Cardiovascular Terms

Congestive Heart Failure

A condition that occurs when the heart muscles do not beat adequately to supply the blood needs of the body.

Embolus

A foreign substance circulating in the bloodstream.

Hypertension

High blood pressure.

Myocardial infarction

Heart attack; occurs when a blockage in the coronary arteries cuts off the supply of blood to the heart.

Myocardium

Part of the three layers of tissue that form the heart; the thickest layer and the muscular middle layer.

Pericardium

Double-layered membrane, or sac, that covers the outside of the heart.

Endocardium

A smooth layer of cells that line the inside of the heart and is continuous with the inside of blood vessels.

Arrhythmias

Abnormal heart rhythms that can be mild to life-threatening.

Diastole

The period of rest in the cardiac cycle.

Systole

A period of ventricular contraction in the cardiac cycle.

Phlebitis

Inflammation of a vein, frequently in the leg.

Atherosclerosis

Occurs when fatty plaques are deposited on the walls of the arteries.

Arteriosclerosis

The hardening or thickening of the arterial walls, resulting in loss of elasticity and contractility.

Aneurysm

A ballooning out of, or saclike formation on an artery wall.

Varicose Veins

Dilated, swollen veins that have lost elasticity and cause stasis, or decreased blood flow.