CH14 Clinical Disorders Affecting the Cardiovascular System

anemia

reduction below normal of red blood cells, hemoglobin, or the volume of packed red cells in the blood; a symptom of various disorders

aneurysm

a sac formed by localized dilation of an artery or vein

angina pectoris

pain in the chest, caused by decreased supply of oxygen to the heart muscle; can be precipitated by increased activity or stress

arrhythmia

variation from the normal rhythm of the heartbeat

arteriosclerosis

thickening and loss of elasticity of the arterial walls, slowing the flow of blood

asystole

cardiac standstill; no heartbeat

atherosclerosis

a form of arteriosclerosis in which fats (e.g., cholesterol) are deposited on arterial walls

cardiac arrest

cessation of heart function

coarctation

stricture or narrowing of a vessel

congenitial defects

defects present at birth

cyanosis

dark, slightly bluish discoloration of the skin resulting from reduced hemoglobin in the blood

patent ductus arteriosus

birth defect; duct with an abnormal open lumen in the ductus arteriosus

tetralogy of Fallot

birth defect consisting of pulmonic stenosis, interventricular septal defect, hypertrophy of right ventricle, and transposition of the aorta

congestive heart failure (CHF)

defective blood-pumping system, marked by breathlessness and abnormal retention of sodium and water

embolism

the sudden blocking of an artery by an embolus

embolus

a foreign object (i.e., air, fat, tissue, or blood) brought by the blood and forced into a smaller vessel, thus obstructing the circulation

endocarditis

exudative and proliferative inflammation of the endocardium

fibrillation

a small, local, involuntary muscular contraction, caused by spontaneous activation of jingle muscle cells or muscle fibers

coronary thrombosis

thrombosis of a coronary artery, often leading to myocardial infarction

infarction

a localized area of ischemic necrosis owing to occlusion of the arterial supply

myocardial infarction

gross necrosis of the myocardium, caused by decreased blood supply to the area

occlusion

obstruction, a closing off of the coronary arteries, leading to a heart attack

heart block

impairment of conduction in heart excitation; often applied specifically to arterioventricular heart block

heart murmur

an auscultatory sound (soft, blowing); a periodic sound of short duration of cardiac origin; may be the result of an incompetent valve

hemophilia

a hereditary hemorrhagic condition caused by lack of one or more clotting factors

Hodgkin's disease

painless progressive enlargement of lymph nodes, spleen, and lymphoid tissue; symptoms include anorexia, lassitude, weight loss, fever, itching, night sweats, and anemia

hypertension

persistently high arterial blood pressure; causes may or may not be identifiable

ischemia

deficiency of blood in a part; caused by spasm of blood vessel, temporarily reducing blood flow

leukemia

a malignant disease of the blood-forming organs, e.g., abnormal proliferation and development of leukocytes and related cells in blood and bone marrow

myocarditis

inflammation of the myocardium

pericarditis

inflammation of the pericardium

plaque

a deposit of fatty material in the artery (atherosclerosis)

rheumatic heart disease

the most important manifestation and sequel to rheumatic fever, consisting chiefly of valvular deformities

stroke (cerebrovascular accident [CVA])

a sudden and acute vascular lesion of the brain caused by hemorrhage, embolism. thrombosis, or rupturing blood vessels

thrombophlebitis

inflammation of a vein associated with thrombus formation

transient ischemic attack (TIA)

brief interruption of circulation to a portion of the brain owing to vascular spasm, causing temporary loss of function; a precursor to CVA

varicose veins

a dilated, tortuous vein, usually in the leg, caused by a defective venous valve