Key Terms - CVS

Question 1

Acute coronary syndrome

Answer 1

Range of life threatening conditions from unstable angina to a large MI

Question 2

Afterload

Answer 2

Force that the heart has to work against

Question 3

Angina pectoris (angina)

Answer 3

Pain or discomfort in the chest resulting from myocardial ischaemia. May also radiate to the arm or shoulder region

Question 4

Aortic stenosis

Answer 4

Narrowing of the aortic valve

Question 5

Bradycardia

Answer 5

Slower than normal heart rate

Question 6

Baroreceptor

Answer 6

Pressure receptor. The arterial baroreceptors are high pressure sensors located in the aortic arch

Question 7

Chronotrope

Answer 7

A substance which alters the rhythm of the heart a positive chronotrope increases heart rate

Question 8

Coarctation of the aorta

Answer 8

Discrete narrowing of the aorta near to the site of ductus arteriosus. It can be either predictable or postductal common

Question 9

Contractility of the aorta

Answer 9

A discrete narrowing of the aorta near to the site of the ductus arteriosus. It can be pre or post ductus

Question 10

Cyanosis

Answer 10

Blue colorisation of the skin or mucous membrane due to high circulating levels of deoxygenating haemoglobin in arterial blood pressure

Question 11

Diastole

Answer 11

Phase of the cardiac cycle when the ventricles are filling relaxed

Question 12

Dysnoea

Answer 12

Abnormal awareness of breathlessness

Question 13

Hydrostatic pressure

Answer 13

The pressure in a fluid which exerts a force on the walls of the structure or vessel containing that fluid

Question 14

Hyperplasia

Answer 14

An increase in organ size due to an increase in cell numbers

Question 15

Hypertrophy

Answer 15

An increase in organ size due to an increase in cell size (e.g. cardiac enlargement)

Question 16

Inotrope

Answer 16

Substance which alters the force of contraction of the heart a positive inotrope increases force of contraction by increasing cardiac motility

Question 17

Mitral valve

Answer 17

The left atrioventricular valve

Question 18

Mitral stenosis

Answer 18

Narrowing of the opening of the mitral valve

Question 19

Murmur

Answer 19

A sound to due to turbulent blood flow heard on auscultation of the heart or ablood vessel

Question 20

Myocardial iscahemia

Answer 20

Shortage of blood to a region of the heart usually as a result of partial occlusion of coronary artery

Question 21

Myocardial infarction

Answer 21

Irreversible necrosis of heart tissue due to obstruction of a coronary vessel

Question 22

Oncosis pressure

Answer 22

The component of osmotic pressure due to large non diffusible molecules such as plasma proteins artificial given as plasma expanders also contribute to oncotic pressure

Question 23

Orthophosphate

Answer 23

Sensation of laboured breathing whilst lying flat

Question 24

Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspoea

Answer 24

Severe breathlessness which wakens patient from sleep

Question 25

Preload

Answer 25

Related to end diastolic volume and end diastolic pressure greater venous return

Question 26

Pulmonic stress

Answer 26

Stenosisof pulmonary valve

Question 27

Systole

Answer 27

Phase of cardiac cycle when the ventricles are contracting

Question 28

Tachycardia

Answer 28

A higher than normal heart rate