Medical Terminology: Cardiovascular System Flashcards
Aneurysm
sac formed by localized dilation of an artery or vein
angina pectoris
pain in the chest caused by decreased supply of oxygen to the hear muscle
aorta
large blood vessel leaving the heart which supplies oxygen-rich blood to all the bodily tissues
aortic valve
located between the left ventricle and aorta
arrhythmia
variation from the normal rhythm of the heartbeat
arteriosclerosis
thickening and loss of elasticity of the arterial walls, slowing the flow of blood
asystole
no heart beat
atherosclerosis
form of arteriosclerosis in which fats are deposited on arterial walls
atrioventricular node
located in the right atrium and responsible for coordinating the heart’s contractions through the ventricles
atrium
upper chambers of heart muscle
bradycardia
slowness of heartbeat, as evidenced by a pulse rate of less than 60
cardiac arrest
heart function ceases
cardiomyopathy
weakening of the heart muscle
carditis
inflammation of the heart muscle
cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
a sudden and acute vascular lesion of the brain caused by hemorrhage, embolism, thrombosis, or rupturing of blood vessels
claudication
cramp like pains in the calves of the legs due to poor circulation
heart failure
defective blood pumping system, marked by breathlessness and abnormal retention of sodium and water
cusp
one of the small flaps on the valves of the heart
diastole
resting phase of the heart beat
dysrhythmia
abnormal rhythm
embolism
the sudden blocking of an artery by an embolus
embolus
a foreign object (air, fat, tissue, or blood clot) carried by the blood and forced into a smaller vessel, causing an obstruction in circulation
endocardium
inner surface of the heart chambers
epicardium
outermost layer of the heart
fibrillation
small, local, involuntary muscular contraction caused by spontaneous activation of single muscle cells or muscle fibers.
hypertension
persistent high blood pressure
infarction
a localized area of ischemic necrosis owing to the occlusion of the arterial suply
inferior vena cava
brings venous blood from the lower regions of the body to the right side of the heart
ischemia
deficiency of blood flow to a part of the body
lumen
the cavity of the channel within’ any organ or structure; space within an artery, vein, intestine, etc
malaise
genera vague feeling of body weakness or discomfort
mediastinum
space in the chest between the lungs where the heart is located
mitral valve
valve located between the left atrium and left ventricle, consisting of two leaflets
mitral valve prolapse
extra clicking sound caused by failure of heart valves to close properly
myocardial infarction
death of heart muscle due to absence of blood supply
myocardium
middle, thickest layer of the heart wall, made of cardiac muscle
occlusion
state of being closed
orthopnea
person must sit up or stand up in order to breath comfortably
papillary muscles
special muscles connected to the leaflets of the valves to all them to open in only one direction
pericardium
exterior layer covering the heart
phlebotomy
cutting into a vein
plaque
a deposit of fatty material in the artery (atherosclerosis)
pulmonary artery
carries blood to the lungs for oxygenation from the right side of the heart
pulmonary valve
located between the pulmonary artery and right ventricle
pulmonary vein
carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left side of the heart
saphenous veins
longest veins of the body located in the lower extremities
sinoatrial node (SA node)
heart’s pacemaker located in the right atrium responsible for the heart contracting in a coordinated fashion through the atria
sinus rhythm
normal rhythm originating in the sinoatrial node
stenosis
narrowing
systole
pumping or contracting phase of the heart beat
tachycardia
abnormal heart rate
thrombophlebitis
inflammation of a vein associated with thrombus formation
superior vena cava
brings venous blood from the region of the head and upper limbs to the right side of the heart
thrombosis
existence of a blood clot
transient ischemic
brief interruption of circulation to a portion of the brain. A precursor to a cardiovascular accident (stroke)
ventricle
lower chambers of the heart
