Unit A 12 Phys, Key Medical Terms Associated with the Heart and Blood Vessels

Aneurysm

Term for a thin, weakened section of the wall of an artery or vein that bulges outward, forming a balloon-like sac. Common causes are atherosclerosis, syphilis, congenital blood vessel defects, and trauma.

Angiography

Name for the diagnostic procedure in which a radiopaque dye is injected through a catheter that has been introduced into a blood vessel and guided to the blood vessel to be examined. The dye flows into the appropriate blood vessel, making abnormalities such as blockages visible on x-rays. This procedure is used to study the blood vessels of the heart (coronary angiography), aorta and its branches (aortography), and blood vessels in the legs (femoral angiography).

Deep vein thrombosis

Term for the presence of a thrombus (blood clot) in a deep vein of the lower limbs. It may lead to pulmonary embolism, if the thrombus dislodges becoming an embolus and then lodges within the pulmonary arterial blood flow.

Arteriosclerosis

A general term that refers to any thickening and hardening (and loss of elasticity) of the arteries. Atherosclerosis is a specific type of this general term, but the terms are sometimes used interchangeably. Atherosclerosis refers to the buildup of fatty materials such as cholesterol in and on your artery walls (plaques), which can restrict blood flow.

Heart attack

Name of the condition that occurs when the flow of blood to the heart through a coronary artery is blocked. The blockage is most often a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances, which form a plaque in the arteries that feed the heart (coronary arteries). Sometimes, a plaque can rupture and form a clot that blocks blood flow. The interrupted blood flow can damage or destroy part of the heart muscle.

This condition is not always sudden and intense. Many heart attacks start slowly with only mild pain or discomfort.

· Pain or discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back

· Chest discomfort including squeezing, tightness, or heaviness.

· Pain that spreads from the chest to the arm, neck, or jaw

· Shortness of breath, light-headedness, tiredness, or upset stomach

· Unexplained anxiety, sweat, weakness or fatigue.

Describe the most common warning signs that a person is experiencing a heart attack.

Troponin Test

Name of the test that measures the levels of cardiac-specific troponin in the blood to help detect heart injury such as occurs with a heart attack.

This test can also be called cardiac-specific troponin I (cTnI) or cardiac-specific troponin T (cTnT).

Troponin I

Troponins are a group of proteins found in skeletal and heart (cardiac) muscle fibers that regulate muscular contraction. There are three types of troponin proteins: troponin C, troponin T, and ________________.

Troponin C

Troponins are a group of proteins found in skeletal and heart (cardiac) muscle fibers that regulate muscular contraction. There are three types of troponin proteins:_________________, troponin T, and troponin I.

Troponin T

Troponins are a group of proteins found in skeletal and heart (cardiac) muscle fibers that regulate muscular contraction. There are three types of troponin proteins: troponin C, ________________ , and troponin I.

Troponin C

Of the three troponin proteins, which one binds with calcium and moves the troponin tropomyosin complex out of the way so that the two proteins, myosin and actin, that pull the muscle fiber shorter can interact.

Troponin I

There is little or no difference in troponin C between skeletal and cardiac muscle, but the forms of _________________ and troponin T are different. Measuring the amount of cardiac-specific troponin T or ___________________ in the blood can help identify individuals who have experienced damage to their heart.

Troponin T

There is little or no difference in troponin C between skeletal and cardiac muscle, but the forms of troponin I and ________________ are different. Measuring the amount of cardiac-specific _______________________ or troponin I in the blood can help identify individuals who have experienced damage to their heart.

Stroke

A _________________ occurs when the blood supply to your brain is interrupted or reduced. This deprives your brain of oxygen and nutrients, which can cause your brain cells to die.

Ischemic strokes

Types of strokes include __________________ and Hemorrhagic strokes and are dependent on the cause of blood flow interruption.

Hemorrhagic strokes

Types of strokes include Ischemic strokes and ____________________ and are dependent on the cause of blood flow interruption.

Ischemic strokes

Name the type of strokes that occur when the arteries to your brain become narrowed or blocked, causing severely reduced blood flow (ischemia). About 85 percent of strokes are of this type. The most common forms of this type of stroke include thrombotic and embolic.

Ischemic strokes

About 85 percent of strokes are of what type?

Thrombotic stroke

The type of ischemic stroke that occurs when a stationary blood clot (thrombus) forms in one of the arteries that supply blood to your brain is called a ______________________. A clot often may be caused by fatty deposits (plaque) that build up in arteries and cause reduced blood flow (atherosclerosis) or other artery conditions

Embolic stroke

The type of ischemic stroke that occurs when a moving blood clot (embolus) or other debris forms away from your brain — commonly in your heart — and is carried by the bloodstream to lodge in narrower brain artery.

Hemorrhagic stroke

Name the type of stroke that occurs when a blood vessel in your brain leaks or ruptures (ruptured aneurysm). Brain hemorrhages can result from many conditions that affect your blood vessels, including uncontrolled high blood pressure (hypertension) and weak spots in your blood vessel walls (aneurysms). Risk factors for developing a stroke include high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, heart disease, narrowed carotid arteries, transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), diabetes, smoking, obesity, and excessive alcohol intake.

Transient ischemic attack

Term for brief episode (5 to 30 minutes) of temporary cerebral dysfunction caused by impaired blood flow to part of the brain. Also called a ministroke. Person has a brief episode of symptoms similar to those you'd have in a stroke which include dizziness, weakness, numbness, or paralysis in a limb or on one side of the body; drooping of one side of the face; slurred speech or difficulty understanding speech; or partial loss of vision. Like an ischemic stroke, this condition occurs when a temporary blood clot or debris blocks blood flow to part of your brain. This condition doesn't leave lasting symptoms because the blockage is temporary and leaves no persistent neurological deficits.

Transient ischemic attack

Name of the condition that is like an ischemic stroke but only lasts briefly (5 to 30 minutes). This condition occurs when a temporary blood clot or debris blocks blood flow to part of your brain. This condition doesn't leave lasting symptoms because the blockage is temporary and leaves no persistent neurological deficits. It is also referred to as a ministroke

TIA

Give the abbreviation for the condition that is like an ischemic stroke but only lasts briefly (5 to 30 minutes). This condition occurs when a temporary blood clot or debris blocks blood flow to part of your brain. This condition doesn't leave lasting symptoms because the blockage is temporary and leaves no persistent neurological deficits. It is also referred to as a mini stroke

Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.

Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech.

Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.

Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination.

Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

Describe the common signs and symptoms of a stroke

F.A.S.T.:

F—Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A—Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S—Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is the speech slurred or strange?

T—Time: If you see any of these signs, call 9-1-1 right away.

If you think someone may be having a stroke what is the acronym of the simple test that you can perform and describe the test.

Sphygmomanometer

Term for the blood pressure cuff and pressure gauge.

Systolic pressure

Term for the peak pressure in the arteries, which occurs near the end of the cardiac cycle when the ventricles are contracting.

Diastolic pressure

Term for the minimum pressure in the arteries, which occurs near the beginning of the cardiac cycle when the ventricles are filling with blood and not contracting.

mmHg

What are the units that blood pressure is normally measured in?

Normal

According to the American Heat Association, a blood pressure that has a systolic pressure of less than 120 and a diastolic pressure of less than 80 is categorized as _______________

Prehypertension

According to the American Heat Association, a blood pressure that has a systolic pressure between 120-139 or a diastolic pressure of 80-89 is categorized as _______________

Stage 1 hypertension

According to the American Heat Association, a blood pressure that has a systolic pressure between 140-159 or a diastolic pressure of 90-99 is categorized as _______________

Stage 2 hypertension

According to the American Heat Association, a blood pressure that has a systolic pressure 160 or higher or a diastolic pressure of 100 or higher is categorized as _______________

Hypertensive crises

According to the American Heat Association, a blood pressure that has a systolic pressure 180 or higher or a diastolic pressure of 110 or higher is categorized as _______________ and emergency care is needed.

Hypotension

Term for low blood pressure; most commonly used to describe an acute drop in blood pressure as occurs during excessive blood loss.

Orthostatic hypotension

Term for an excessive lowering of systemic blood pressure when a person goes to from a sitting or lying down position to a standing or semi erect position. Can make the person feel dizzy or lightheaded, and maybe even faint.

White coat hypertension

Term for a stress-induced syndrome found in patients who have elevated blood pressure when being examined by health-care personnel, but otherwise has normal blood pressure.

Syncope

Genal term for fainting. A sudden, temporary loss of consciousness followed by spontaneous recovery. It is usually due to decreased blood flow to the brain.

SVT

Give the abbreviation for the term that is defined as an abnormally fast heartbeat. It's a broad term that includes many forms of heart rhythm problems (heart arrhythmias) that originate above the ventricles (supraventricular) in the atria or AV node. A normal heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute. A heart rate of more than 100 beats per minute is called a tachycardia.

Vasovagal syncope

Term for the most common (80%) type of syncope that occurs when your body overreacts to triggers, such as emotional stress, trauma, pain, the sight of blood, prolonged standing and straining (such as to have a bowel movement) and being scared. The nervous system malfunctions causing your heart rate to slow and the blood vessels to vasodilate. This allows blood to pool in your legs, which lowers your blood pressure resulting in diminished blood flow to your brain, and you faint. The medulla oblongata of the brainstem malfunctions resulting in the simultaneous activation of parasympathetic nervous system (vagal) tone and deactivation term-48of sympathetic nervous system tone.

Supraventricular tachycardia

Give the term that is also referred to as paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, is defined as an abnormally fast heartbeat. It's a broad term that includes many forms of heart rhythm problems (heart arrhythmias) that originate above the ventricles (supraventricular) in the atria or AV node. A normal heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute. A heart rate of more than 100 beats per minute is called a tachycardia.

Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) can also be referred to as ________________________. The additional term means a fit, attack, or sudden increase or recurrence of symptoms.

Vagal maneuvers

Name the type of maneuvers used to treat supraventricular tachycardia or SVT. Common forms of this maneuver include carotid sinus massage, Valsalva maneuver, and diving reflex or cold water treatment.

Vagus nerve

in Vagal maneuvers, the term "vagal" refers to the ___________________ (cranial nerve X). It's a long parasympathetic nerve that runs from the brainstem (specifically the medulla oblongata) down through the chest and into the abdomen. The _______________ has several functions, including slowing the heart rate.

Parasympathetic

The term "vagal" refers to the vagus nerve (cranial nerve X). It's a long ___________________ nerve that runs from the brainstem (specifically the medulla oblongata) down through the chest and into the abdomen. The vagus nerve has several functions, including slowing the heart rate.

Baroreceptor reflex

Both carotid sinus massage & Valsalva maneuver transiently increase the arterial pressure in the carotid sinuses and the Valsalva maneuver also increases pressure in the aortic arch. This action triggers the ____________________, which is a reflex that results in increased parasympathetic output to the heart via the vagus nerve and slows heart rate.

Valsalva maneuver

Name to the specific type of maneuver that can be done by holding your nose, close your mouth, and try to exhale forcefully for about 20 seconds. Another way is forced exhalation against a closed glottis. This creates pressure in your chest that may activate the vagus nerve. Sitting or squatting may help.

Diving reflex

Name the reflex that is an autonomic response observed in marine mammals to help conserve oxygen and energy by reducing heart rate and its aerobic activity. The reflex can also be observed in humans to a minor extent. The reflex is triggered by breath-holding and cold water stimulus to the face. The impulses then stimulate vagal nerve in the brain, eventually resulting in the slowing of SA and AV nodal conduction. You can put a plastic bag of ice on your face for 15 seconds or immerse your face in icy cold water for several seconds. It might also work to take a cold shower, cold bath, or cold cloth to the face. This is also called cold water treatment.

Adenosine

Name of the drug from our key medical terms that is used to treat supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) or excessively fast heat rates, in which the AV node is part of the reentry pathway. This drug decreases heart rate and reduces conduction velocity, especially at the AV node. This drug is administered either as bolus intravenous injection or as an intravenous infusion

Adenosine receptors

The ___________________ are a class of G protein-coupled receptors in which there are four known types of these receptors in humans: A1, A2A, A2B and A3. In the cardiac pacemaker cells, adenosine's actions are mediated by its binding to A1 receptors, this causes the opening of potassium channels, which hyperpolarizes the cell, it inhibits the pacemaker current (If or "funny" current), thereby decreasing its spontaneous firing rate (negative chronotropy) and inhibition of L-type calcium channels which inhibits calcium entry into the cell and decreases conduction velocity (negative dromotropic effect) particularly at the atrioventricular (AV) node.

Potassium

The adenosine receptors are a class of G protein-coupled receptors in which there are four known types of these receptors in humans: A1, A2A, A2B and A3. In the cardiac pacemaker cells, adenosine's actions are mediated by its binding to A1 receptors, this causes the opening of ___________________ channels, which hyperpolarizes the cell, it inhibits the pacemaker current (If or "funny" current), thereby decreasing its spontaneous firing rate (negative chronotropy) and inhibition of L-type calcium channels which inhibits calcium entry into the cell and decreases conduction velocity (negative dromotropic effect) particularly at the atrioventricular (AV) node.

Premature ventricular contraction

Give the term for an occasional abnormal impulse from a ventricular ectopic pacemaker or focus. Occasionally an area of the heart, such as a Purkinje fiber, becomes overly excitable and depolarizes more rapidly than the SA node. This abnormally excitable area, an ectopic focus or ectopic pacemaker, initiates a premature action potential that spreads throughout the rest of the heart before the SA node can initiate a normal action potential (ectopic mean "out of place").

PVC

Give the abbreviation for an abnormal impulse from a ventricular ectopic pacemaker or focus. Occasionally an area of the heart, such as a Purkinje fiber, becomes overly excitable and depolarizes more rapidly than the SA node. This abnormally excitable area, an ectopic focus or ectopic pacemaker, initiates a premature action potential that spreads throughout the rest of the heart before the SA node can initiate a normal action potential (ectopic mean "out of place").

Ectopic pacemaker

Term for an area of the heart where an excitable group of cells cause a premature heart beat outside the normally functioning SA node of the heart. This abnormally excitable area initiates a premature action potential that spreads throughout the rest of the heart before the SA node can initiate a normal action potential.

PVCs

Rapid _______________ (give abbreviation) are called ventricular tachycardia (defined as four or more PVCs without intervening normal beats), also known as VT or V-tach. Such overly irritable areas may be associated with heart disease, but more frequently they occur in response to anxiety, lack of sleep, or excess caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol consumption.

Ventricular fibrillation can follow in situations of Multiple PVCs or V-tach. The resulting condition is also known as cardiac arrest, is rapidly fatal, because the heart quivers and stops pumping blood.

V-tach

Rapid PVCs are called ventricular tachycardia (defined as four or more PVCs without intervening normal beats), also known as VT or _________________. Such overly irritable areas may be associated with heart disease, but more frequently they occur in response to anxiety, lack of sleep, or excess caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol consumption.

Ventricular fibrillation can follow in situations of Multiple PVCs or V-tach. The resulting condition is also known as cardiac arrest, is rapidly fatal, because the heart quivers and stops pumping blood.

Cardiac arrest

Rapid PVCs are called ventricular tachycardia (defined as four or more PVCs without intervening normal beats), also known as VT or V-tach. Such overly irritable areas may be associated with heart disease, but more frequently they occur in response to anxiety, lack of sleep, or excess caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol consumption.

Ventricular fibrillation can follow in situations of Multiple PVCs or V-tach. The resulting condition is also known as _______________________________, is rapidly fatal, because the heart quivers and stops pumping blood.

Heart failure

Term for an abnormality of cardiac structure or function leading to the inability to pump blood sufficient amounts from the ventricles to meet metabolic needs. Impairment of ventricle’s ability to fill or eject blood.

• Causes:

– Cardiac defect from myocardial infarction or valve deficiency

– Defect outside the heart including coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension, high serum cholesterol, obesity, and diabetes

– Supraventricular dysrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.

Lower extremities

In Right-sided Heart Failure, the right ventricle fails, causing blood to back up into the venous system causing edema in the:

• ________________________________________

• Swelling within the abdomen (Ascites)

– Common causes: COPD, pulmonary hypertension, Left-sided heart failure due to increased fluid pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension) and that is ultimately transferred to the right ventricle.

Ascities

In Right-sided Heart Failure, the right ventricle fails, causing blood to back up into the venous system causing edema in the:

• Lower extremities (legs and ankles)

• Swelling within the abdomen which is called ________________________________

– Common causes: COPD, pulmonary hypertension, Left-sided heart failure due to increased fluid pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension) and that is ultimately transferred to the right ventricle.

Systolic heart failure

Left-sided heart failure can be classified as systolic or diastolic:

The most common is _______________________________ and happens when the ventricle is weak and can’t pump with enough force for proper blood flow.

– Ejection fraction is decreased

– Causes: Coronary artery disease, heart attack (MI), and hypertension.

Diastolic heart failure

Left-sided heart failure can be classified as systolic or diastolic:

The less common is _______________________________ and happens when the left ventricle is stiff and doesn’t relax normally resulting in the heart not filling properly. While blood is pushed out of the heart forcefully, not enough is pumped with each beat.

– Ejection fraction is normal but cardiac output will be less than normal.

– Causes: Cardiac hypertrophy resulting in reduced space for blood,