Cardiac Disorders

Inflammation of pericardium causing serous membranes to become roughened

Pericarditis

Large amounts of inflammitory fluid leaks into pericardial cavity; heart gets compressed and limits ability to pump

Cardiac Tamponade

The valve does not close properly and backflow of blood is permitted

Insufficient Valve

When the mitral valve bulges up into the left atrium during ventricular contraction

Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP)

Thickening of the valve flaps (caused by scar tissue or calcium deposits) causes the opening to be constricted

Valvular Stenosis

The opening between the right and left atria persists after birth. This allows blood to flow between the right and left atrium.

Patent Forman Ovale (PFO)

The opening between the pulmonary artery and the aorta persists after birth

Patent Ductus Arteriosis (PDA)

“Choked Chest,” thoracic pain caused by fleeting deficiency of blood supply to myocardium, stress-induced, physical exertion, cardiomyocytes are weakened, but do not die.

Agina Pectoris

Heart attack, prolonged corornary blockage causes cardiomyocyte death, cells are amitotic and replaced with non-contractile scar tissue, damage to left ventricle (systemic pump) is the most serious (blockage in LAD artery)

Myocardial Infraction

Irregular heart rhythm

Arrhythmia

Rapid, irregular, or out of phase contractions where control of the rhythm is taken away from the SA node by electrical activity in other heart regions

Fibrillation

An extra heart sound caused by regurgitation of the blood due to an incompetent valve

Heart Murmur

Brady = slow, heart rate slower than 60 bpm

Bradycardia

Tachy = hurry, heart rate higher than 100bpm, often promotes fibrillation

Tachycardia

Heart is an inefficient pump, blood circulation fails to meet tissue needs, caused by weakening of the myocardium from: coronary atherosclerosis (fatty buildup that clogs arteries), high blood pressure, multiple myocardial infarctions, dialated cardiomyopathy (ventricles stretch and become flabby)

Congestive Heart Failure