Terms

Question 1

Afterload

Answer 1

• Resistance the left heart overcomes during contraction

* Increased afterload decreases cardiac output

Question 2

Aneurysm

Answer 2

Weakening in the wall of an artery

Question 3

Cardiac hypertrophy

Answer 3

Enlargement of the heart, often due to hypertension

Question 4

Cardiac output

Answer 4

Volume of blood ejected by left ventricle in one minute (stroke volume x heart rate)

Question 5

Chronotrope

Answer 5

Rate of cardiac contraction

Question 6

Dromotrope

Answer 6

Speed of cardiac conduction velocity

Question 7

Endocarditis

Answer 7

Infection of the endocardium, usually involving the heart valves

Question 8

Ejection fraction

Answer 8

Percentage of blood ejected from a filled ventricle

Question 9

Failure to capture

Answer 9

Ventricles fail to respond to an impulse. On an ECG, the pacemaker spike will appear, but it will not be followed by a QRS complex

Question 10

Failure to sense

Answer 10

Pacemaker malfunction that occurs when the pacemaker doesn’t detect the patient’s myocardial depolarization. May be seen on an ECG tracing as a spike following a QRS complex too early

Question 11

Inotrope

Answer 11

Force of cardiac contraction

Question 12

Orthopnea

Answer 12

Difficulty breathing while supine

Question 13

Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea

Answer 13

Acute onset of difficulty breathing at night, usually while sleeping

Question 14

Pericarditis

Answer 14

Inflammation of the pericardium

Question 15

Preload

Answer 15

• Volume of fluid returning to the right heart

* Increased preload increases the stretching of the ventricles and increased myocardial contraction

Question 16

Stroke volume

Answer 16

Amount of blood ejected by left ventricle during one contraction

Question 17

Prinzmetal’s angina

Answer 17

Variable angina caused by coronary artery spasms

Question 18

Starling’s law

Answer 18

The more the heart is stretched (within limits), the greater the resulting force contraction

Question 19

Ascites

Answer 19

Edema in the abdomen

Question 20

Endocardium

Answer 20

Innermost layer of the heart

Question 21

Myocardium

Answer 21

Muscular wall of the heart

Question 22

Epicardium

Answer 22

Inner layer of the pericardial sac

Question 23

Pericardium

Answer 23

Outer layer of the pericardial sac

Question 24

Blood flow through the heart

Answer 24

I/S VC
RA
RV
PA
Lungs
PV
LA
LV
Aorta
Body

Question 25

SVR

Answer 25

• The resistance to blood flow throughout the body (excluding the pulmonary system)
• Determined by the size of bv’s
• constriction of bv’s increases SVR & can increase BP
• dilation decreases SVR & lowers BP

Question 26

SA node (sinoatrial)

Answer 26

The heart’s primary conduction system.

Typically generates electrical impulses between 60-100 times per min

Question 27

AV junction (atrioventricular junction)

Answer 27

The heart’s first backup pacemaker

Typically generates electrical impulses between 40-60 times per minute

Question 28

Bundle of his

Answer 28

The hearts final pacemaker

Typically generates electrical impulses 20-40 times per minute

Question 29

Common signs and symptoms of cardiac emergencies

Answer 29

• chest pain
• dyspnea
• palpitations
• diaphoresis
• restlessness, anxiety
• feeling of impending doom
• nausea and vomiting
• weakness
• edema
• syncope
• denial