Assessment of the Cardiovascular System Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering cardiovascular anatomy, physiology, electrophysiology, and assessment techniques based on clinical lecture notes.

Myocardium

The muscular layer of the heart wall.

Endocardium

The inner lining of the heart.

Pericardium

The outer protective sac surrounding the heart, including the visceral and parietal layers.

Atrioventricular (AV) Valves

The heart valves that include the Tricuspid and Mitral valves.

Semilunar Valves

The heart valves that include the Pulmonic and Aortic valves.

Automaticity

The ability of the heart to generate an electrical impulse independently of stimulation by the nervous system or any other source.

Excitability

The ability of heart cells to respond to electrical stimulation.

Conductivity

The ability to pass or propagate an electrical impulse from cell to cell through the heart.

Contractility

The mechanical activity of the heart; the force of contraction (inotropic).

Cardiac Output (CO)

The amount of blood pumped out by the left ventricle in 1 minute, calculated as $\text{Cardiac Output} = \text{stroke volume} \times \text{heart rate}$.

Preload

The volume of blood in the ventricles at the end of diastole, representing the degree of myocardial stretch.

Afterload

The resistance the ventricles must pump against in order to circulate blood.

Starling’s Law of the Heart

The principle that the stroke volume of the heart increases in response to an increase in the volume of blood filling the heart ($\uparrow \text{preload} = \uparrow \text{in CO}$).

Positive Chronotropic Effect

An increase in heart rate, specifically controlled by the Sympathetic Nervous System through the release of Norepinephrine.

Orthopnea

A current health problem symptom where the patient experiences shortness of breath when lying flat.

Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea (PND)

A condition characterized by sudden shortness of breath occurring at night during sleep.

Weight

The best indicator of fluid balance, where $2.2\,lb = 1\,kg = 1\,L$ of fluid.

Precordium

The area on the chest surface directly over the heart.

Erb's Point

The area for listening to the heart located at the left 3rd intercostal space where both S1 and S2 sounds can be heard.

Troponin

A serum marker of myocardial damage which includes Troponin T and Troponin I.

Hemodynamic Monitoring

The measurement of pressure, flow, and oxygenation of blood within the CV system to identify abnormal physiology.

Central Venous Pressure (CVP)

A measurement taken via the internal jugular CVC that acts as an indicator of fluid volume.

Phlebostatic Axis

The zero point of a transducer located at the 4th intercostal space at the midaxillary line.

Point of Maximum Impulse (PMI)

The cardiac landmark identified during assessment, typically corresponding with the mitral area at the left 5th intercostal space.