week 9 - heart

cardiomyopathy

Any disease that affects the heart muscle, diminishing cardiac performance

carditis

Inflammation of the layers of the heart

fibrillation

Quivering or spontaneous contraction of individual muscle fibers

hemoglobin

The iron-containing pigment of red blood cells (RBCs) that carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues

ischemia

A temporary deficiency of blood flow to an organ or tissue

murmur

An abnormal sound or extra beat heard when listening to the heart or neighboring large blood vessels

myocardial infarction

Death of tissue from deprivation of its blood supply or the loss of living heart muscle as a result of coronary artery occlusion.

palpitation

A sensation of rapid or irregular beating of the heart

pericardium

The membranous fibroserous sac enclosing the heart and the bases of the great vessels

tachycardia

An abnormally rapid heart rate, greater than 100 beats per minute (bpm) in adults

angiography

Diagnostic or therapeutic radiography of the heart and blood vessels with a radiopaque contrast medium

arrhythmia

Irregularity or loss of rhythm, esp. of the heart

anemia

A reduction in the mass of circulating red blood cells

bradycardia

A slow heartbeat marked by a pulse rate below 60 beats per minute in an adult

arteriosclerosis

A disease of the arterial vessels marked by thickening, hardening, and loss of elasticity in the arterial walls

asystole

Cardiac standstill; absence of electrical activity and contractions of the heart evidenced on the surface electrocardiogram as a flat (isoelectric) line during cardiac arrest

angioplasty

Any endovascular procedure that reopens narrowed blood vessels and restores forward blood flow

Atherosclerosis

The most common form of arteriosclerosis, marked by cholesterol-lipid-calcium deposits in the walls of arteries that may restrict blood flow

aneurysm

Localized abnormal dilatation of a blood vessel, usually an artery, due to a congenital defect or weakness in the wall of the vessel

angina pectoris

An oppressive pain or pressure in the chest caused by inadequate blood flow and oxygenation to heart muscle