NURS1045: Module 6 Cardiovascular System

leaflets

Flat, leaf-shaped structures that comprise the valves of the heart and prevent the backflow of blood

lumen

Tubular space or channel within an organ or structure of the body; space within an artery, vein, intestine, or tube

regurgitation

Backflow or ejecting of contents through an opening

sphincters

Circular muscles found in a tubular structure or hollow organ that con- strict or dilate to regulate passage of substances through its opening

vasoconstriction

Narrowing of the lumen of a blood vessel that limits blood flow, usually as a result of diseases, medications, or physiological processes

vasodilation

Widening of the lumen of a blood vessel caused by the relaxing of the muscles of the vascular walls

viscosity

Thickness or a measure of how resistant a liquid is to flowing

aneurysm/o

aneurysm (widened blood vessel)

angi/o, vascul/o

vessel (blood or lymph)

aort/o

aorta

arteri/o

artery

arteriol/o

arteriole

atri/o

atrium

ather/o

fatty plaque

cardi/o, coron/o

heart

electr/o

electricity

embol/o

embolus (plug)

hemangi/o

blood vessel

my/o

muscle

phleb/o, ven/o

vein

scler/o

hardening; sclera

sept/o

septum

sphygm/o

pulse

sten/o

narrowing, stricture

thromb/o

blood clot

valv/o, valvul/o

valve

ventricul/o

ventricle

-cardia

heart condition

-stenosis

narrowing, stricture

brady-

slow

endo-

in, within

extra-

outside

peri-

around

trans-

across

aneurysm

Localized abnormal dilation of a vessel, usually an artery

angina

Chest pain caused by obstructions or spasms of the coronary arteries that decrease blood flow to the myocardium; also called angina pectoris

arrhythmia

Irregularity in the rate or rhythm of the heart; also called dysrhythmia

bruit

Soft, blowing sound heard on auscultation and associated valvular action, the movement of blood as it passes an obstruction, or both; also called murmur

cardiomyopathy

Disease or weakening of heart muscle that diminishes cardiac function

coarctation

Narrowing of a vessel, especially the aorta

embolism

Intravascular mass that dislodges from one part of the body and causes a blockage in another area, commonly leading to life-threatening situations

heart failure

Disorder that occurs when the heart is unable to effectively pump the quantity of blood required by the body

hyperlipidemia

Excessive amounts of lipids (cholesterol, phospholipids, and triglycerides) in the blood

hypertension

Elevated blood pressure persistently higher than 140/90 mm Hg

hypotension

Low blood pressure persistently lower than 90/60 mm Hg

mitral valve prolapse

Structural defect in which the mitral (bicuspid) valve leaflets prolapse into the left atrium during ventricular contraction (systole), resulting in in- complete closure and backflow of blood

palpitation

Sensation of an irregular heartbeat, commonly described as pounding, racing, skipping a beat, or flutter

peripheral artery disease

Common circulatory disorder characterized by a reduced flow of blood to the extremities, especially the legs, resulting in muscle cramping and pain, and commonly the result of atherosclerosis

phlebitis

Inflammation of a deep or superficial vein of the arms or legs (more commonly the legs)

rheumatic heart disease

Serious pathological condition resulting from rheumatic fever, commonly causing permanent scarring of the heart valves, especially the mitral valve

syncope

Partial or complete loss of consciousness usually caused by a decreased supply of blood to the brain; also called fainting

thrombosis

Abnormal condition in which a blood clot develops in a vessel and obstructs it at the site of its formation

electrocardiography

Procedure that graphically records the spread of electrical excitation to different parts of the heart using small metal electrodes applied to the chest, arms, and legs

cardiac biomarkers

Blood test that measures the presence and amount of several substances released by the heart when it is damaged or under stress; also called cardiac enzyme test

lipid panel

Series of blood tests (total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides) used to assess risk factors of ischemic heart disease

angiography

Procedure that records a radiographic image of the inside of a blood vessel (angiogram) after injection of a contrast medium

Doppler US

Ultrasonography used to assess the direction and speed of blood flow through blood vessels by reflecting sound waves off red blood cells; also called ultrasonography using sound pitch

myocardial perfusion imaging

Noninvasive imaging test using a radioactive tracer in conjunction with a stress test to show how well blood flows through (perfuses) the heart muscle at rest and during exercise; also called nuclear stress test

cardiac magnetic resonance imaging

Specialized MRI procedure that provides images of the heart chambers, valves, major vessels, and pericardium

magnetic resonance angiography

Type of MRI that provides highly detailed images of blood vessels

multiple-gated acquisition scan

Nuclear procedure that uses radioactive tracers to detect how effectively the heart walls move as they contract and then calculates the ejection frac- tion rate (amount of blood the ventricle can pump out in one contraction)

cardiac catheterization

Passage of a catheter into the heart through a vein or artery to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the heart

angioplasty

Endovascular procedure that reopens narrowed blood vessels to restore forward blood flow

cardiac ablation

Procedure in which a catheter is inserted through a vein in the groin and threaded to the heart to correct structural problems in the heart that cause an arrhythmia

coronary artery bypass graft

Placement of a vessel graft from another part of the body to bypass the blocked area of a coronary artery and restore blood supply to the heart muscle

implantable cardioverter defibrillator

Small, battery-powered device inserted within the chest of a patient who is at high risk for developing an arrhythmia, such as ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, or cardiac arrest; also called automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (AICD)

open heart surgery

Surgical procedure in which the sternum is cut in half vertically to open the chest and expose the heart, its valves, or the arteries

pacemaker insertion

Implantation of a battery-powered device inside the chest to control the heart rate and rhythm

defibrillation

Lifesaving emergency treatment to restart the heart in cardiorespiratory arrest by delivering high-voltage electrical current through the heart

cardioversion

Defibrillation technique using low-energy shocks to reset the heart’s rhythm back to its normal pattern

AAA

abdominal aortic aneurysm

ACE

angiotensin-converting enzyme

AED

automated external defibrillator

AICD

automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator

ARB

angiotensin II receptor blockers

AV

atrioventricular node

BP, B/P

blood pressure

CA

cancer; cardiac arrest; chronological age

CABG

coronary artery bypass graft

CAD

Coronary artery disease

CC

cardiac catheterization

CHF

congestive heart failure

CK

creatine kinase; conductive keratoplasty

CO2

carbon dioxide

CV

cardiovascular

DVT

deep vein thrombosis, deep venous thrombosis

ECG, EKG

electrocardiogram, electrocardiography

ECHO

echocardiography, echocardiography; echoencephalogram, echoencephalography

EPS

electrophysiology study

HTN

hypertension

ICD

implantable cardioverter defibrillator

LA

left atrium

LV

left ventricle

MI

myocardial infarction

MPI

myocardial perfusion imaging

MRA

magnetic resonance angiography

MRI

magnetic resonance imaging

MUGA scan

multiple-gated acquisition scan

MVP

mitral valve prolapse

O2

oxygen