Ch 15 Key Terms Flashcards
acute myocardial infarction (AMI)
the interruption of blood supply to part of the heart, causing death of heart muscle. Also known as a heart attack.
advanced life support (ALS)
a level of EMS care for which providers are trained and authorized to insert advanced airway devices, initiate intravenous lines, and give medications.
angina pectoris
sudden chest pain due to an inadequate supply of oxygen to the heart muscle; also called angina.
aorta
the large muscular artery that originates at the heart and serves as the main trunk of the arterial system.
aortic aneurysm
an abnormal dilation, bulging, or ballooning of the aorta.
arrhythmia
abnormal heart rhythm.
asystole
absence of a heartbeat due to lack of cardiac electrical activity.
atherosclerosis
a form of arteriosclerosis in which cholesterol and lipid plaques form within the walls of arteries.
automated external defibrillator
AED
a medical device used to deliver an electrical shock to a patient in an effort to restore an effective heart rhythm.
automatic implantable cardioverter
defibrillator (AICD)
lethal heart rhythms and then delivers an electrical shock to the heart to restore an effective heart rhythm.
basic life support (BLS)
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.
cardiac arrest
cessation of a functional heartbeat.
cardiogenic shock
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.
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
a procedure to revive a patient who is pulseless and not breathing.
cardioversion
the restoration of a normal rhythm of the heart by electrical shock.
congestive heart failure
failure of the heart to efficiently pump blood to body tissues.
coronary artery bypass grafting
CABG
an operation that uses grafts of healthy blood vessels to bypass diseased arteries that supply the heart tissue.
coronary artery disease (CAD)
narrowing of the coronary arteries, which supply blood and oxygen to the heart muscle.
edema
abnormal buildup of fluid in body tissues.
embolus
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.
hypertension
hypertension abnormally high blood pressure.
infarction
formation of an area of dead tissue due to inadequate blood flow.
ischemia
a deficiency in blood supply (and thus a deficiency of nutrients) to a tissue; if prolonged, may result in infarction.
myocardium
heart muscle tissue.
pacemaker
a device that substitutes for the pace-making tissue of the heart;can be surgically implanted.
perfusion
the delivery of oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to tissues.
pericarditis
inflammation of the pericardium or sac surrounding the heart, causing chest pain.
sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)
the abrupt cessation of an effective heartbeat.
thrombus
a clot in the blood.
ventricular fibrillation
chaotic and ineffective contraction of the ventricles that leads to cardiac arrest.
ventricular tachycardia
rapid contraction of the ventricles that can lead to ineffective blood flow to body tissues and eventually cardiac arrest.
