Word then Definition Flashcards
Aneurysm
Localized abnormal dilation of a vessel, usually an artery.
Arrest
Condition of being stopped of bringing to a stop.
Cardiac arrest
Loss of effective cardiac function, which results in cessation of circulation.
Circulatory arrest
Cessation of the circulation of blood due to ventricular standstill or fibrillation.
Arrhythmia
Inability of the heart to maintain a normal sinus rhythm, possibly including a rapid or slow beat or “skipping” a beat; also called dysrhythmia.
Bruit
Soft blowing sound heard on auscultation, possibly due to vibrations associated with the movement of blood, valvular action, or both; also called murmur.
Cardiomyopathy
Any disease or weakening of heart muscle that diminishes cardiac function.
Catheter
Thin, flexible, hollow plastic tube that is small enough to be threaded through a vein, artery, or tubular structure.
Coarctation
Narrowing of a vessel, especially the aorta.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
Blood clot that forms in the deep veins of the body, especially those in the legs or thighs.
Ejection fraction (EF)
Calculation of how much blood a ventricle can eject with one contraction.
Heart Failure (HF)
Failure of the heart to supply an adequate amount of blood to tissues and organs.
Embolus
Mass of undissolved matter circulating in blood or lymphatic channels until it becomes lodged in a vessel.
Fibrillation
Quivering or spontaneous muscle contractions, especially of the heart, causing ineffectual contractions.
Hemostasis
Arrest of bleeding or circulation.
Hyperlipidemia
Excessive amounts of lipids (cholesterol, phospholipids, and triglycerides) in the blood.
Hypertension (HTN)
Common disorder characterized by elevated blood pressure persistently exceeding 140 mm Hg systolic or 90 mm Hg diastolic.
Primary hypertension
HTN in which there is no identifiable cause; also called essential hypertension.
Secondary hypertension
HTN that results from an underlying, identifiable, commonly correctable cause.
Hypertensive Heart Disease
Any heart disorder caused by prolonged hypertension, including left ventricular hypertrophy, coronary artery disease, cardiac arrhythmias, and heart failure.
Implantable cardioverterdefibrillator (ICD)
Implantable battery-powered device that monitors and automatically corrects ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation by sending electrical impulses to the heart.
Infarct
Area of tissue that undergoes necrosis following cessation of blood supply.
Ischemia
Local and temporary deficiency of blood supply due to circulatory obstruction.
Mitral valve prolapse (MVP)
Common and occasionally serious condition in which the leaflets of the mitral valve prolapse into the left atrium during systole causing a characteristic murmur heard on auscultation.
Radioisotope
Chemical radioactive material used as a tracer to follow a substance through the body or a structure.
Palpitation
Sensation that the heart is not beating normally, possibly including thumping, fluttering, skipped beats, or a pounding feeling in the chest.
Patent ductus arteriosus
Failure of the ductus arteriosus to close after birth, allowing blood to flow from the aorta into the pulmonary artery.
Perfusion
Circulation of blood through tissues or the passage of fluids through vessels of an organ.
Tetralogy of Fallot
Congenital anomaly consisting of four elements: (1) pulmonary artery stenosis; (2) interventricular septal defect; (3) transposition of the aorta, so that both ventricles empty into the aorta; (4) right ventricular hypertrophy caused by increased workload of the right ventricle.
Stent
Slender or threadlike device used to hold open vessels, tubes, or obstructed arteries.
Thrombus
Blood clot that obstructs a vessel.
Cardiac catheterization (CC)
Passage of a catheter into the heart through a vein or artery to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the heart.
Electrocardiogram (ECG, EKG)
Graphic line recording that shows the spread of electrical excitation to different parts of the heart using small metal electrodes applied to the chest, arms, and legs.
Angina
Chest pain.
Diaphoresis
Profuse sweating.
Incompetent
Inability of a valve to close completely.
Varices
Varicose veins of the esophagus.
Vegetations
Small masses of inflammatory material found on the leaflets of valves.
Angioplasty
Procedure that alters a vessel through surgery or dilation of the vessel using a balloon catheter.
Arterial biopsy
Removal and examination of a segment of an arterial vessel wall to confirm inflammation of the wall or arteritis, a type of vasculitis.
Atherectomy
Removal of material from an occluded vessel using a specially designed catheter fitted with a cutting or grinding device.
CABG
Coronary artery bypass graft. Surgical procedure that uses a vessel graft from another part of the body to bypass the blocked part of a coronary artery and restore blood supply to the heart muscle.
Cardiac enzyme studies
Blood test that measures troponin T, troponin I, and creatinine kinase (CK-MB).
Catheter ablation
Destruction of conducting tissue of the heart to interrupt the abnormal conduction pathway causing the arrhythmia, thus allowing normal heart rhythm to resume.
Commissurotomy
Surgical separation of the leaflets of the mitral valve, which have fused together at their commissures.
Coronary angiography
Angiography to determine the degree of obstruction of the arteries that supply blood to the heart.
Diuretics
Drugs that act on kidneys to increase excretion of water and sodium.
Echocardiography
Noninvasive diagnostic method that uses ultrasound to visualize internal cardiac structures and produce images of the heart.
Embolization
Technique used to block blood flow to a site by passing a catheter to the area and injecting a synthetic material or medication specially designed to occlude the blood vessel.
Holter monitor test
ECG taken with a small portable recording system capable of storing up to 24 hours of ECG tracings.
Ligation and stripping
Tying a varicose vein followed by removal of the affected segment.
Nitrates
Dilate blood vessels of the heart, causing an increase in the amount of oxygen delivered to the myocardium, and decrease venous return and arterial resistance, which decreases myocardial oxygen demand and relieves angina.
PTCA
Dilation of an occluded vessel using a balloon catheter under fluoroscopic guidance.
Scintigraphy
Diagnostic test that uses radiation emitted by the body after an injection of radioactive substances to create images of various organs or identify body functions and diseases.
Statins
Lower cholesterol in the blood and reduce its production in the liver by blocking the enzyme that produces it.
Stress test
ECG taken under controlled exercise stress conditions.
Thrombolysis
Destruction of a blood clot using anticlotting agents called clot-busters, such as tissue plasminogen activator.
Venipuncture
Incision or puncture of a vein to remove blood or introduce fluids.
