Module 7 - Atherosclerosis and Its Sequelae Flashcards
Angina pectoris
- Definition
- What is the pain described as?
- What brings on this type of attack?
Refers to the chest pain felt when the myocardium (heart muscle) receives an inadequate blood supply
- The pain is typically described as a ‘tight’ or ‘clenching’ feeling, and it may often be felt in the left arm as well as the chest
- Attacks of angina pectoris are usually brought on by excitement or physical exertion
Aneurysm
An abnormal outpouching of an artery, a vein, or the heart formed as a result of a weakening of the vessel wall
Arrhythmia
Abnormal heart rhythm; may be an abnormality of rate, regularity, site of impulse origin, or sequence of activation
*Also see dysrhythmia - the term arrhythmia is used even for abnormal, but regular rhythms
Atheromatous plaque
The characteristic lesion of atherosclerosis which consists of a ‘fibrous cap’ of connective tissue, and a necrotic core (the ‘atheroma’); also known as a ‘fibrofatty plaque’ or just plain ‘plaque’
Atherosclerosis
A disease of large and medium-sized arteries. It is characterized by the formation of fibrofatty deposits in the intimal layer of arteries called ‘atherosclerotic plaques’
Chronic ischemic heart disease
Refers to the condition in which patients with severe coronary atherosclerosis suffer the symptoms of ischemic heart disease repeatedly and chronically, often due to multiple severe narrowings in their coronary arteries
Claudication
Causes limping; e.g. intermittent claudication - pain, tension and/or weakness in the legs on walking which may intensify and result in limping, relieved by rest, seen in severe atherosclerotic disease
Congestive heart failure
Refers to the consequences of cardiac failure, in particular, pulmonary edema (hence ‘congestive’ failure), and the failure to perfuse the systemic circulation
Dysrhythmia
An abnormal rhythm; cardiac dysrhythmias refer to disturbances in the electrical rhythm of the heart
*Also see arrhythmia
Fatty streak
The precursor lesion to an atheromatous plaque
Hypertension
Elevated blood pressure; according to Canadian guidelines, hypertension is defined as having a systolic pressure consistently greater than 140mm Hg and/or a diastolic pressure consistently greater than 90mm Hg
Infarction
A localized area of ischemic necrosis produced by blockage of the arterial supply or its venous drainage
Ischemia
Diminished blood supply to tissues
Ischemic heart disease
Occurs when decreased blood flow results in an inadequate supply of oxygen to the heart muscle (myocardium)
Myocardial infarction
An infarction occurring within cardiac muscle, and is commonly referred to as a ‘heart attack’
Occlusion
The act of closure or state of being closed; an obstruction or a closing off; occlusive, pertaining to or affecting occlusion
Pericarditis
Inflammation of the surface of the heart (pericardium)
Subendocardial
Involvement of only the inner half of the heart wall.
Sudden cardiac death
Death due to cardiac causes, occurring within six hours after the onset of symptoms (oftentimes a sudden collapse with only a brief period of symptoms or none at all)
Tamponade
Accumulation of fluid (commonly blood) on the external surface of the heart, but within the pericardium causing compression of the heart
Thrombosis
The inappropriate or pathological formation of a solid mass (from the constituents of blood) within a blood vessel or organ
Transmural
Involvement of the full thickness of the heart wall
Ventricular rupture
A tear that occurs in the infarcted region of the heart following a myocardial infarction
