CS Pathology Flashcards
Cardiology
The branch of medicine involving diagnosis and treatment of conditions and diseases of the cardiovascular system. Physician is a ‘cardiologist.’
Cardiovascular Technician
Healthcare professional trained to perform a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures including electrocardiography, echocardiography, and exercise stress tests
Angiitis
Inflammation of a vessel
Angiospasm
An involuntary muscle contraction of the smooth muscle in the wall of a vessel; narrows the vessel
Angiostenosis
The narrowing of a vessel
Bradycardia
The condition of having a slow heart rate; typically less than 60 beats/minute; highly trained aerobic persons may normally have a slow heart rate
Embolus
The obstruction of a blood vessel by a blood clot that has broken off from a thrombus somewhere else in the body and traveled to the point of obstruction. If it occurs in a coronary artery, it may result in a myocardial infarction
Infarct
An area of tissue within an organ or part that undergoes necrosis (death) following the loss of its blood supply
Ischemia
The localized and temporary deficiency of blood supply due to an obstruction to the curculation
Murmur
A sound, in addition to the normal heart sounds, arising from blood flowing through the heart. This extra sound may or may not indicate a heart abnormality
Orthostatic Hypotension
The sudden drop in blood pressure a person experiences when standing straight up suddenly
Palpitations
Pounding, racing heartbeats
Plaque
A yellow, fatty deposit of lipids in an artery that is the hallmark of atherosclerosis. Also called an ‘atheroma.’
Regurgitation
To flow backwards. In the cardiovascular system this refers to the backflow of blood through a valve
Tachycardia
The condition of having a fast heart rate; typically more than 100 beats/minute while at rest
Thrombus
A blood clot forming within a blood vessel. May partially or completely occlude the blood vessel
Angina Pectoris
Condition in which there is severe pain with a sensation of constriction around the heart. Caused by a deficiency of oxygen to the heart muscle
Arrhythmia
Irregularity in the heartbeat or action. Comes in many different forms; some are not serious, while other are life-threatening
Bundle Branch Block (BBB)
Occurs when the electrical impulse is blocked from traveling down the bundle of His or bundle branches. Results in the ventricles beating at a different rate than the atria. Also called a ‘heart block.’
Cardiac Arrest
Complete stopping of heart activity