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Cardiovascular System
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CardiovascularSystem

Vocabulary

TermDefinition
Cardiovascular System The primary function of the cardiovascular system is to circulate oxy-gen-rich blood throughout the body.
Heart Pumps blood throughout the body.
Blood vessels Tubes that carry blood throughout the body.
Blood Liquid that carries oxygen, nutrients, and waste.
Apex The lowest part of the exterior of the heart.
pericardium A thin, protective sac that surrounds the heart.
pericardial cavity The space between the pericardium and the epicardium.
epicardium A serous (thin, watery) layer that forms the innermost layer of the pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart.
myocardium A layer of cardiac muscle that makes up the middle of the heart.
endocardium The innermost layer that lines the four chambers (two atria and two ventricles) and covers the valves of the heart.
septum Divides the organ into the right heart and the left heart, effectively creating a double pump.
atrioventricular (AV) valves Located between the atrial and ventricular chambers in the right and left sides of the heart.
tricuspid valve The right AV valve; has three flaps
tri- Three
bicuspid (mitral) valve The left AV valve; has two flaps
semilunar valves Situated in the aorta and the other in the pulmonary artery.
pulmonary semilunar valve (or pulmonary valve) Allows blood to flow from the heart to the lungs and prevents blood from flowing backward.
aortic semilunar valve (or aortic valve) Allows blood to flow from the heart to the rest of the body and prevents blood from flowing backward.
auscultation Using a stethoscope to listen to the heart.
Circulation The heart, valves, and lungs are all involved in cardiovascular circulation.
cardiopulmonary The term for the functional interrelationship between the heart and the lungs
pulmonary circulation Blood is pumped from the heart to the lungs and then back to the heart.
right atrium Upper right heart chamber that receives blood.
superior vena cava Vein that brings blood from upper body to right atrium.
inferior vena cava Vein that brings blood from lower body to right atrium.
right ventricle Lower right heart chamber that pumps blood to lungs.
pulmonary trunk Artery that carries blood from right ventricle to lungs.
pulmonary arteries Arteries that carry blood from pulmonary trunk to lungs.
capillaries Oxygen is delivered to the body's other tissues and cells.
systemic circulation Pathway of oxygenated blood from left ventricle to body and back to right atrium.
left atrium Upper left heart chamber that receives oxygenated blood.
left ventricle Lower left heart chamber that pumps oxygenated blood to body.
arteries Carry oxygenated blood from the heart to the organs, tissues, and cells of the body.
arterioles Arterioles are small arterial branches that lead to fine blood vessels.
venules Tiny blood vessels that merge with the veins.
Veins carry oxygen-poor blood to the heart.
superior vena cava Receives blood from the head, chest, and upper extremities and empties the blood into the right atrium of the heart.
inferior vena cava Receives blood from the abdominopelvic organs and the lower extremities and empties the blood into the right atrium.
Conduction The cardiac muscle contracts spontaneously and continuously. These contractions occur through a process known as conduc-tion. Contractions occur due to the conduction of electrical current.
nodal system Responsible for electrical current conduction in the heart.
sinoatrial (SA) node The pacemaker of the heart.
atrioventricular (AV) node Helps regulate heartbeat.
bundle of His Carries electrical signals to ventricles.
bundle branches Carries signals to left and right ventricles.
Purkinje fibers Helps regulate heart muscle contraction.
systole Contraction of the ventricles
diastole relaxation of the ventricles
Blood pressure The pressure exerted by the blood against the wall of an artery or vein.
Systolic pressure A measurement of blood pressure while the heart ventricles are contracting.
Diastolic pressure A measurement of blood pressure between heartbeats-that is, when the heart is "resting" between contractions.
sphygmomanometer An instrument used to measure blood pressure.
aneurysm Localized, balloon-like dilation of a blood vessel, usually an artery.
angina Condition characterized by severe, constricting pain or pressure in the chest; often referred to as angina pectoris.
arrhythmia Irregular heartbeat
bradycardia Slow heart rate.
fibrillation Rapid, spontaneous contractions of the muscle fibers in the atria or ventricles; atrial fibrillation or ventricular fibrillation.
flutter Condition in which the atria beat more rapidly than the ventricles, causing a quivering movement; atrial flutter.
premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) Extra, abnormal heartbeats that disrupt the regular ventricular rhythm of the heart.
tachycardia Fast heart rate.
arteriosclerosis Condition of thickening, hardening, and loss of elasticity in the arterial walls.
atherosclerosis Condition of plaque buildup in the arteries.
cardiac tamponade Pathological condition in which excess fluid accumulates in the pericardium.
cardiomyopathy Condition of diseased heart muscle.
congestive heart failure (CHF) Disease resulting from reduced blood flow from the heart; characterized by weakness, breathlessness, abdominal discomfort, and edema in the lower extremities.
Normal coronary artery Supplies oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle.
Atherosclerosis Plaque buildup narrows the lumen (cavity) of the artery
Atherosclerosis increasing Plaque increasing
Atherosclerosis with blood clot Artery occluded. Myocardial infarction occurs.
coronary artery disease (CAD) Narrowing of the coronary arteries, resulting in an insufficient blood supply to the heart.
cyanosis Bluish or purplish discoloration of the skin, caused by decreased circulation of oxygen-rich blood.
embolus Mass of solid, liquid, or gas that travels through the bloodstream, causing occlusion (obstruction) of a blood vessel.
endocarditis Inflammation of the inner layer of the heart muscle.
heart murmur Abnormal sound heard during auscultation of the heart, such as a whooshing sound created by a valve not completely closing. Most heart murmurs are harmless.
hypertension Condition of higher-than-normal blood pressure.
hypotension Condition of lower-than-normal blood pressure.
mitral valve prolapse Condition in which the mitral valve between the left atrium (left upper chamber) and the left ventricle (left lower chamber) doesn't close properly; may cause blood leakage back into the left atrium.
myocardial infarction (MI) Tissue death in the heart muscle resulting from an occluded (obstructed) coronary artery; heart attack.
myocarditis Inflammation of the myocardium (muscular layer of the heart).
pericarditis Inflammation of the pericardium (sac surrounding the heart).
peripheral artery disease (PAD) Disease in which narrowing of the arteries results in decreased blood flow to the extremities, causing intermittent calf pain, called claudication during walking or exercise.
shock Clinical syndrome in which peripheral blood flow is insufficient to return blood to the heart for normal function. Shock is initially characterized by agitation; anxiety or restlessness;.
thrombophlebitis Inflammation of a vein caused by the formation of a thrombus (clot).
thrombus A blood clot that forms on the wall of a blood vessel and stays attached to the site in which it developed
varicose veins Enlarged, twisted, superficial veins, most commonly seen in the lower extremities.
Tetralogy of Fallot A congenital heart disease that affects some 5 of every 10,000 infants.
A large ventricular septal defect (VSD) A hole in the septum, causing oxygen-rich blood to mix with oxygen-poor blood.
Pulmonary stenosis Narrowing of the pulmonary valve and the pulmonary artery, causing insufficient blood flow to the lungs.
Right ventricular hypertrophy Enlargement of the muscle of the right ventricle, due to increased pressure from pumping blood to the lungs.
An overriding aorta A displaced aorta.
angiogram A radiograph test that uses a contrast agent (dye) and a camera to take pictures of the blood flow in arteries or veins.
auscultation Process of listening to the internal sounds of the body using a stethoscope.
blood pressure (BP) The pressure exerted by the blood on the wall of an artery or vein. Blood pressure is measured using a sphygmomanometer.
cardiac catheterization Passage of a tiny plastic tube into the heart through a blood vessel, usually through the femoral artery in the leg; used to diagnose heart diseases or abnormalities.
Doppler sonography, Doppler ultrasound Procedure in which blood flow and blood pressure are measured using ultrasound technology.
echocardiogram/ multigated acquisition A noninvasive diagnostic method that uses ultrasound to visualize internal cardiac structures.
electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) A record of the electrical activity of the heart.
Holter monitor A machine that continuously records cardiac rhythms.
nuclear ventriculography Noninvasive procedure in which a radioactive substance called a tracer is injected into a patient to produce images of the left or right ventricle of the heart.
positron emission tomography (PET scan) An imaging test that uses a radioactive substance called a tracer to look for disease or poor blood flow in the heart. helpful for diagnosing heart damage or Scar tissue.
pulse The rhythmic throbbing generated by contractions of the heart; detected over the major arteries of the body.
stress test A procedure that tests how efficiently the heart pumps blood
exercise stress test Method of evaluating a patient's cardiovascular fitness during exercise, usually on a treadmill.
nuclear thallium stress test Procedure in which a radioactive substance is injected into a vein near the end of a stress test to aid in identifying the sizes of the heart chambers, how well the heart is pumping blood, and whether the heart has any damaged or dead tissue.
cardioversion Procedure in which controlled electrical shocks are sent through the heart to restore normal cardiac rhythm in a patient with arrhythmia.
coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) A shunt (passageway), established surgically, that allows blood to travel from the aorta to a branch of the coronary artery at a point beyond an obstruction
defibrillation Procedure used to stop atrial or ventricular fibrillation.
endarterectomy A surgical procedure in which plaque is removed from the lining of an artery.
heart transplantation The grafting of a living heart to a patient, from a donor who was clinically brain-dead but on life support.
pacemaker An electrical device that is implanted in the chest or abdomen to control abnormal cardiac rhythms through a series of electrical discharges.
Vein graft vein removed from the leg) is stitched to the aorta and coronary artery.
Internal mammary artery graft artery relocated from chest wall.
percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) A minimally invasive procedure for opening up blocked coronary arteries, allowing blood to circulate unobstructed to the heart muscle
angiotensin-converting (ACE) inhibitor making angiotensin II, a hormone that causes blood vessels to constrict (narrow).
antianginal Medication used to prevent or alleviate angina (spasmodic chest pain).
antiarrhythmic An agent used to alleviate or prevent cardiac arrhythmia.
anticoagulant An agent used to prevent the formation of blood clots.
antihypertensive Medication used to counteract high blood pressure.
beta blocker A drug used to treat angina, hypertension, and heart rhythm disorders, as well as migraines, panic attacks, and tremors.
calcium channel blocker A drug used to dilate (widen) arteries and reduce blood pressure, making it easier for the heart to pump blood.
diuretic Medication that helps reduce excess water in the body.
hypolipidemic Medication used to reduce lipid concentrations in the blood serum (blood plasma without clotting factors).
thrombolytic Medications that help dissolve blood clots.
vasoconstrictor An agent that constricts (narrows) blood vessels, increasing blood pressure.
AV atrioventricular
BP blood pressure
bpm beats per minute
CABG coronary artery bypass graft
CAD coronary artery disease
CHF congestive heart failure
CV cardiovascular
ECG, EKG electrocardiogram
HTN hypertension
ICD implantable cardioverter defibrillator
LAD left anterior descending
MI myocardial infarction
mmHg millimeters of mercury a measure of blood pressure)
MUGA echocardiogram/ multigated acquisition
PAD peripheral artery disease
PET positron emission tomography
PTCA percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
PVCs premature ventricular contractions
SA sinoatrial
VSD ventricular septal defect
lungs Organs that bring oxygen into the body and remove carbon dioxide through breathing.
Created by: 441283
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