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midterm med term
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Aorta | The largest artery; it receives blood from the left ventricle and branches to all parts of the body |
Aortic valve | The valve at the entrance to the aorta |
Apex | The point of a cone-shaped structure; the apex of the heart is formed by the left ventricle and is pointed toward the inferior and left |
Artery | A vessel that carries blood away from the heart; all except the pulmonary and umbilical arteries carry oxygenated blood |
Arteriole | A small vessel that carries blood from the arteries into the capillaries |
Atrioventricular (av) node | A small mass in the lower septum of the right atrium that passes impulses from the sinoatrial (SA) node toward the ventricles |
Atrioventricular (AV) valve | A valve between the atrium and ventricle on the right and left sides of the heart' the right AV valve is the tricuspid valce; the left is the mitral valve |
Atrium | An entrance chamber, one of the two upper receiving chambers of the heart |
AV bundle | A band of fibers that transmits impulses from the atrioventricular (AV) node to the top of the interventricular septum; the bundle of His |
Blood pressure | The force exerted by blood against the wall of a vessel |
Bundle branches | Branches of the AV bundle that divide to the right and left sides of the interventricular septum |
Capillary | A microscopic blood vessel through which materials are exchanged between the blood and the tissues |
Cardiovascular system | The part of the circulatory system that consists of the heart and the blood vessels |
Coronary circulation | The blood vessels in the heart that provide oxygen and nourishment and remove waste products from the myocardium |
Depolarization | A change in electrical charge from the resting state in nerves or muscles |
Diastole | The relaxation phase of the heartbeat cycle |
electrocardiography (ECG) | Study of the electrical activity of the heart as detected by electrodes placed on the surface of the body; also abbreviated EKG from the German electrocardiography |
Endocardium | The thin membrane that lines the chambers of the heart and covers the valves |
Epicardium | The thin outermost layer of the heart wall |
Functional murmur | Any sound produced as the heart functions normally |
heart | The muscular organ with four chambers that contracts rhythmically to propel blood through vessels to all parts of the body |
heart rate | The number of times the heart contracts per minute, recorded as beats per minute (bpm) |
heart sounds | sounds produces as the heart functions; the two louder sounds are produced by alternate closing of the valves and are designated 51 and 52 |
inferior vena cava | the large inferior vein that brings blood low in oxygen back to the right atrium of the heart from the lower body |
left AV valve | the valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle; the mitral valve or bicuspid valve |
mitral valve | the valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle; the left AV valve or bicuspid valve |
myocardium | the thick middle layer of the heart wall composed of cardiac muscle |
pericardium | the fibrous sac that surrounds the heart |
pulmonary artery | the vessel that carries blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs |
pulmonary circuit | the system of vessels that carries blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs to be oxygenated and then back to the left side of the heart |
pulmonary veins | the vessels that carry blood from the lungs to the left side of the heart |
pulmonary valve | the valve at the entrace to the pumonary artery |
pulse | the wave of increased pressure produced in the vessels each time the ventricles contract |
Purkinje fibers | the terminal fibers of the cardiac conducting system; they carry impulses through the walls of the ventricles |
repolarization | a return of electrical charge to the resting state in nerves or muscles |
right AV valve | the valve between the right atrium and right ventricle; the tricuspid valve |
septum | a wall dividing two cavities, such as two chambers of the heart |
sinus rhythm | normal heart rhythm |
sinoatrial (SA) node | a small mass in the upper part of the right atrium that initiates the impulse for each heartbeat; the pacemaker |
Sphygmomanometer | an instrument for determining arterial blood pressure; blood pressure apparatus of cuff |
superior vena cava | the large superior vein that brings blood low in oxygen back to the right atrium from the upper body |
systemic circuit | the system of vessels that carries oxygenated blood from the left side of the heart to all tissues except the lungs and returns deoxygenated blood to the right side of the heart |
systole | the contraction phase of the heartbeat cycle |
valve | a structure that keeps fluid flowing in a forward direction |
vein | a vessel that carries blood back to the heart all except the pulmonary and umbilical veins carry blood low in oxygen |
ventricle | a small cavity, one of the two lower pumping chambers of the heart |
venule | a small vessel that carries blood from the capillaries to the veins |
vessel | a tube or duct to transport fluid |
aneurysm | a localized abnormal dilation of a blood vessel, usually an artery, caused by weakness of the vessel wall; may eventually burst |
angina pectoris | a feeling of constriction around the heart or pain that may radiate to the left arm or shoulder, usually brought on by exertion; caused by insufficient blood supply to the heart |
arrhythmia | any abnormality in the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat without rhythm; also called dysrhythmia |
arteriosclerosis | hardening of the arteries, with loss of capacity and loss of elasticity, as from fatty deposits, deposit of calcium salts, or scar tissue formation |
atherosclerosis | the development of fatty, fibrous patches in the lining of arteries, causing narrowing of the lumen and hardening of the vessel wall; the most common form of arteriosclerosis |
bradycardia | slow heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute |
cerebrovascular accident (CVA) | sudden damage to the brain resulting from reduction of blood flow; causes include atherosclerosis, embolism, thrombosis, or hemorrhage from a ruptured aneurysm; commonly called stroke |
clubbing | enlargement of the ends of the fingers and toes caused by growth of the soft tissue around the nails; seen in a variety of diseases in which there is poor peripheral circulation |
coarctation of the aorta | localized narrowing of the aorta with restriction of blood flow |
c-reactive protein (CRP) | protein produced during systemic inflammation, which may contribute to atherosclerosis high CRP levels cam indicate cardiovascular disease and its prognosis |
cyanosis | bluish discoloration of the skin caused by lack of oxygen in the blood |
deep vein thrombosis (DVT) | thrombophlebitis involving the deep veins |
diaphoresis | profuse seating |
dissecting aneurysm | an aneurysm in which blood enters the arterial wall and separates the layers; usually involves the aorta |
dyslipidemia | disorder in serum lipid levels, which is an important factor in development of atherosclerosis; includes hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, and hyperglyceridemia |
dyspnea | difficult or labored breathing |
edema | swelling of body tissues caused by the presence of excess fluid; causes include cardiovascular disturbances, kidney failure, inflammation, and malnutrition |
embolism | obstruction of a blood vessel by a blood clot or other matter carried in the circulation other solid matter from within or from outside the body |
fibrillation | spontaneous, quivering, and ineffectual contraction of muscle fibers, as in the atria of the ventricles |
heart block | an interference in the electrical conduction system of the heart resulting in arrhythmia |
hemorrhoid | a varicose vein in the rectum |
hypertension | a condition of higher-than normal blood pressure; essential hypertension has no known cause |
infarct | an area of localized tissue necrosis resulting from a blockage or a narrowing of the artery that supplies the area |
ischemia | local deficiency of blood supply caused by circulatory obstruction |
murmur | an abnormal heart sound |
myocardial infarction (MI) | localized necrosis of cardiac muscle tissue resulting from blockage or narrowing of the coronary artery that supplies that area; myocardial infarction is usually caused by formation of a thrombus in a vessel |
occlusion | a clotting off or obstruction, as of a vessel |
patent ductus arteriosus | persistence of the ductus arteriosus after birth; the ductus arteriosus is a vessel that connects the pulmonary artery to the descending aorta in the fetus to bypass the lungs |
phlebitis | inflammation of a vein |
plaque | a patch; with regard to the cardiovascular system, a deposit of fatty material and other substances on a vessel wall that impedes blood glow and may block the vessel; atheromatous plaque |
rheumatic heart disease | damage to heart valves after infection with a type of streptococcus; the antibodies produced in response to the infection produce valvular scarring usually involving the mitral valve |
septal defect | an opening in the septum between the atria or ventricles; a common cause is persistence of the foramen ovale, an opening between the atria that bypasses the lungs in fetal circulation |
shock | circulatory failure resulting in an inadequate blood supply to the tissue; cardiogenic shock is cause by heart failure; hypovolemic shock is caused by a loss of blood volume; septic shock is cause by bacterial infection |
stenosis | constriction or narrowing of an opening |
stroke | see cerebrovascular accident |
syncope | a temporary loss of consciousness caused by inadequate blood flow to the brain; fainting |
tachycardia | an abnormally rapid heart rate, usually over 100 beats per minute |
thrombophlebitis | inflammation of a vein associated with formation of a blood clot |
thrombosis | development of a blood clot within a vessel |
thrombus | a blood clot that forms within a blood vessel |
varicose vein | a twisted and swollen vein resulting from breakdown of the valves, pooling of blood, and chronic dilation of the vessel; also called varix |
ablation | removal or destruction. in cardiac ablation, a catheter is used to destroy a portion of the heart's conduction pathway to correct an arrhythmia |
angioplasty | a procedure that reopens a narrowed vessel and restoes blood flow; commonly accomplished by surgically removing plaque, inflating a balloon within the vessel, or installing a device to keep the vessel open |
artificial pacemaker | a battery-operated device that generates electrical impulses to regulate the heartbeat; it may be external or implanted, may be designed to respond to need, and may have the capacity to prevent tachycardia |
cardiopulmonary resuscitation | restoration of cardiac output and pulmonary ventilation after cardiac arrest using artificial respiration and chest compression or cardiac massage |
cardioversion | correction of an abnormal cardiac rhythm; may be accomplished pharmacologically, with antiarrhythmic drugs, or by application of eclectic current |
coronary artery bypass | surgical creation of a shunt to bypass a blocked coronary artery; the aorta is connected to a point past the obstruction with another vessel or piece of another vessel, usually the left internal mammary artery or part of the leg's saphenous vein |
coronary angiography | radiographic study of the coronary arteries after introduction of an opaque dye by means of a catheter threaded through blood vessels into the heart |
coronary calcium scan | method for visualizing vessel-narrowing calcium deposits in coronary arteries; useful for diagnosing coronary artery disease in people at moderate risk or those who have undiagnosed chest pain; also known as a heart scan |
creatine kinase MB (CKMB) | enzyme released in increase amounts from cardiac muscle cells following myocardial infarction (MI); serum assays help diagnose MI and determine the extent of muscle damage |
CT angiography (CTA) | computed tomography scan used to visualize vessels in the heart and other organs; requires only a small amount of dye injected into the arm; can rule out blocked coronary arteries that may cause a myocardial infarction in people with chest pain |
defibrillation | use of an electronic device to stop fibrillation by delivering a brief electric shock to the heart; the shock may be delivered to the surface of the chest, as by an automated implantable cardioverter defibrillator |
echocardiography | a noninvasive method that uses ultrasound to visualize internal cardiac structures |
lipoprotein | a compound protein with lipid; lipoproteins are clossified according to density as very low-denisty, and high - density; relatively higher levels of HDLs have been correlated with cardiovascular health |
percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty | dilation of a sclerotic blood vessel by means of a balloon catheter inserted into the vessel and then inflated to flatten plaque against the arterial wall |
stent | a small metal device in the shape of a coil or slotted tube that is placed inside an artery to keep the vessel open, for example after balloon angioplasty |
stress test | evaluation of physical fitness by continuous ECG monitoring during exercise; in a thallium stress test, a radioactive isotope of thallium is administered to trace blood flow through the heart during exercise |
troponin | a protein in muscle cells that regulates contractions; increased serum levels, primarily in the proms TnT and TnI, indicate recent myocardial infarction |
lymph/o | lymph, lymphatic system |
lymphaden/o | lymph node |
lymphangi/o | lymphatic vessel |
splen/o | spleen |
thym/o | thymus |
tonsil/o | tonsil |
angi/o | vessel |
vas/o, vascul/o | vessel, duct |
arter/o, arteri/o | artery |
arteriol/o | arteriole |
aort/o | aorta |
ven/o | vein |
phleb/o | vein |
cardi/o | heart |
atri/o | atrium |
ventricul/o | cavity, ventricle |
valv/o, valvul/o | valve |
endocrin/o | endocrine glands or system |
pituitar/i | pituitary gland, hypophysis |
lytic | dissolving, reducing, loosening |
mimetic | mimicking, simulating |
tropic | acting on |
anti | against |
contra | against, opposite, opposed |
counter | against, opposed |
alg/o, algi/o, algesi/o | pain |
chem/o | chemical |
hypn/o | sleep |
narc/o | stupor |
pharm, pharmac/o | drug, medicine |
tox/o, toxic/o | poison, toxin |
vas/o | vessel |
antagonist | a substance that interferes with or opposes the action of a drug |
contraindication | a factor that makes the use of a drug undesirable or dangerous |
efficacy | the power to produce a specific result; effectiveness |
phytomedicine | another name for herbal medicine |
drain | device for allowing matter to escape from a wound or cavity |
ligature | a tie or bandage, the process of binding or tying |
resection | partial excision of a structure |
stapling | in surgery, the joining of tissue by using wire staples that are pushed through the tissue and then bent |
cemtesis | punture,tap |
desis | binding, fusion |
ectomy | excision, surgical removal |
pexy | surgical fixation |
plasty | plastic repair, plastic surgery, reconstruction |
rhaphy | surgical repair, structure |
stomy | surgical creation or an opening |
tome | instument for incising |
tomy | incision, cutting |
tripsy | crushing |