CV Terminology & Anatomy Flashcards
The most lateral pulsation of the heart that can be SEEN
Apex beat
A general term denoting thickening and hardening of the arterial walls. Atherosclerosis (build-up of fats, cholesterol on arterial walls) contributes to this.
Arteriosclerosis
Blood isn’t pumped completely out of the atria. Can result in pooling and clotting.
Atrial fibrillation
Rapid atrial rhythm (approx 300/minute)
Atrial flutter
An abnormal pulse characterized by a strong beat and a weaker one in close succession, followed by a pause when no beat is felt.
Bigeminal pulse
Bradycardia is usually under __ beats/minute (unless a well conditioned athlete).
60 bpm
A harsh or musical intermittent auscultatory sound caused by turbulent flow through an artery
Bruit
Stricture or narrowing of the lumen of a vessel
Coarctation
Period of time within the cardiac cycle when the chambers fill with blood.
Diastole
Meaning “out of place”
Ectopic (e.g. ectopic pregnancy)
A foreign object (fat, air, etc.) that circulates through the blood and lodges in a vessel, occluding blood flow.
Embolus
Triple cadence to the heart sounds (3 are heard). Usually indicative of serious disease in the adult.
Gallop Rhythm (Extra heart sound, e.g. S3 and S4 sounds)
A palpable diffuse, sustained lift of the chest wall or a portion of the wall. Implicates a large vigorously contracting right ventricle.
Heave
A phenomenon indicating right heart failure. Increased prominence of the jugular venous pressure when the upper right quadrant of the abdomen is compressed for 30-45 seconds.
Hepatojugular reflux
Calf pain associated with passive dorsiflexion of the foot. Often indicative of thrombophlebitis.
Homan’s Sign
Localized area of tissue necrosis caused by prolonged anoxia (absence of oxygen) - due to a thrombus for example.
Infarct
Diminished blood supply to an organ or body part
Ischemia
The sounds heard during the taking of blood pressure. The first and last sounds allow the listener to determine systolic and diastolic pressures.
Korotkoff sounds
An awareness of one’s heart beating
Palpitation
An abnormal diminished pulse amplitude on inspiration and increased amplitude on expiration. Normally pressure increases on inspiration
Paradoxic pulse
Specific area of the chest where the heart beat is palpated most clearly. Normally at the apex (apical impulse).
Point of Maximum Impulse (PMI)
Area of the chest that overlies the heart and adjacent great vessels
Precordium
Pulse pressure (systolic minus diastolic) is usually within the range of __ to __ mm/hg
30-40mm/hg
Abnormal pulse in which a strong beat alternates with a weaker one
Pulses Alternans (alternating pulse)
A normal pulse pattern commonly found in some children and young adults - characterized by speeding up of the pulse rate on inspiration and slowing down on expiration
Sinus arrhythmia
Period of time within the cardiac cycle in which the ventricles are contracted, ejecting blood into the aorta and pulmonary arteries.
Systole
A palpable murmur from the heart upon palpating the precordium. Described as feeling like the throat of a purring cat.
Thrill
Blood clot attached to the inner wall of a vessel. Usually causes some form of occlusion.
Thrombus
What rib attaches at the sternal angle?
2nd
The tricuspid valve should be in the ___ left interspace
5th
