M3 Part B Flashcards
Cardiovascular System
apex
pointed end of the heart
atrium
the two smaller upper chambers of the heart, receive blood from the veins
septum
a wall or partition dividing a space, often vertically
ventricle
the two larger lower chambers of the heart, pump blood into the arteries
endocardium
innermost layer including the valves; a thin, smooth lining for blood to travel on
epicardium
the outer layer of the heart
myocardium
between the endocardium and epicardium, the middle layer consisting of cardiac muscle tissue
pericardium
outermost fibrous sac enclosing the heart
coronary
the arteries that supply the heart with its own oxygen
pulmonary
moves blood through the lungs
aorta
largest artery in the body, exits left ventricle
vena cava
largest vein in body, carries de-oxygenated blood into the heart
capillary
smallest blood vessels, size of hair, where O2/CO2 exchange takes place
anemia
a condition in which the blood is deficient in red blood cells, hemoglobin, or total volume
aneurysm
a bulge or sac formed on an artery or vein, dangerous and can potentially burst
arteriosclerosis
artery wall thickening
atherosclerosis
fatty plaque buildup on the inside wall of arteries, causing stiffness; leads to hypertension, heart attack, or stroke
CHF
congestive heart failure; poor blood pumping, shortness of breath, retention of fluids/edema
CAD
coronary artery disease; caused by atheroclerosis, risk for heart attack if blood flow is affected
embolism
the condition of a blood vessel being blocked by an embolus
embolus
traveling piece of material such as blood clot, tissue, air bubble, or object that can become lodged in a vessel
endocarditis
inflammation of the innermost lining of the heart or the valves; very serious
ischemia
insufficient blood supply to an organ due to the obstruction of inflow of arterial blood
myocarditis
inflammation of the myocardium
pericarditis
inflammation of the pericardium
arrythmia
a variation from the normal steady rhythm of the heart, irregular
asystole
the weakening or cessation of systole, where the ventricles contract to pump blood out
fibrillation
irregular contractions of heart muscle, quivering, unsynchronized heartbeats
MI
myocardial infarction AKA a heart attack
varicose veins
dilated veins, usually in the legs, where blood flow is not fully effective
bradycardia
abnormally slow heartbeat
heart murmur
an irregular heart sound, like a swishing, indicating an abnormality in the heart’s function or structure
tachycardia
abnormally fast heartbeat
angiography
the radiographic visualization of blood vessels after injection of a radiopaque substance
ECHO
AKA echocardiography; the use of ultrasound to measure the structure and functioning of the heart to diagnose abnormalities and disease
ECG/EKG
electrocardiogram; the output of an instrument used to measure the changes of electrical potential during heartbeats
diuretic
a drug used to increase urine output to remove excess body fluid; used in the treatment of edema in the setting of CHF
heparin
a medication used to slow the blood clotting process, used to reduce risk of stroke
thrombolytic
an injection to dissolve a blood clot so that blood flow can be restored
angioplasty
a procedure that reconstructs a blood vessel to restore blood flow
