Cardiovascular System Disorders

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering cardiovascular anatomy, conduction system, cardiac cycle, diagnostics, heart disorders, and vascular conditions from Chapter 12.

Mediastinum

The central anatomical cavity in the thorax where the heart is located.

Endocardium

The innermost layer lining the inner chambers of the heart.

Myocardium

The muscular middle layer of the heart responsible for pumping action.

Pericardium

The outer lining surrounding the heart, which includes the pericardial sac.

Atrioventricular Valves

Valves located between the atria and ventricles, consisting of the Tricuspid valve (TV) and Mitral/bicuspid valve (MV).

Semilunar Valves

Valves that prevent backflow from arteries into the ventricles, consisting of the Pulmonic valve (PV) and Aortic valve (AV).

Sinoatrial (SA) Node

The primary pacemaker of the heart that establishes the sinus rhythm.

Atrioventricular (AV) Node

Conduction tissue located in the floor of the right atrium that receives electrical impulses from the SA node.

Purkinje Fibers

The terminal fibers of the heart's conduction system that distribute impulses to the ventricular myocardium.

P Wave

The wave on an electrocardiogram (ECG) that represents the depolarization of the atria.

QRS Wave

The wave complex on an ECG that represents the depolarization of the ventricles.

T Wave

The wave on an ECG that represents the repolarization of the ventricles.

Baroreceptors

Sensory receptors located in the aorta and internal carotid arteries that detect changes in blood pressure.

Cardiac Output (CO)

The volume of blood ejected by a ventricle in $1$ minute, calculated as $CO = SV \times HR$.

Stroke Volume (SV)

The volume of blood pumped out of a ventricle during a single contraction.

Preload

The amount or volume of blood delivered to the heart by venous return, representing the end diastolic volume in the ventricles.

Afterload

The force or resistance required to eject blood from the ventricles, determined by peripheral resistance in the arteries.

Systolic Pressure

The higher blood pressure reading exerted against arterial walls when blood is ejected from the ventricles.

Diastolic Pressure

The lower blood pressure reading representing sustained pressure in the arteries when the ventricles relax.

Auscultation

Diagnostic method of listening to heart sounds through a stethoscope to determine valvular abnormalities or abnormal shunts.

Echocardiography

Diagnostic test that uses ultrasound to record heart valve movements, blood flow, and cardiac output.

Angiography

A diagnostic imaging technique used to visualize blood flow within the coronary arteries.

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

Also known as coronary heart disease or acute coronary syndrome; a condition leading to heart failure or MI, and the leading cause of death in men and women in the U.S.

Angina Pectoris

Recurrent, intermittent brief episodes of substernal chest pain caused by transient myocardial ischemia.

Variant (Prinzmetal) Angina

A type of angina caused by coronary artery vasospasm.

Myocardial Infarction (MI)

Heart disorder resulting from total coronary artery occlusion (commonly due to atherosclerosis), causing cell necrosis.

Bradycardia

A cardiac dysrhythmia characterized by a regular but abnormally slow heart rate.

Tachycardia

A cardiac dysrhythmia characterized by a regular but abnormally rapid heart rate.

Sick Sinus Syndrome

A sinus node dysrhythmia marked by alternating bradycardia and tachycardia, often requiring a mechanical pacemaker.

Cardiac Arrest

The complete cessation of all heart activity, resulting in no impulse conduction and a flat ECG.

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

A condition where the heart is unable to pump out sufficient blood to meet the metabolic demands of the body.

Left-Sided Heart Failure

Heart failure characterized by decreased cardiac output and blood backup into pulmonary circulation, causing symptoms like shortness of breath (SOB), crackles, orthopnea, and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND).

Right-Sided Heart Failure

Heart failure characterized by blood backup into systemic circulation, leading to jugular vein distension (JVD), peripheral edema, ascites, and organomegaly.

Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP)

A valvular abnormality characterized by abnormally enlarged and floppy valve leaflets that allow regurgitation.

Osler's Nodes

Tender, subcutaneous nodules seen on the skin in patients with infective endocarditis.

Janeway Lesions

Nontender, erythematous, haemorrhagic, or pustular lesions associated with infective endocarditis.

Primary (Essential) Hypertension

Idiopathic high blood pressure consistently above $140/90\text{ mm Hg}$ with no single identifiable cause.

Secondary Hypertension

Elevated blood pressure that results directly from an underlying condition, such as renal disease, endocrine disease, or pheochromocytoma.

Pheochromocytoma

A benign tumor of the adrenal medulla that secretes hormones causing secondary hypertension.