Capillary
smallest blood vessel
aorta
largest artery in the body
ventricle
lower chamber of the heart
tricuspid valve
valve between the right atrium and ventricle
pulmonary vein
carries blood from the lungs to the heart
superior vena cava
brings blood to heart from upper parts of the body
atrium
upper chamber of the heart
mitral valve
valve between the left atrium and ventricle. also known as the bicuspid valve
pulmonary artery
carries blood to the lungs from the heart
arteriole
small artery
sinoatrial node
The pacemaker of the heart is the ___. It starts the heart beat.
pericadium
the sac-like membrane surrounding the heart is the ___
systole
the contractive phase of the heartbeat
diastole
the relaxation phase of the heartbeat
murmur
Abnormal heart sound caused by improper closure of heart valve
arteriosclerosis
hardening of the arteries
cardiomegaly
enalrgement of the heart
thrombophlebitis
inflammation of a vein with a clot
cardiomyopathy
disease condition of heart muscle
tachycardia
condition of rapid heart beat
cyanosis
bluish coloration of the skin
heart block
failure of condition of impulse from the AV node to heart. also called an AV block.
aneurysmorrahpy
The surgical suture of the sac of an aneurysm. Also called aneurysmoplasty.
ischemia
blood held back from an area. Leads to myocardial infection. caused by thrombotic occlusion of blood vessel or coronary artery disease
atheroma
mass of plaque (cholesterol)
vasoconstriction
narrowing of a vessel
myocardial infarction
dead tissue in heart muscle
angina
chest pain
thrombotic occlusion
blockage of a vessel due to a clot
flutter
rapid but regular atrial or ventricular contractions
mitral valve prolapse
improper closure of the valve between the left atrium and ventricle during systole
coronary heart disease
bloackage of the arteries surrounding the heart leading to ischemia
hypertensive heart disease
high blood pressure affecting the heart
coarctation of the aorta
congenital narrowing of large artery leading from the heart
fibrillation
rapid, random, ineffectual, and irregular contractions of the heart
congestive heart failure
inability of the heart to pump its required amount of blood
tetralogy of fallot
congenital malformation involving four seperate heart defects
ausculation
listening with a stethoscope
vegetations
lesions that form on heart valves after damage by infection
petechiae
small, pimpoint hemorrhages
secondary hypertension
high blood pressure due to kidney disease
essential hypertensions
high blood pressure with idipathic etiology
aneurysm
local widening of an artery
claudication
pain, tension, and weakness in a limb after walking has begun
emboli
clots that travel to and suddenly block a blood vessel
HDL
high density lipoprotein
thrombyltic therapy
used to break up dangerous clots inside blood vessels
cardiac catheterization
catheter put into blood vessel to diagnose heart
SA node
sinoartial system that controls the heart rate. pacemaker of the heart that starts its beating
ECG
Electrocardiogram - record used to detect electrical changes in heart muscle as the heart beats.
sphygmonanometer
instrument to measure blood pressure
phlebotomy
incision of a vein
hypoxia
deficient in oxygen
vena cava
largest vein in the body
hypercholesterdemia
high levels of a fatty substance in the blood
interatrial septum
wall between the upper chambers of the heart
vasodilation
widening of a blood vessel
brachial artery
vessel carrying blood to the arm
atherectomy
removal of fatty plaque from a blood vessel
arterial anastomosis
new connection between two arteries
mitral valvulitis
inflammation of valve on the left side of the heart
thrombolysis
breakdown (destruction) of a blood clot
pulmonary artery
vessel carrying blood to the lungs
valvuloplasty
surgical repair of a valve
pericardiocentesis
surgical puncture to remove fluid between the membranes surrounding the heart
varicose veins near the anus
hemorrhoids
occlusion
closure / blockage of a blood vessel
angina
chest pain caused by temporary difference between supply and demand of oxygen to the heart
raynaud phenomenon
short episodes of pallor and numbness in fingers and toes due to temporary constriction
arrythmias
examples are flutter, fibrillation, and heart block
patent ductus arteriosus
small duct between the aorta and pulmonary artery, which normall closes soon after birth but remains open
congestive heart failure
the heart is unable to pump its required amount of blood; pulmonary edema may result
murmurs
extra heart sounds heard between normal beats
endocarditis
inflammation of the inner lining of the heart
aneurysm
local widening of an artery caused by weakness in the arterial wall
beta blockers
drug used to treat abnormal heart rhyhms and high blood pressure
claudication
blockage of arteries in the lower extremities due to atherosclerosis
palpitations
uncomfortable sensations in the chest
artery
takes blood AWAY from the heart
vein
takes blood to the heart
carbon dioxide
gas waste released by body cells that goes from the heart to the lungs through veins where it is then expelled
veinmyocardium
muscle layer of the heart
pulmonary
having to do with lungs
coronary
pertaining to the heart
hemorrhoids
swollen blood vessels in the rectal region
hemangioma
tumor of blood vessels
septum
wall or partition within the heart
digoxin
drug used to reduce abnormal heart rhythms
phelbitis
inflammation of a vein
endarterectomy
removal of the inner lining of an artery or even plaque
hypercholesterolemia
high levels of cholesterol int eh bloodstream
ACS
Acute coronary syndrome which includes unstable angina and myocardial infection
TEE
transesophageal echocardiography. which is a type of ultrasound imaging of the heart
hypertension
High blood presure
CCU
coronoary care unit - hospital area where acute heart conditions are treated
tPA
drug used to present thrombosis
LVAD
left ventricular assist device - used as a bridge to transplant
Tc
technetium - radioactive element used in cardiac scans
angiogram
record / x-ray of a blood vessel
aortic stenosis
narrowing of the aorta
arteriography
process of recording / x-raying arteries after injecting contrast material
atheroma
collection of fatty material in an artery
atherosclerosis
hardening of arteries with desposit of fatty substance
atrial
pertaining to upper chambers of the heart
atrioventricular
pertaining to an atrium and ventricle (upper and lower heart chambers)
brachial artery
artery that branches from the aorta to bring blood to the arm
coronary arteries
arteries that branch from the aorta to bring oxygenated blood to the heart muscle
myxoma
benign tumor of the heart (myxo = mucus). The tumor is in soft mucoidstromal tissue.
stethoscope
instrument to examine the chest
valvotomy
incision of a valve
vascular
pertaining to blood vessels
venous
pertaining to veins
venipuncture
incision of a vein for phlebotomy or to start an IV infusion
interventricular septum
the wall separating the ventricles of the heart (lower chambers)
deep vein thrombosis
blood clot forms in a large lower limb vessel