Ch. 19 Disorders of the Venous System

Flashcards covering key concepts related to disorders of the venous system, including definitions of terms and conditions.

Varicose veins

Abnormally dilated superficial veins due to high pressure that weakens valves.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

Formation of a blood clot in a deep vein, which can lead to serious complications like pulmonary embolism.

Venous insufficiency

Inability of veins to properly circulate blood, leading to conditions like varicose veins and edema.

Virchow’s triad

Three factors contributing to thrombosis: venous stasis, vascular damage, and hypercoagulability.

Pulmonary embolism (PE)

A blockage in the pulmonary artery usually caused by blood clots that travel to the lungs.

Tunica intima

The inner layer of a vein, consisting of endothelial cells.

Tunica media

The middle layer of a vein made of smooth muscle.

Tunica adventitia

The outer layer of a vein composed of connective tissue.

Skeletal muscle pump

Mechanism that helps veins return blood to the heart against gravity, aided by skeletal muscle contractions.

D-dimer

A blood test that measures fibrin degradation products, used to rule out DVT.

Anticoagulants

Medications used to prevent blood clot formation, important in DVT treatment.