5. CARDIOVASCULAR

Angina pectoris: Chest discomfort resulting from an inadequate supply of oxygen

to the heart.

Arteries: Thick walled blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.

Arrhythmias: Heart rhythm disturbances.

Atherosclerosis: Deposition of materials often fat droplets in the walls of the

arteries leading to hardening and narrowing of the artery walls.

Capillaries: Microscopic blood vessels made of single layer of cells connecting the

arterial and venous portions of the vascular system; the area in which nutrients,

oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other substances are exchanged between the blood and

tissues.

Acute myocardial infarction: Death of heart muscle tissue due to an acute

decrease in blood supply.

Congestive heart failure: Progressive inability of the diseased heart to pump

sufficient blood to meet the demands of the body.

Aorta: Largest artery in the body.

Vein: Thin walled vessel that carries blood from body tissues and lungs back to the

heart. Veins contain valves to prevent backflow of blood.

Atrium: One of two upper chambers of the heart.

Ventricle: One of two lower chambers of the heart.

Systole: Contraction phase of the heartbeat.

Diastole: Relaxation phase of the heartbeat.

Electrocardiogram: Record of electricity flowing through the heart.

Pulmonary circulation: Flow of blood from the heart to the lungs and back to the

heart.

Systemic circulation: Flow of blood from body tissue to the heart and then from

the heart back to body tissues.

Pulse: Beat of the heart as felt through the walls of the arteries.

Murmur: Abnormal heart sound caused by improper closure of the heart valves.

Sphygmomanometer: Instrument to measure blood pressure.

SA node: Sinoatrial node, pacemaker of the heart.

Endocardium: Inner lining of the heart.

Myocardium: Muscular middle layer of the heart.

Pericardium: Double layered membrane surrounding the heart.

Cyanosis: Blue coloration of the skin and mucous membranes due to the presence

of deoxygenated hemoglobin in blood vessels near the skin surface.

Phlebotomy: Is the act of collecting blood either for testing or transfusion.

Cardiogenic shock: Inadequate circulation of blood due to primary failure of the

ventricles of the heart to function effectively.

Heart block: Failure of proper conduction of impulses from the SA node through

the AV node to the atrioventricular bundle.

Cardiac arrest: Sudden unexpected stopping of heart action.

Palpitations: Uncomfortable sensations in the chest related to cardiac arrhythmias

such as premature ventricular contractions.

Atheroma: Accumulation and swelling in artery walls that is made up of cells or cell

debris that contain lipids, calcium and a variable amount of fibrous connective tissue.

Stethoscope: Acoustic medical device for auscultation, or listening to, internal

sounds in human body.

Ischemia: Restriction in blood supply with resultant in damage or dysfunction of

tissue.

Digoxin: A drug that treats arrhythmias and strengthens the heartbeat.

Deep vein thrombosis: A blood clot forms in a large vein, usually in lower limbs.

This may result in pulmonary embolism if not treated effectively.

Thrombolytic therapy: Drugs to dissolve clots are injected into the bloodstream of

patients with coronary thrombosis.

Holter monitoring: An ECG device is worn during a 24-hour period to detect

cardiac arrhythmias.

Cardiac catheterization: A thin, flexible tube is guided into the heart via a vein or

an artery. This procedure detects pressures and patterns of blood flow in the heart.

Digital subtraction angiography: Video equipment and a computer produce x-ray

images of blood vessels. After taking an initial x-ray picture and storing it in a

computer, physicians inject contrast material and take second image of that area.

The computer compares the two images and subtracts digital data for the first from

the second leaving an image of vessels with contrast.

Heart transplantation: A donor heart is transferred to a recipient.

Percutaneous coronary intervention: A balloon tipped catheter is inserted into a

coronary artery to open the artery; stents are put in place.

Raynaud disease: Recurrent episodes of pallor and cyanosis primarily in fingers

and toes.

Aneurysm: Local widening or dilation of an arterial wall.

Peripheral vascular disease: Blockage of blood vessels outside the heart.

Vegetations: Clumps of platelets, clotting proteins, microorganisms, and red blood

cells on the endocardium in conditions such as bacterial endocarditis and rheumatic

heart disease.

Biventricular pacemaker: Device enabling ventricles to beat together in

synchrony so that more blood is pumped out of the heart.

Claudication: Pain, tension, and weakness in the legs after walking has begun, but

absence of pain at rest.

Varicose veins: Abnormally swollen and twisted veins, usually occurring in the

legs.

Flutter: Rapid but regular contractions usually of the atria.

Fibrillation: Rapid, random, inefficient, and irregular contractions of the atria and

the ventricles.

Coarctation of aorta: Narrowing of the aorta.

Patent ductus arteriosus: Congenital heart defect wherein a child’s ductus

arteriosus fails to close after birth. Ductus arteriosus is the vascular connection

between the pulmonary artery and the aortic arch.

Mitral valve prolapse: Improper closure of the mitral valve.

Pericarditis: Inflammation of the membrane (pericardium) surrounding the heart.

Endocarditis: Inflammation of the inner lining of the heart caused by bacteria.

Hypertensive heart disease: High blood pressure affecting the heart.

Rheumatic heart disease: Heart disease caused by rheumatic fever.

Echocardiography: Echoes generated by high frequency sound waves produce

image of the heart.

Positron emission tomography scan: Images show blood flow and myocardial

function following uptake of radioactive substances.

Cardioversion: Very brief discharges of electricity applied across the chest to stop

arrhythmias.

CABG: Coronary artery bypass grafting. Arteries or veins from elsewhere in the

patient’s body are grafted to the coronary arteries to bypass atherosclerotic

narrowing and improve blood supply to the coronary circulation supplying the

myocardium.

Stress test: Exercise tolerance test determines the heart’s response to physical

exertion.

Extracorporeal circulation: A heart lung machine diverts blood from the heart

and lungs while the heart is repaired.

Cardiac tamponade: Pressure on the heart caused by fluid in the pericardial space.