CV Terminology & Anatomy

Question 1

The most lateral pulsation of the heart that can be SEEN

Answer 1

Apex beat

Question 2

A general term denoting thickening and hardening of the arterial walls. Atherosclerosis (build-up of fats, cholesterol on arterial walls) contributes to this.

Answer 2

Arteriosclerosis

Question 3

Blood isn’t pumped completely out of the atria. Can result in pooling and clotting.

Answer 3

Atrial fibrillation

Question 4

Rapid atrial rhythm (approx 300/minute)

Answer 4

Atrial flutter

Question 5

An abnormal pulse characterized by a strong beat and a weaker one in close succession, followed by a pause when no beat is felt.

Answer 5

Bigeminal pulse

Question 6

Bradycardia is usually under __ beats/minute (unless a well conditioned athlete).

Answer 6

60 bpm

Question 7

A harsh or musical intermittent auscultatory sound caused by turbulent flow through an artery

Answer 7

Bruit

Question 8

Stricture or narrowing of the lumen of a vessel

Answer 8

Coarctation

Question 9

Period of time within the cardiac cycle when the chambers fill with blood.

Answer 9

Diastole

Question 10

Meaning “out of place”

Answer 10

Ectopic (e.g. ectopic pregnancy)

Question 11

A foreign object (fat, air, etc.) that circulates through the blood and lodges in a vessel, occluding blood flow.

Answer 11

Embolus

Question 12

Triple cadence to the heart sounds (3 are heard). Usually indicative of serious disease in the adult.

Answer 12

Gallop Rhythm (Extra heart sound, e.g. S3 and S4 sounds)

Question 13

A palpable diffuse, sustained lift of the chest wall or a portion of the wall. Implicates a large vigorously contracting right ventricle.

Answer 13

Heave

Question 14

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.

Answer 14

Hepatojugular reflux

Question 15

Calf pain associated with passive dorsiflexion of the foot. Often indicative of thrombophlebitis.

Answer 15

Homan’s Sign

Question 16

Localized area of tissue necrosis caused by prolonged anoxia (absence of oxygen) - due to a thrombus for example.

Answer 16

Infarct

Question 17

Diminished blood supply to an organ or body part

Answer 17

Ischemia

Question 18

The sounds heard during the taking of blood pressure. The first and last sounds allow the listener to determine systolic and diastolic pressures.

Answer 18

Korotkoff sounds

Question 19

An awareness of one’s heart beating

Answer 19

Palpitation

Question 20

An abnormal diminished pulse amplitude on inspiration and increased amplitude on expiration. Normally pressure increases on inspiration

Answer 20

Paradoxic pulse

Question 21

Specific area of the chest where the heart beat is palpated most clearly. Normally at the apex (apical impulse).

Answer 21

Point of Maximum Impulse (PMI)

Question 22

Area of the chest that overlies the heart and adjacent great vessels

Answer 22

Precordium

Question 23

Pulse pressure (systolic minus diastolic) is usually within the range of __ to __ mm/hg

Answer 23

30-40mm/hg

Question 24

Abnormal pulse in which a strong beat alternates with a weaker one

Answer 24

Pulses Alternans (alternating pulse)

Question 25

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

Answer 25

Sinus arrhythmia

Question 26

Period of time within the cardiac cycle in which the ventricles are contracted, ejecting blood into the aorta and pulmonary arteries.

Answer 26

Systole

Question 27

A palpable murmur from the heart upon palpating the precordium. Described as feeling like the throat of a purring cat.

Answer 27

Thrill

Question 28

Blood clot attached to the inner wall of a vessel. Usually causes some form of occlusion.

Answer 28

Thrombus

Question 29

What rib attaches at the sternal angle?

Answer 29

2nd

Question 30

The tricuspid valve should be in the ___ left interspace

Answer 30

5th