chapter 17 - cardiac emergencies Flashcards
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 it’s blood into the aorta
aortic valve
Disorganized, ineffective quivering of the ventricles, resulting in no blood flow and a state of cardiac arrest
ventricular fibrillation
Widening of a tubular structure such as a coronary artery
dilation
The volume of blood pumped forward with each ventricular contraction
stroke volume
An irregular or abnormal heart rhythm
dysrhythmia
Death of a body tissue, usually caused by interruption of its blood supply
infarction
A 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
Transient (short-lived) chest discomfort caused by partial or temporary blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle
angina pectoris
A tracing on an ECG that is the result of interference, such as patient movement, rather than the heart’s electrical activity
artifact
The return of a pulse and effective blood flow to the body in a patient who previously was in cardiac arrest
return of spontaneous circulation
A group of symptoms caused by myocardial ischemia
acute coronary syndrome
A blood clot that has formed within a blood vessel and is floating within the bloodstream
thromboembolism
To shock a fibrillating heart with specialized electric current in an attempt to restore a normal, rhythmic beat
defibrillate
The flow of blood through body tissues and vessels
perfusion
Swelling in the part of the body closest to the ground, caused by collection of fluid in the tissues
dependent edema
The part of the autonomic nervous system that controls vegetative functions such as digestion of food and relaxation
parasympathetic nervous system
An emergency situation created by excessively high blood pressure, which can lead to serious complications such as stroke or aneurysm
hypertensive emergency
The front surface of the body
anterior
One of the two upper chambers of the heart
atrium
A heart attack; death of heart muscle following obstruction of blood flow to it
acute myocardial infarction
A weakness in the wall of the aorta that makes it susceptible to rupture
aortic aneurysm
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
autonomic nervous system
A slow heart rate, less than 60 bpm
bradycardia
The part of the autonomic nervous system that controls active functions such as responding to fear
sympathetic nervous system
A fainting spell or transient loss of consciousness
syncope
Above a body part or nearer to the head
superior
The ability of cardiac muscle cells to contract without simulation from the nervous system
automaticity
The back surface of the body
posterior
When the heart fails to generate effective and detectable blood flow
cardiac arrest
The blood vessels that carry blood and nutrients to the heart muscle
coronary arteries
The heart muscle
myocardium
A disorder in which cholesterol and calcium build up inside the walls of the blood vessels, forming plaque, which eventually leads to a partial or complete blockage of blood flow
atherosclerosis
A state in which not enough oxygen is delivered to the tissues of the body, caused by low output of blood from the heart
cardiogenic shock
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
ischemia
The inside diameter of an artery or other hollow structure
lumen
The main artery leaving the left side of the heart and carrying freshly oxygenated blood to the body
aorta
A blockage, usually of a tubular structure such as a blood vessel
occlusion
One of the two lower chambers of the heart
ventricle
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
congestive heart failure
Below a body part or nearer to the feet
inferior
The complete absence of all heart electrical activity
asystole
A rapid heart rate, more than 100 bpm
tachycardia
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
dissecting aneurysm
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
ventricular tachycardia
