of the heart to efficiently pump blood to body tissues.

Question 17

coronary artery bypass grafting

CABG

Answer 17

an operation that uses grafts of healthy blood vessels to bypass diseased arteries that supply the heart tissue.

Question 18

coronary artery disease (CAD)

Answer 18

narrowing of the coronary arteries, which supply blood and oxygen to the heart muscle.

Question 19

edema

Answer 19

abnormal buildup of fluid in body tissues.

Question 20

embolus

Answer 20

a blood clot, fat, or other solid material in the venous system that breaks loose and is carried in the bloodstream, lodging in another site in the body.

Question 21

hypertension

Answer 21

hypertension abnormally high blood pressure.

Question 22

infarction

Answer 22

formation of an area of dead tissue due to inadequate blood flow.

Question 23

ischemia

Answer 23

a deficiency in blood supply (and thus a deficiency of nutrients) to a tissue; if prolonged, may result in infarction.

Question 24

myocardium

Answer 24

heart muscle tissue.

Question 25

pacemaker

Answer 25

a device that substitutes for the pace-making tissue of the heart;can be surgically implanted.

Question 26

perfusion

Answer 26

the delivery of oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to tissues.

Question 27

pericarditis

Answer 27

inflammation of the pericardium or sac surrounding the heart, causing chest pain.

Question 28

sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)

Answer 28

the abrupt cessation of an effective heartbeat.

Question 29

thrombus

Answer 29

a clot in the blood.

Question 30

ventricular fibrillation

Answer 30

chaotic and ineffective contraction of the ventricles that leads to cardiac arrest.

Question 31

ventricular tachycardia

Answer 31

rapid contraction of the ventricles that can lead to ineffective blood flow to body tissues and eventually cardiac arrest.