Chapter 5 Flashcards
Cardiovascular system
A continuous, circular pathway whose structures include the heart and the blood vessels. The function of the cardiovascular system is to transport blood to every part of the body.
Also known as the circulatory system.
Circulatory system
Another name for the cardiovascular system that indicates its function of circulation of the blood.
Apex
The inferior tip of the heart
Heart
Organ that pumps blood throughout the body. Located within the thoracic cavity, behind the sternum, and it contains four chambers, the septum, and four valves.
Myocardium
Muscular layer of the heart
Pericardium
Double-layered membrane around the heart. The U-shaped pericardial sac is filled with pericardial fluid. The layer next to the hear is the epicardium. The outer layer is the parietal pericardium.
Pericardial sac
Another name for pericardium
Aortic valve
Heart valve between the left ventricle and the aorta
Atrium
Each of the two upper chambers of the heart
Chordae tendineae
Rope-like strands attached to the valve leaflets of the tricuspid and mitral valves and anchored to the ventricular walls. These keep the valve leaflets tightly closed when the ventricles contract.
Endocardium
Layer of cells that lines the heart chambers and the heart valves
Mitral valve
Heart valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle
Bicuspid valve
Pulmonary valve
Heart valve between the right ventricle and the pulmonary arteries
Septum
Central wall that divides the heart into right and left sides
Tricuspid valve
Heart valve between the right atrium and right ventricle.
Valve
Structure the opens and closes to control the flow of blood through the heat or the veins.
Ventricle
Each of the two large, lower chambers of the heart.
Cardiothoracic
Pertaining to the heart and thoracic cavity
Great vessels
Large blood vessels within the mediastinum. They include the aorta, superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, pulmonary arteries, and pulmonary veins.
Mediastinum
Central area in the thoracic cavity that contains the heart and parts of the great vessels, as well as the thymus, trachea, and esophagus
Thoracic cavity
Body cavity that contains the lungs and the mediastinum
Arteriole
Smaller branch of an artery
Artery
Blood vessel that brings bright red, oxygenated blood from the heart to the body or to the lungs.
Bifurcation
Area where the abdominal aorta ends as it divides into two branches: the right and left iliac arteries
Blood vessels
Large and small vascular channels through which the blood flows. These include arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venues, and veins.
Capillary
Smallest blood vessel in the body. A capillary network connects the arterioles to the venules
endothelium
Smooth layer that lines the inner wall of a blood vessel.
Lumen
Central opening inside a blood vessel through which blood flows
Pulse
The bulging of the wall of an artery located near the surface as blood is pumped by the heart.
Vasculature
Blood vessels associated with a specific organ.
Vasoconstriction
Contraction of smooth muscle in the wall of an artery that causes the lumen to decrease in size and the pressure in the artery to increase.
Vasodilation
Relaxation of smooth muscle in the wall of an artery that causes the lumen to increase in size and the pressure in the artery to decrease
Vein
Blood vessel that brings dark red-purple, deoxygenated blood from the body back to the heart. The largest veins have valves that keep the blood flowing in one direction — back to the heart.
Venule
Smaller branch of a vein
Aorta
Largest artery. It receives oxygenated blood from the left ventricle.
It consists of the ascending aorta, the aortic arch, the thoracic aorta, and the abdominal aorta.
Axillary artery
Artery that brings oxygenated blood to the axilla (armpit) area. It continues as the brachial artery.
Brachial Artery
Artery that brings oxygenated blood to the upper arm. It ends as it divides into the radial and ulnar arteries.
Carotid Artery
Artery that brings oxygenated blood to the neck, face, head, and brain.
Coronary artery
Artery that is the first to branch off from the ascending aorta.
Brings oxygenated blood to the myocardium.
Femoral artery
Artery that brings oxygenated blood to the upper leg.
Gastric artery
Artery that brings oxygenated blood to the stomach
Hepatic Artery
Artery that brings oxygenated blood to the liver
Iliac artery
Artery that brings oxygenated blood to the hip and groin areas.
It continues as the femoral artery
Peroneal Artery
Artery that brings oxygenated blood to the little toe side of the lower leg (along the fibula bone)
Popliteal Artery
Artery that brings oxygenated blood to the back of the knee.
It ends as it divides into the tibial and peroneal arteries.
Pulmonary Artery
Artery that brings deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.
Only artery that carries deoxygenated blood.
Radial Artery
Artery that brings oxygenated blood to the thumb side of the lower arm (along the radius bone)
Renal Artery
Artery that brings oxygenated blood to the kidney
Subclavian Artery
Artery that brings oxygenated blood to the shoulder.
Tibial Artery
Artery that brings oxygenated blood to the front and back of the lower leg.
Ulnar Artery
Artery that brings oxygenated blood to the finger side of the lower arm.
Fibular Vein
Vein that brings deoxygenated blood from the little toe side of the lower leg to the femoral vein.
Jugular vein
Vein that brings deoxygenated blood from the head and neck to the superior vena cava.
Portal vein
Vein that brings deoxygenated blood from the intestines and liver to the inferior vena cava.
Pulmonary vein
Vein that brings oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium.
Only vein that carries oxygenated blood.
Saphenous Vein
Vein that brings deoxygenated blood from the lower leg to the femoral vein.
Vena Cava
The superior vena cava is a large vein that brings deoxygenated blood from the head, neck, chest, and arms to right atrium of the heart.
the inferior vena cava is a large vein that brings deoxygenated blood from the abdomen, pelvis, and legs to the right atrium.
Cardiopulmonary
Pertaining to the heart and lungs
Ductus Arteriosus
Temporary blood vessel in the fetal heart that connects the left pulmonary arteries to the descending aorta. This allows oxygenated blood from the mother to bypass the not-yet-functioning lungs and to the body.
Foramen Ovale
Temporary, small, oval opening in the septum between the atria in the fetal heart. It allows some of the oxygenated blood from the mother to enter the left side of the fetal heart and be circulated through the body.
Pulmonary Circulation
Arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins everywhere in the body, except in the lungs.
Atrioventricular (AV) node
Small area of tissue in the lower right atrium. The AV node is part of the conduction system of the heart and receives electrical impulses from the SA node.
Bundle branches
Part of the conduction system of the hear that branches out from the bundle of His into right and left segment in the ventricular septum.
Bundle of His
Part of the conduction system of the heart after the AV node. It splits into the right and left bundle branches.
Conduction System
System that carries the electrical impulses that make the heart beat in a regular and coordinated rhythm. It consists of the SA node, AVnode, bundle of His, bundle branches, and Purkinje fibers.
Depolarization
Movement of positive sodium ions (Na+) and positive Calcium ions (Ca++) into the myocardial cell followed by the release of positive calcium ions sorted in the cell.
Diastole
Resting period between contractions of the heart as the heart again fills with blood
Ectopic site
Area within the heart that can produce an electrical impulse but is not part of the conduction system.
Epinephrine
Hormone from the adrenal glands that causes the heart to beat much faster during times of exercise of emergencies.
Normal sinus rhythm
Rhythm of contractions that occurs when the SA node is in control of the heart rate
Purkinje Fibers
A network of nerves in the walls of the ventricles that are a continuation of the right and left bundle branches.
Refractory period
Short period of time following depolarization when the myocardial cell cannot respond to an electrical impulse from the SA node.
Repolarization
Movement of positive potassium ions (K+), sodium ions (Na+), and some calcium ions (Ca++) out of the cell the rest of the calcium ions go back into storage within the cell.
Sinoatrial (SA) node
Small area of tissue in the posterior wall of the upper right atrium.
Systole
Contraction of the atria and the ventricles.
Acute Coronary Syndrome
Condition that occurs if the flow of oxygenated blood through a coronary artery to the myocardium is blocked by a blood clot or atherosclerosis.
Angina Pectoris
Chest pain.
Warning sign that the myocardium is not receiving enough oxygenated blood.
Cardiomegaly
Enlargement of the heart, usually due to congestive heart failure
Cardiomyopathy
Condition of the heart muscle that includes cardiomegaly and heart failure.
Congestive Heart Failure
Inability of the heart to pump sufficient amounts of blood. Caused by coronary artery disease or hypertension.
Hypertrophy
Enlargement of an organ or tissue from the increase in size of its cells.
Endocarditis
Bacterial infection and inflammation of the endocardium lining of a heart valve.
Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP)
Structural abnormality in which the leaflets of the mitral valve do not close tightly.
Murmur
Abnormal heart sound created by turbulence as blood leaks through a defective heart valve. Murmurs are described according to their volume, when they occur, and their sound.
Myocardial infarction (MI)
Death of myocardial cells due to a severe lack of oxygenated blood to the myocardium.
AKA heart attack
Pericarditis
Infection or inflammation of the pericardial sac that causes a buildup of pericardial fluid. When the fluid compresses the heart to the point that it cannot pump blood to the body.
Rheumatic heart disease
An autoimmune response to a bacterial streptococcal infection, such as strep throat. The body makes antibodies to fight the infection, but the antibodies also attack other areas of the body, particularly the joints and the heart.
Aneurysm
Area of dilation and weakness in the wall of an artery.
Arteriosclerosis
Degenerative changes over time produce hardened artery walls.
Atherosclerosis
Fatty deposits in the walls of the arteries that can restrict the flow of blood.
Atherosclerosis is a specific type of arteriosclerosis.
Atheromatous Plaque or Atheroma
Forms from Plaque or lipoproteins that are in the blood deposit cholesterol in the tear
Bruit
A harsh, rushing sound made by turbulent blood as it passes through an artery that is narrowed by arteriosclerosis or atherosclerosis. The bruit can be heard when a stethoscope is placed over the artery.
Coronary artery disease (CAD)
Arteriosclerosis of the coronary arteries. They contain atheromatous plaque, and their narrowed lumens cannot carry enough oxygenated blood to the myocardium.
Hyperlipidemia
Elevated levels of lipids (fats) in the blood. Lipids include cholesterol and triglycerides.
Hypercholesterolemia
Is an elevated level of cholesterol in the blood
Hypertriglyceridemia
Is an elevated level of triglycerides in the blood.
Hypertension
Elevated blood pressure.
Higher than normal blood pressure readings that are categorized in several successive stages.
Hypertension Crisis
A blood pressure reading higher than 180/120 requires immediate medical intervention
Hypotension
Blood pressure lower than 90/60
Usually because of a loss of blood volume
Orthostatic hypotension
Is the sudden, temporary but self-correcting decrease in systolic blood pressure that occurs when the patient changes from a lying or sitting postition to a standing position and experiences lightheaded ness.
Peripheral artery disease
Atherosclerosis specifically in arteries in the legs. Blood flow to the legs is poor.
Peripheral vascular disease
Any disease of the blood vessels in the extremities. It includes peripheral artery disease as well as raynaud disease.
Phlebitis
Infection or inflammation of a vein. The area around the vein is painful, and the skin overlying the vein may show a red streak
Raynausd disease
Causes sudden, severe vasoconstriction of the arteries in the fingers and toes. They become numb and whit or cyanotic for minutes or hours until the attack subsides.
Varicose Veins
Damaged valves in a vein allow blood to flow backward and collect in the preceding section of vein. That vein becomes distended with blood, twisting and bulging under the surface of the skin.
Arrhythmia
ANy type of irregular rate or rhythm of the heart.
Bradycardia
Arrhythmia in which the heart beats too slowly.
Fibrillation
Arrhythmia in which there is a very fast, uncoordinated quivering of the myocardium.
Flutter
Arrhythmia in which there is a very fast but regular rhythm of the atria or ventricles.
Heart block
Arrhythmia in which electrical impulses from the SA node do not ravel normally to the Purkinje fibers.
Premature Contraction
Arrhythmia in which there are one or more extra contractions in between systole and diastole. The extra contraction is known as an extrasystole.
Sick Sinus Syndrome
Arrhythmia in which bradycardia alternates with tachycardia.
Tachycardia
Arrhythmia in which there is a fast but regular rhythm (up to 200 beats per minute)
Asystole
Complete absence of a heartbeat.
AKA Cardiac arrest
Palpitation
An uncomfortable sensation felt in the chest during a premature contraction of the heart.
Cardiac enzyme
Blood test that measures the levels of two enzymes that are real eased into the blood when myocardial cells die during a myocardial infarction.
C-reactive protein
Blood test that measures the level of inflammation in the body.
Homocysteine
Blood test that measure the level of this amino acid, which can damage blood vessel walls.
Lipid Profile
Blood test that provides a comprehensive picture of the blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides and their lipoprotein carriers.
Troponin
Blood test that measure the level of two proteins that are released into the blood when myocardial cells die.
Cardiac catheterization
Procedure to study the anatomy and pressures in the heart. A catheter is inserted in the femoral or brachial vein.
Cardiac exercise stress test
Procedure to evaluate the heart’s response to exercise in patients who have chest pain, palpitations, or arrhythmia.
Electrocardiography (EKG, ECG)
Procedure that records the electrical activity of the heart.
Electrophysiology study
Procedure to map the heart’s conduction system to pinpoint the ectopic site that is causing an arrhythmia.
Holter monitor
Procedure to document arrhythmia that occur infrequently. The patients heart rate and rhythm are continuously monitored as an outpatient for 24 hours.
Telemetry
Procedure to monitor a patient’s heart rate and rhythm in the hospital.
Angiography
Radiologic procedure in which radiopaque contrast dye is injected into a blood vessel to outline it
Arteriography
The dye is injected into an artery to show narrowed areas, blockages, or aneurysms
Venography
The dye is injected into a vein to show weakened valves and dilated walls.
Doppler ultrasonography
Radiologic procedure that uses Doppler technology along with ultra high-frequency sound waves.
Multiple-gated acquisition (MUGA) scan
Nuclear medicine procedure that takes images of the heart chambers (with blood and red blood cells in them) at various times.
Myocardial Perfusion Scan
Nuclear medicine procedure that combines a cardiac exercise stress test with an intravenous injection of a radioactive tracer. the radioactive tracer and creates a two-dimensional image of the heart.
Auscultation
Procedure that uses a stethoscope to listen to the heart sounds.
Auscultation can detect arrhythmias and murmurs.
Blood pressure (BP)
One of the four vital signs. Blood pressure is measured with a sphygmomanometer. Usually done by a machine that automatically inflates and deflates the cuff, measures the blood pressure, and displays the digital blood pressure reading.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Procedure to circulate the blood after the patient’s heart has stopped beating.
Cardioversion
Procedure to treat an arrhythmia that cannot be controlled with antiarrhythmic drugs. Two adhesive defibrillator pads are placed on either side of the patient’s chest and connected by cables to the machine.
Pulse Rate
One of the four vital signs that include temperature, pulse, and respirations (TPR) as well as blood pressure.
Sclerotherapy
Procedure in which a sclerosis drug is injected into a varicose vein. The drug causes irritation and inflammation that later becomes fibrosis that concludes the vein.
ACE inhibitor drug
Treats congestive heart failure and hypertension. ACE inhibitor drugs produce vasodilation, and this decreases the blood pressure.
Antiarrhythmic drug
Treats arrhythmias
Anticoagulant drug
Prevents a blood clot from forming in patients with arteriosclerosis, atrial fibrillation, previous myocardial infarction, or an artificial heart valve.
Antihypertensive
Treats hypertension. Includes ACE inhibitor drugs, beta-blocker drugs, calcium channel blocker drugs, and diuretic drugs.
Aspirin drug
Prevents a heart attack by keeping platelets from sticking together to form a blood clot
Beta-Blocker drug
Treats angina pectoris and hypertension. These drugs decrease the heart rate and dilate the arteries by blocking beta receptors
Calcium channel blocker drug
Treats angina pectoris and hypertension. These drugs decrease the heart of calcium ions into myocardial cells and smooth muscle cells of artery walls; this causes the heart rate and blood pressure to decrease.
Digitalis drug
Treats congestive heart failure. Digitalis drugs decrease the heart rate and strengthen the heart’s contractions.
Diuretic drug
Causes sodium to be excreted in the urine. Sodium brings water with it, and this decreases the blood pressure.
Lipid-lowering drug
Treats hypercholestromia.
Nitroglycerin drug
Treats angina pectoris. These drugs dilate the arteries to decrease the blood pressure.
Thrombolytic Drug
Break apart a blood clot that is blocking blood flow through an artery
Aneurysm to my
Procedure to remove an aneurysm and repair the artery.
Cardiopulmonary bypass
Procedure used during open heart surgery in which the patients blood is rerouted through a cannula in the femoral vein to a heart-lung machine.
Carotid Endarterectomy
Procedure to remove plaque from an occluded carotid artery. It is used to treat carotid artery stenosis due to athersclerosis.
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)
Procedure to bypass an occluded coronary artery and restore blood flow to the myocardium.
Heart transplantation
Procedure to remove a severity damaged heart from a patient with end stage heart failure and insert a new heart from a donor.
Pacemaker insertion
Procedure in which an automated device is implanted to control the heart rate and rhythm in a patient with an arrhythmia.
Percutaneous Transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)
Procedure to reconstruct a coronary artery that is narrowed because of atherosclerosis. A catheter is inserted into the femoral artery and threaded to the site of the stenosis.
Balloon angioplasty
A balloon within the catheter is inflated. It compresses the atheromatous plaque and widens the lumen of the artery. Then the balloon is deflated, and the catheter is removed.
Stent
Alternately, intravascular stainless steel mesh stent is inserted onto the catheter.
Pericardiocentisis
Procedure that uses a needle to puncture the pericardium and withdraw inflammatory fluid accumulated in the pericardial sac.
Radiofrequency ablation
Procedure to destroy an ectopic area in the heart that is producing an electrical impulse that causes an arrhythmia.
Valve Replacement
Procedure to replace a severely damaged or prolapsed heart valve with an artificial valve, also known as a prosthesis.
Valvuloplasty
Procedure to reconstruct a heart valve to correct stenosis or prolapse.