supplementary terms Flashcards
The pulsing of the heart that can be felt over the apex in the fifth left
intercostal space (between the ribs) about 8 to 9 cm from the midline
APEX BEAT
The amount of blood pumped from the right or left ventricle per minute
CARDIAC OUTPUT
A vessel between the pulmonary artery and the aorta that bypasses
the lungs in fetal circulation. Failure to close after birth is called
patent (PA-tent) ductus arteriosus.
DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS
An opening between the two atria that allows blood to bypass the lungs
in fetal circulation. Failure to close after birth results in a septal defect.
FORAMEN OVALE
Arterial sounds heard with a stethoscope during determination of
blood pressure with a cuff
KOROTKOFF SOUNDS
The passage of fluid, such as blood, through an organ or tissue
PERFUSION
The anterior region over the heart and the lower part of the thorax;
adjective
PERCORDIUM
The difference between systolic and diastolic pressure
PULSE PRESSURE
A normal heart rhythm originating from the sinoatrial (SA) node
SINUS RHYTHM
The amount of blood ejected by the left ventricle with each beat
STROKE VOLUME
Bearing down, as in childbirth or defecation, by attempting to exhale
forcefully with the nose and throat closed. This action has an effect
on the cardiovascular system.
VALSALVA MANEUVER
An abnormal sound heard in auscultation
BRUIT
Pathologic accumulation of fluid in the pericardial sac. May result
from pericarditis or injury to the heart or great vessels.
CARDIAC TAMPONADE
Localized narrowing of the aorta
COARCTATION OF THE AORTA
A heartbeat that originates from some part of the heart other than the SA node
ECTOPIC BEAT
Premature contraction of the heart that occurs separately from the normal beat and originates from a part of the heart other than the SA node
EXTRASYSTOLE
Very rapid (200 to 300 beats per minute) but regular contractions, as
in the atria or the ventricles
FLUTTER
A condition of lower-than-normal blood pressure
HYPOTENSION
Pain in a muscle during exercise caused by inadequate blood supply.
The pain disappears with rest.
INTERMITTENT CLAUDICATION
Movement of the cusps of the mitral valve into the left atrium when
the ventricles contract
MITRAL VALVE PROLAPSE
Arteriosclerotic disease of the vessels, usually peripheral vessels
OCCLUSIVE VASCULAR DISEASE
A sensation of abnormally rapid or irregular heartbeat
PALPITATION
Edema that retains the impression of a finger pressed firmly into the
skin
PITTING EDEMA
Potentially fatal collagen disease causing inflammation of small visceral arteries. Symptoms depend on the organ affected.
POLYARTERITIS NODOSA
A disorder characterized by abnormal constriction of peripheral vessels
in the arms and legs on exposure to cold
RAYNAULD DISEASE
A backward flow, such as the backflow of blood through a defective
valve
REGURGITATION
Stoppage of normal blood normal flow, as of blood or urine.
STATIS
Growth of bacteria in a heart or valves previously damaged by rheumatic fever
SUBACUTE BACTERIAL ENDOCARDITIS (SBE)
A combination of four congenital heart abnormalities: pulmonary
artery stenosis, interventricular septal defect, displacement of the aorta to the right, right ventricular hypertrophy
TETRALOGY OF FALLOT
Inflammation and thrombus formation resulting in occlusion of small vessels, especially in the legs. Most common in young men and correlated with heavy smoking.
THROMBOANGIITIS OBLITERANS
Irregular outgrowths of bacteria on the heart valves; associated with
rheumatic fever
VEGETATION
A cardiac arrhythmia consisting of tachycardia and a premature ventricular beat caused by an alternate conduction pathway
WOLFF-PARKINSON-WHITE SYNDROME (WPW)
Passage of a catheter into the heart through a vessel to inject a contrast
medium for imaging, diagnosing abnormalities, obtaining samples,
or measuring pressure
CARDIAC CATHERIZATION
Pressure in the superior vena cava
CENTRAL VENOUS PRESSURE (CVP)
The photographic recording of fluoroscopic images of the heart and
large vessels using motion picture techniques
CINEANGIOCARDIOGRAPHY
An imaging method used to study the rate and pattern of blood flow
DOPPLER ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY
Measurement of serum levels of enzymes that are released in increased
amounts from damaged heart tissue.
ENZYMES STUDIES
Imaging of the heart after injection of a radioactive isotope.
HEART SCAN
A portable device that can record up to 24 hours of an individual’s ECG readings during normal activity
HOLTER MONITOR
An amino acid that at higher-than-normal levels in the blood is associated
with increased risk of cardiovascular disease
HOMOCYSTEINE
Technician who specializes in drawing blood
PHLEBOTOMIST
Electronic recording of heart sounds
PHONOCARDIOGRAPHY
Measurement of changes in the size of a part based on the amount of
blood contained in or passing through it.
PLETHYSMOGRAPHY
Pressure measured by a catheter in a branch of the pulmonary artery.
It is an indirect measure of pressure in the left atrium.
PULMONARY WEDGE PRESSURE (PWP)
Evaluation of physical fitness by continuous ECG monitoring during
exercise.
STRESS TEST
A cardiac catheter with a balloon at the tip that is used to measure
pulmonary arterial pressure
SWAN-GANZ CATHETER
Use of an ultrasound transducer placed endoscopically into the
esophagus to obtain images of the heart
TRANSESOPHANGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY (TEE)
Simple fats that circulate in the bloodstream
TRIGLYCERIDES
X-ray study of the ventricles of the heart after introduction of an
opaque dye by means of a catheter
VENTRICULOGRAPHY
Removal of atheromatous plaque from the lining of a vessel. May be done by open surgery or through the lumen of the vessel.
ATHERECTOMY
Electronic device that detects arrhythmia and automatically delivers a
correct programmed shock.
AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR (AED)
Surgical incision of a scarred mitral valve to increase the size of the
valve opening
COMMISUROTOMY
Surgical removal of an embolus
EMBOLECTOMY
A battery-powered device that can shock the heart during fibrillation
to restore a normal rhythm.
IMPLANTABLE CARDIOVERTER DEFIBRILLATOR (ICD)
A mechanical-assist device that consists of an inflatable balloon
pump inserted through the femoral artery into the thoracic aorta.
INTRA-AORTIC BALLON PUMP (IABP)
A pump that takes over the function of the left ventricle in delivering
blood into the systemic circuit
LEFT VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICE (LVAD)
A small metal device in the shape of a coil or slotted tube that is
placed inside an artery to keep the vessel open after balloon angioplasty
STENT
A drug that lowers blood pressure by blocking the formation in the
blood of angiotensin II, a substance that normally acts to increase
blood pressure
ANGIOTESTIN- CONVERTING ENZYME (ACE) INHIBITOR
A drug that blocks tissue receptors for angiotensin II
ANGIOTESTIN II RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST
A drug that regulates the rate and rhythm of the heartbeat
ANTIARRHYTHMIC AGENT
Drug that decreases the rate and strength of heart contractions
BETA -ADRENERGIC BLOCKING AGENT
Drug that controls the rate and force of heart contraction by regulating
calcium entrance into the cells
CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKER
A drug that slows and strengthens heart muscle contractions
DIGITALIS
Drug that eliminates fluid by increasing the output of urine by the kidneys. Lowered blood volume decreases the workload of the heart.
DIURETIC
Drug that lowers serum cholesterol
HYPOLIPEDEMIC AGENT
A local anesthetic that is used intravenously to treat cardiac
arrhythmias
LIDOCAINE
A drug used in the treatment of angina pectoris to dilate coronary
vessels
NITROGLYCERIN
Drugs that act to lower lipids in the blood.
STATINS
An enzyme used to dissolve blood clots
STREPTOKINASE
A drug used to dissolve blood clots. It activates production of a substance
(plasmin) in the blood that normally dissolves clots.
TISSUE PLASMINOGEN ACTIVATOR
A drug that widens blood vessels and improves blood flow
VASODILATOR
