Chapter 16 - Cardiovascular Emergencies Flashcards
Acute coronary syndrome
A group of symptoms caused by myocardial ischemia; includes angina and myocardial infarction.
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI)
A heart attack; death of heart muscle following obstruction of blood flow to it. A cute in this context means “new” or “happening right now.”
Angina pectoris
Transient (short-lived) chest discomfort caused by partial or temporary blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle; also called angina.
Anterior
The front surface of the body; the side facing you in the standard anatomic position.
Aorta
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.
Aortic aneurysm
A weakness in the wall of the aorta that makes it susceptible to rupture.
Aortic valve
The one-way valve that lies between the left ventricle in the a order that keeps blood from flowing back into the left ventricle after the left ventricle ejects it’s blood into the aorta; one of the 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.
Asystole
The complete absence of all heart electrical activity.
Atherosclerosis
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.
Atrium
One of two (right and left) upper chambers of the heart. The right atrium receives blood from the vena cava and delivers it to the right ventricle. The left atrium receives blood from pulmonary veins and delivers it to the left ventricle.
Automaticity
The ability of cardiac muscle cells to contract without stimulation from the nervous system.
Autonomic nervous system
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.
Bradycardia
A slow heart rate, less than 60 beats/ min.
Cardiac arrest
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.
Cardiac output
A measure of the volume of blood circulated by the heart in one minute, calculated by multiplying the stroke volume by the heart rate.
Cardiogenic shock
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.
Congestive heart failure (CHF)
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 back up of fluid into the lungs.
Coronary arteries
The blood vessels that carry blood and nutrients to the heart muscle.
Defibrillate
To shock a fibrillating (chaotically beating) heart with specialized electric current in an attempt to restore a normal, rhythmic beat.
Dependent edema
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.
Dilation
Widening of a tubular structures such as a coronary artery.
Dissecting aneurysm
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.
Dysthrythmia
An irregular or abnormal heart rhythm.
Hypertensive emergency
An emergency situation created by excessively high blood pressure, which can lead to serious complications such as stroke or aneurysm.
Infarction
Death of a body tissue, usually caused by interruption of its blood supply.
Inferior
The part of the body or anybody part nearer to the feet.
Ischemia
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.
Lumen
The inside diameter of an artery or other hollow structure.
Myocardium
The heart muscle.
Occlusion
A blockage, usually of a tubular structures such as a blood vessel.
Parasympathetic nervous system
The part of the autonomic nervous system that controls vegetative functions such as digestion of food and relaxation.
Perfusion
The flow of blood through body tissues and vessels.
Posterior
The back surface of the body; the side away from you in the standard anatomic position.
Return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC)
The return of a pulse and effective blood flow to the body in a patient who previously was in cardiac arrest.
Stroke volume
The volume of blood ejected with each ventricular contraction.
Superior
The part of the body or any body part nearer to the head.
Sympathetic nervous system
The part of the autonomic nervous system that controls active functions such as responding to fear (also known as the “fight-or-flight” system).
Syncope
A fainting spell or transient loss of consciousness.
Tachycardia
A rapid heart rate, more than 100 beats/min.
Thromboembolism
A blood clot that has formed within a blood vessel and is floating within the bloodstream.
Ventricle
One of two (right and left) lower chambers of the heart. The left ventricle receives blood from the left atrium (upper chamber) and delivers blood to the aorta. The right ventricle receives blood from the right atrium and pumps it into the pulmonary artery.
Ventricular fibrillation
Disorganized, ineffective quivering of the ventricles, resulting in no blood flow and a state of cardiac arrest.
Ventricular tachycardia
A rapid heart rhythm in which the electrical impulse begins in the ventricle (instead of the atrium), which may result in inadequate blood flow and eventually deteriorate into cardiac arrest.
