ch 8 Flashcards
Anastomosis
Connection of two things that are normally diverging, which can occur naturally in the body; however, in medicine an anastomosis typically refers to a surgical connection between blood vessels or the joining of one hollow or tubular organ to another.
Aneurysm
Abnormal widening or ballooning of a portion of an artery due to weakness in the wall of the blood vessel.
Angina Pectoris
Chest pain that occurs when diseased blood vessels restrict blood flow to the heart. It is the most common symptom of coronary artery disease (CAD) and is often referred to as angina. The pain can radiate to the neck, jaw, or left arm. It is often described as a crushing, burning, or squeezing sensation.
Angioma
Tumor of a blood vessel.
Angioplasty
Surgical repair of a blood vessel(s) or nonsurgical technique for treating diseased arteries by temporarily inflating a tiny balloon inside an artery.
Angiostenosis
Pathological condition of the narrowing of a blood vessel.
Arrhythmia
Irregularity or loss of rhythm of the heartbeat; also called dysrhythmia.
Arterial
Pertaining to an artery.
Arteriosclerosis
Pathological condition of hardening of arteries. Arteriosclerotic heart disease (ASHD) is hardening of the coronary arteries.
Arteritis
Inflammation of an artery.
Artificial Pacemaker
Electronic device that stimulates impulse initiation within the heart. It is a small, battery-operated device that helps the heart beat in a regular rhythm.
Atheroma
Tumor of an artery containing a fatty substance.
Atherosclerosis
Pathological condition of the arteries characterized by the buildup of fatty substances (cholesterol deposits and triglycerides) and hardening of the walls.
Auscultation
Method of physical assessment using a stethoscope to listen to sounds within the chest, abdomen, and other parts of the body.
Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
Portable automatic device used to restore normal heart rhythm to patients in cardiac arrest. An AED is applied outside the body. It automatically analyzes the patient’s heart rhythm and advises the rescuer whether a shock is needed to restore a normal heartbeat. If the patient’s heart resumes beating normally, the heart has been defibrillated.
Bicuspid
Valve with two cusps; pertaining to the mitral valve.
Bradycardia
Abnormally slow heartbeat defined as fewer than 60 beats per minute.
Bruit
Pathological noise; a sound of venous or arterial origin heard on auscultation.
Cardiac
Pertaining to the heart.
Cardiac Arrest
Loss of effective heart function, which results in cessation of functional circulation. Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) results in sudden death.
Cardiologist
Physician who specializes in the study of the heart.
Cardiology
Literally means study of the heart.
Cardiomegaly
Enlargement of the heart.
Cardiometabolic Syndrome (CMS)
A combination of metabolic dysfunctions mainly characterized by insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, dyslipidemia (abnormally elevated cholesterol or fats in the blood), hypertension, and central adiposity (accumulation of fat around the abdominal area).
Cardiomyopathy (CMP)
Disease of the heart muscle that leads to generalized deterioration of the muscle and its pumping ability. It can be caused by multiple factors, including viral infections.
Cardiopulmonary
Pertaining to the heart and lungs (H&L)
Cardiotonic
A class of medication that is used to increase the tone (pumping strength) of the heart.
Cardiovascular (CV)
Pertaining to the heart and small blood vessels.
Cardioversion
Medical procedure used to treat cardiac arrhythmias. An electrical shock is delivered to the heart to restore its normal rhythm. The electrical energy can be delivered externally through electrodes placed on the chest or directly to the heart by placing paddles on the heart during open chest surgery.
Cholesterol (chol)
A normal, soft, waxy, substance found among the lipids (fats) in the bloodstream and all body cells. It is the building block of steroid hormones, but it is dangerous when it builds up on arterial walls and can contribute to the risk of coronary heart disease.
Circulation
The moving of the blood in the veins and arteries throughout the body.
Claudication
Literally means process of lameness or limping. It is a dull, cramping pain in the hips, thighs, calves, or buttocks, caused by an inadequate supply of oxygen to the muscles, due to narrowed arteries. It is one of the symptoms in peripheral artery disease (PAD).
Constriction
Process of drawing together, as in the narrowing of a vessel.
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)
Surgical procedure to assist blood flow to the myocardium by using a section of a saphenous vein or internal mammary artery to bypass or reroute blood around an obstructed or occluded coronary atery, thus improving blood flow and oxygen to the heart.
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
Most common form of heart disease; it is a progressive disease that increases the risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack) and sudden death.
Cyanosis
Abnormal condition of the skin and mucous membranes caused by oxygen deficiency in the blood. The skin, fingernails, and mucous membranes can appear slightly blue or gray.
Defibrillator
Medical device used to restore a normal heart rhythm by delivering an electric shock; also called a cardioverter.
Diastole
Relaxation phase of the heart cycle during which the heart muscle relaxes and the heart chambers fill with blood.