Chapter 14 - Cardiovascular Emergencies | Vital Vocabulary Flashcards
Term used to describe a group of symptoms caused by myocardial ischemia; includes angina and myocardial infarction
Acute Coronary Syndrome
A heart attack; death of heart muscle following obstruction of blood flow to it. Acute means “new” or “happening right now”
Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI)
Transient (short-lived) chest discomfort caused by partial or temporary blockage of blood flow to heart muscle
Angina Pectoris
Front surface of body; side facing you in standard anatomic position
Anterior
Main artery, which receives blood from the left ventricle and delivers it to all other arteries that carry blood to the tissues of the body
Aorta
A weakness in the wall of the aorta that makes it susceptible to rupture
Aortic Aneurysm
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
Aortic Valve
Irregular or abnormal heart rhythm
Arrhythmia
Complete absence of heart electrical activity
Asystole
Disorder in which cholesterol and calcium build up inside walls of blood vessels, eventually leading to partial or complete blockage of blood flow
Atherosclerosis
One of two (right & left) upper chambers of the heart. Right atrium receives blood from the vena cava and delivers it the right ventricle. Left atrium receives blood from the pulmonary veins and delivers it to the left ventricle
Atrium
Ability of cardiac muscle cells to contract without stimulation from nervous system
Automaticity
Part of nervous system that controls involuntary activities of the body such as heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion
Autonomic Nervous System
Slow heart rate, less than 60 beats/min
Bradycardia
State in which 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
Cardiac Arrest
State in which not enough oxygen is delivered to the tissues of the body, caused by low output of blood from heart
Cardiogenic Shock
Measure of the volume of blood circulated by the heart in 1 minute, calculated by multiplying the stroke volume by the heart rate
Cardiac Output
Disorder in which the heart loses part of its ability to effectively pump blood, usually as a result of damage to the heart muscle resulting in backup of fluid into the lungs
Congestive Heart Failure
Blood vessels that carry blood and nutrients to the heart muscle
Coronary Arteries
Shock a fibrillating (chaotically beating) heart with specialized electrical current to restore a normal, rhythmic beat
Defibrillate
Swelling in part of body closest to ground, caused by collection of fluid in tissues; possible sign of congestive heart failure
Dependent Edema
Widening of tubular structure such as a coronary artery
Dilation
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
Dissecting Aneurysm
Emergency situation created by excessively high blood pressure, which can lead to serious complications such as stroke or aneurysm
Hypertensive Emergency
Death of a body tissue, usually caused by interruption its blood supply
Infarction
Part of the body or any body part nearer to the feet
Inferior
Lack of oxygen that deprives tissues of necessary nutrients, resulting from partial or complete blockage of body flow; potentially reversible because permanent injury has not yet occurred
Ischemia
Inside diameter of an artery or other hollow structure
Lumen
Heart Muscle
Myocardium
Blockage, usually of a tubular structure such as a blood vessel
Occlusion
Part of the autonomic nervous system that controls vegetative functions such as digestion and relaxation
Parasympathetic Nervous System
Flow of blood through body tissues and vessels
Perfusion
Back surface of body; the side away from you in the standard anatomic position
Posterior
Volume of blood ejected with each ventricular contraction
Stroke Volume
Part of the body or any body part nearer to the head
Superior
Part of the autonomic nervous system that controls active functions such as responding to fear (also known as the “fight-or-flight” system)
Sympathetic Nervous System
Fainting spell or transient loss of consciousness
Syncope
Rapid heart rate, more than 100 beats/min
Tachycardia
Blood clot that has formed within a blood vessel and is floating within the bloodstream
Thromboembolism
One of two (right & left) lower chambers of the heart. The left ventricle receives flood from the left atrium (upper chamber) and delivers blood to the aorta. Right ventricle receives blood from the right atrium and pumps into the pulmonary artery
Ventricle
Disorganized, ineffective twitching of ventricles, resulting in no blood flow and a state of cardiac arrest
Ventricular Fibrillation
Rapid heart rhythm in which the electrical impulse begins in the ventricle (instead of the atrium), which may rest in inadequate blood flow and eventually deteriorate into cardiac arrest
Ventricular Tachycardia
