Ch 17 - Cardiac Emergencies - Vocab

Question 1

acute coronary syndrome (ACS)

Answer 1

A group of symptoms caused by myocardial ischemia; includes angina and myocardial infarction.

Question 2

acute myocardial infarction (AMI)

Answer 2

A heart attack; death of heart muscle following obstruction of blood flow to it. “Acute” in this context means “new” or “happening right now.”

Question 3

angina pectoris

Answer 3

Transient (short-lived) chest discomfort caused by partial or temporary blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle; also called angina.

Question 4

anterior

Answer 4

The front surface of the body; the side facing you in the standard anatomic position.

Question 5

aorta

Answer 5

The main artery, which receives blood from the left ventricle and delivers it to all the other arteries that carry blood to the tissues of the body.

Question 6

aortic aneurysm

Answer 6

A weakness in the wall of the aorta that makes it susceptible to rupture.

Question 7

aortic valve

Answer 7

The one-way valve that lies between the left ventricle and the aorta and keeps blood from flowing back into the left ventricle after the left ventricle ejects its blood into the aorta; one of four heart valves. artifact A tracing on an ECG that is the result of interference, such as patient movement, rather than the heart’s electrical activity.

Question 8

asystole

Answer 8

The complete absence of all heart electrical activity.

Question 9

atherosclerosis

Answer 9

A disorder in which cholesterol and calcium build up inside the walls of blood vessels, eventually leading to partial or complete blockage of blood flow.

Question 10

atrium

Answer 10

One of the two upper chambers of the heart.

Question 11

automaticity

Answer 11

The ability of cardiac muscle cells to contract without stimulation from the nervous system.

Question 12

autonomic nervous system

Answer 12

The part of the nervous system that controls the involuntary activities of the body such as the heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion of food.

Question 13

bradycardia

Answer 13

A slow heart rate, less than 60 beats/min.

Question 14

cardiac arrest

Answer 14

When the heart fails to generate effective and detectable blood flow; pulses are not palpable in cardiac arrest, even if muscular and electrical activity continues in the heart.

Question 15

cardiac output

Answer 15

A measure of the volume of blood circulated by the heart in 1 minute, calculated by multiplying the stroke volume by the heart rate.

Question 16

cardiogenic shock

Answer 16

A state in which not enough oxygen is delivered to the tissues of the body, caused by low output of blood from the heart. It can be a severe complication of a large acute myocardial infarction, as well as other conditions.

Question 17

congestive heart failure (CHF)

Answer 17

A disorder in which the heart loses part of its ability to effectively pump blood, usually as a result of damage to the heart muscle and usually resulting in a backup of fluid into the lungs.

Question 18

coronary arteries

Answer 18

The blood vessels that carry blood and nutrients to the heart muscle.

Question 19

defibrillate

Answer 19

To shock a fibrillating (chaotically shaking) heart with specialized electric current in an attempt to restore a normal, rhythmic beat.

Question 20

dependent edema

Answer 20

Swelling in the part of the body closest to the ground, caused by collection of fluid in the tissues; a possible sign of congestive heart failure.

Question 21

dilation

Answer 21

Widening of a tubular structure such as a coronary artery.

Question 22

dissecting aneurysm

Answer 22

A condition in which the inner layers of an artery, such as the aorta, become separated, allowing blood (at high pressures) to flow between the layers.

Question 23

dysrhythmia

Answer 23

An irregular or abnormal heart rhythm.

Question 24

hypertensive emergency

Answer 24

An emergency situation created by excessively high blood pressure, which can lead to serious complications such as stroke or aneurysm.

Question 25

infarction

Answer 25

Death of a body tissue, usually caused by interruption of its blood supply.

Question 26

inferior

Answer 26

Below a body part or nearer to the feet.

Question 27

ischemia

Answer 27

A lack of oxygen that deprives tissues of necessary nutrients, resulting from partial or complete blockage of blood flow; potentially reversible because permanent injury has not yet occurred.

Question 28

lumen

Answer 28

The inside diameter of an artery or other hollow structure.

Question 29

myocardium

Answer 29

The heart muscle.

Question 30

occlusion

Answer 30

A blockage, usually of a tubular structure such as a blood vessel.

Question 31

parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 31

The part of the autonomic nervous system that controls vegetative functions such as digestion of food and relaxation.

Question 32

perfusion

Answer 32

The circulation of oxygenated blood within an organ or tissue in adequate amounts to meet the cells’ current needs.

Question 33

posterior

Answer 33

The back surface of the body; the side away from you in the standard anatomic position.

Question 34

return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC)

Answer 34

The return of a pulse and effective blood flow to the body in a patient who previously was in cardiac arrest.

Question 35

stroke volume

Answer 35

The volume of blood ejected with each ventricular contraction.

Question 36

superior

Answer 36

Above a body part or nearer to the head.

Question 37

sympathetic nervous system

Answer 37

The part of the autonomic nervous system that controls active functions such as responding to fear (also known as the fight-or-flight system).

Question 38

syncope

Answer 38

A fainting spell or transient loss of consciousness.

Question 39

tachycardia

Answer 39

A rapid heart rate, more than 100 beats/min.

Question 40

thromboembolism

Answer 40

A blood clot that has formed within a blood vessel and is floating within the bloodstream.

Question 41

ventricle

Answer 41

One of the two lower chambers of the heart.

Question 42

ventricular fibrillation

Answer 42

Disorganized, ineffective quivering of the ventricles, resulting in no blood flow and a state of cardiac arrest.

Question 43

ventricular tachycardia

Answer 43

A rapid heart rhythm in which the electrical impulse begins in the ventricle (instead of the atria), which may result in inadequate blood flow and eventually deteriorate into cardiac arrest.