Chapter 17 Cardiovascular Emergencies: Vital Vocabulary Flashcards

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1
Q

A term describing the shape of the QRS complex in aberrantly (abnormally) conducted beats.

A

aberration

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2
Q

The early phase of cardiac repolarization, wherin the heart muscle cannot be stimulated to depolarize; also known as the effective refractory period.

A

absolute refractory period (ARP)

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3
Q

A series of cardiac conditions caused by an abrupt reduction in coronary artery blood flow.

A

acute coronary syndromes (ACSs)

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4
Q

Cardiac ischemia that occurs when sudden narrowing or complete occlusion of a coronary artery leads to death (necrosis) of myocardial tissue.

A

acute myocardial infarction (AMI)

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5
Q

Pertaining to the period of dying.

A

agonal

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6
Q

A ventricular rate of less than 20 beats/min; this rhythm is seen just before the heart stops beating altogether.

A

agonal rhythm

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7
Q

The sudden pain that occurs when the oxygen supply to the myocardium is insufficient to meet demand, causing ischemic changes in the tissue.

A

angina pectoris

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8
Q

An outpouching or bulge in the wall of a portion of the aorta, caused by weakening and dilation of the vessel wall; a ruptured aortic aneurysm is life threatening.

A

aortic aneurysm

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9
Q

The absence of any cardiac rhythm or organized activity; asystole or ventricular standstill.

A

arrhyhthmia

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10
Q

A pathologic condition in which the thickening and stiffening of the arterial walls makes the arteries less elastic.

A

arteriosclerosis

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11
Q

An artificial product; in cardiology, used to refer to noise or interference in an ECG tracing.

A

artifact

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12
Q

The absence of ventricular contraction or electrical activity; a straight-line or flat-line ECG.

A

asystole

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13
Q

A mass of fatty tissue that gradually calcifies, hardening into an atheromatous plaque that infiltrates the arterial wall, diminishing its elasticity.

A

atheroma

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14
Q

An accumulation of fat inside a blood vessel that narrows the diameter of the lumen.

A

atherosclerosis

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15
Q

The portion of the conduction system of the heart that consists of the AV node and the nonbranching portion of the bundle of His.

A

atrioventricular (AV) junction

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16
Q

A group of cells that slows the electrical impulses from the sinoatrial node before relaying it to the ventricles; located in the floor of the right atrium immediately behind the tricuspid valve and near the opening of the coronary sinus.

A

atrioventricular (AV) node

17
Q

On an ECG, leads aVR, aVL, and aVF. They contain only one true pole; the other is a combination of information from other leads. A standard 12-lead ECG consists of the three augmented leads, along with the three standard limb leads and the six precordial leads.

A

augmented limb leads

18
Q

A smart defibrillator that can analyze the patient’s ECG rhythm, determine whether a defibrillating shock is needed, and guide the user through the resuscitation effort via voice commands.

A

automated external defibrillator (AED)

19
Q

Movement of the heart’s QRS axis to the right or left of its normal position.

A

axis deviation

20
Q

The classic trio of signs associated with cardiac tamponade: narrowed pulse pressure, muffled heart tones, and jugular vein distention.

A

Beck triad

21
Q

Blockage of any two fascicles or conduction pathways: a right bundle branch block (RBBB) with anterior hemiblock, RBBB with posterior hemiblock, or anterior hemiblock and posterior hemiblock (a combination known as LBBB).

A

bifascicular block

22
Q

A dysrhythmia in which every other complex is a premature complex, causing a normal-early beat-normal-early beat pattern; can be atrial, junctional, or ventricular.

A

bigeminy

23
Q

On an ECG, leads that contain both a positive and a negative pole: leads I, II, and III.

A

bipolar leads