Med Term Ch 6 Cardiovascular System

heart

4-chambered muscular pump that circulates blood

blood

circulates nutrients and oxygen and transports waste products

blood vessels

Vessels that convey blood

arteries 

carry blood away from the heart

veins

carry blood to the heart

epicardium

innermost layer of pericardium

myocardium

middle muscular layer of the heart

endocardium

layer lines inner chambers and covers valves

atria

receives blood from veins (upper chambers)

ventricles

pumps blood to lungs and rest of body (lower chambers)

pericardium

layer around the heart

SA (sinoatrial)node

the pacemaker of the heart

systole

contraction of the ventricles

diastole

relaxation of the ventricles

blood pressure

pressure exerted by the blood against the wall of an artery/vein

pulse

throbbing of arteries generated by heart contractions

aneurysm

dilated blood vessel

angina

spasmodic chest pain caused by ischemia

Cardiac tamponade

compression of the heart due to excess fluid in pericardium

Congestive heart failure (CHF)

reduced blood flow heart

Coronary artery disease (CAD)

narrowing of the coronary arteries causing ischemia to myocardium

Atherosclerosis

plaque build up in the arteries (plaque hardening)

Arrhythmia

irregular heartbeat

shock

insufficient blood flow to the heart for normal body function

embolus

mass traveling in the blood vessel that causes an obstruction

Thrombus

blood clot in the wall of a blood vessel

heart murmur

abnormal heart sound

hypertension

high blood pressure

hypotension

low blood pressure

myocardial infection

tissue death in the heart resulting from occluded blood flow in the coronary arteries

angiogram

uses a contrast dye to with a camera to monitor blood flow in vessels

Cardiac catheterization

placement of small catheter into artery to diagnose heart disease

holter monitor

portable machine worn to record cardiac rhythms

stress test

tests how well heart is pumping

cardioversion

use of controlled electrical shock sent to the heart to restore a normal heart rhythm

Defibrillation

uses an electrical shock to stop fibrillation of the heart in an emergency

pacemaker

electrical device implanted to stimulate the heart

heart transplant

grafting a healthy donor heart to a patient

angiotensin-converting (ACE) inhibitor

used to treat hypertension

Antianginal

used to prevent or alleviate spasmodic chest pain 

Anticoagulant

prevents blood clots

antihypertensive

counteracts high blood pressure

Antiarrhythmic

prevents or alleviates abnormal heart rhythms

beta blocker

used to treat angina, hypertension, heart rhythm disorders, migraines, tremors and panic attacks

calcium channel blocker

dilates arteries and reduces BP so the heart can pump easier

diuretic

reduces excess water in body

Hypolipidemic

reduces fats/cholesterol in the blood

Thrombolytic

dissolves/breakdowns clots

Vasoconstrictor

narrows blood vessels to increase BP

Vasodilator

widens blood vessels to decrease BP

conduction

electric current in the heart that causes the myocardium to contract