Heart Exam terms

Question 1

CHD

Answer 1

coronary heart disease

Question 2

CAD

Answer 2

coronary artery disease

Question 3

CHF

Answer 3

congestive heart failure

Question 4

CVD

Answer 4

cardiovascular disease

Question 5

SVT

Answer 5

Supra ventricular tachycardia

Question 6

V fib

Answer 6

Ventricular fibrillation

Question 7

A fib

Answer 7

Atrial fibrillation

Question 8

V tach

Answer 8

Ventricular tachycardia

Question 9

V fib

Answer 9

Ventricular fibrillation

Question 10

JVD

Answer 10

Jugular venous distention

Question 11

MI

Answer 11

myocardial infarction

Question 12

PMI

Answer 12

Point of maximal impulse

Question 13

Stenosis

Answer 13

Abnormal narrowing of a passage in the body

Question 14

Regurgitation

Answer 14

Back flow of blood through a defective heart valve

Question 15

Insufficiency

Answer 15

The inability of an organ to perform its normal function

Question 16

Cardiac output

Answer 16

The amount of blood pumped by the ventricle within a given time (L/min)

Question 17

Stroke volume

Answer 17

The amount of blood ejected by a ventricle during contraction

Question 18

Preload

Answer 18

The amount of blood the stretches ventricles at the end of diastole and just before systole

Question 19

Afterload

Answer 19

The amount of resistance or pressure the ventricle needs to contract against during systole

Question 20

Palpitations

Answer 20

An unpleasant awareness of one’s heart beat

Question 21

Edema

Answer 21

The accumulation of fluid in the extravascular, interstitial space

Question 22

Thrills

Answer 22

A vibration felt when palpating over the artery

Question 23

Murmur

Answer 23

A whooshing sound that arises from the blood pumping through the heart

Question 24

Bruits

Answer 24

A whooshing sound that arises from blood passing through the vasculature and not the heart. This is suggestive of blood turbulence through the artery because of narrowing in the vessel.

Question 25

JVP

Answer 25

Jugular venous pressure. Best assessed through pulsations of the right internal jugular vein.

Question 26

How would right or left heart failure, pulmonary HTN, tricuspid stenosis, and pericardial compression or tamponade effect JVP?

Answer 26

JVP increases.

Question 27

How would loss of blood effect JVP?

Answer 27

JVP decreases

Question 28

What is the best way to listen to S1 and S2?

Answer 28

With the diaphragm of the stethoscope.

Question 29

What is the best way to listen to S3 and S4?

Answer 29

With the bell. Can’t press too hard, or the sounds will disappear!

Question 30

Which is louder at the apex of the heart, S1 or S2? What about the base?

Answer 30

S1 is louder at the apex, S2 at the base.

Question 31

When does carotid upstroke occur in connection with S1 and S2?

Answer 31

Carotid upstroke always occurs in systole immediately after S1, sounds or murmurs coinciding with upstroke are systolic; sounds or murmurs occurring after completion
of the upstroke are diastolic

Question 32

PMI = Point of Maximal Impulse; felt on midclavicular line and the 4th or 5th interspace of the
ribs
What physiological conditions can cause a displacement or an inability to feel the PMO?

Answer 32

Obesity, pregnancy, enlarged right ventricle, pulmonary artery, aortic aneurysm, etc.

Question 33

How do you grade a murmur?

Answer 33

Grades 1-6, from quiet to loud.