Unit 5: Alterations in Cardiac Function Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms related to alterations in cardiac function, including coronary heart disease, valvular diseases, and diseases of the endocardium and pericardium.

Coronary Heart Disease

A condition characterized by narrowing of the arterial lumen due to atherosclerosis, leading to cardiac ischemia through thrombus formation, coronary vasospasm, or endothelial cell dysfunction.

Angina Pectoris

Chest pain associated with myocardial ischemia, often caused by stenotic atherosclerotic coronary vessels.

Stable Angina

A predictable pattern of chest pain elicited by similar stimuli each time, typically relieved by rest and nitroglycerin.

Unstable Angina

Angina that may progress to acute ischemia.

Prinzmetal (Variant) Angina

Unpredictable attacks of anginal pain caused by vasospasm of the coronary arteries.

Mitral Valve Stenosis

Impairment of blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle, leading to decreased stroke volume.

Mitral Valve Regurgitation

Backflow of blood from the left ventricle to the left atrium during ventricular systole.

Mitral Valve Prolapse

Displacement (ballooning) of the mitral valve leaflets into the left atrium during ventricular systole.

Aortic Stenosis

Obstruction of aortic outflow from the left ventricle into the aorta during systole.

Aortic Regurgitation

Incompetent aortic valve allows blood to leak back from the aorta into the left ventricle during diastole.

Rheumatic Heart Disease

An acute inflammatory disease that follows infection with group A β-hemolytic streptococci, causing damage to connective tissue in joints, heart, and skin.

Infective Endocarditis

Invasion and colonization of endocardial structures by microorganisms, resulting in inflammation and vegetations.

Pericardial Effusion

Accumulation of noninflammatory fluid in the pericardial sac.

Cardiac Tamponade

Compression of the heart chambers due to fluid in the pericardial sac, impairing filling.

Acute Pericarditis

Pericardial damage from adhesions and friction between visceral and parietal pericardial layers.

Chronic Pericarditis

Pericardial sac becomes dense, nonelastic, fibrous, and scarred, constricting the heart.