Med Term Ch 11

aorta

largest artery in body

apex of heart

lower tip of heart

arteriole

small artery

artery

largest type of blood vessel, carries blood away from heart to all parts of body

atrioventricular bundle (bundle of His)

specialized muscle fibers connecting atria with ventricles and transmitting electrical impulsese between them

atrioventricular node (AV node)

specialized tissue in wall between atria, electrical impulses pass from pacemaker through AV node and bundle of His to ventricles

atrium (plural: atria)

one of two upper chambers of heart

capillary

smallest blood vessel

carbon dioxide (CO2)

waste gas released by blood cells, transported via veins to heart then to lungs for exhalation

coronary arteries

blood vessels that branch from aorta and carry oxygen rich blood to heart muscle

deoxygenated blood

oxygen poor blood

diastole

relaxation phase of heartbeat

electrocardiogram

record of electricity flowing through heart

endocardium

inner lining of heart

endothelium

innermost lining of blood vessels

mitral valve

valve between left atrium and left ventricle, bicuspid valve

murmur

abnormal swishing sound caused by improper closure of heart valves

myocardium

muscular, middle layer of heart

normal sinus rhythm

heart rhythm originating in sinoatrial node with resting rate of 60 to 100 beats/min

oxygen

gas carried by blood from lungs to heart to be pumped via arteries to all body cells

pacemaker (sinoatrial node)

specialized nervous tissue in right atrium that begins heartbeat

pericardium

double layered membrane surrounding heart

pulmonary artery

artery carrying oxygen poor blood from heart to lungs

pulmonary circulation

flow of blood from heart to lungs and back to heart

pulmonary valve

valve positioned between right ventricle and pulmonary artery

pulmonary vein

carries oxygenated blood from lungs to left atrium of heart

pulse

beat of heart as felt through walls of arteries

septum (plural: septa)

partition of wall dividing cavity

sinoatrial node (SA node)

pacemaker of heart

sphygmomanometer

instrument to measure blood pressure

systemic circulation

flow of blood from body tissue to heart and back

systole

contraction phase of heartbeat

tricuspid valve

located between right atrium and right ventricle, has three leaflets of cusps

valve

structure in veins or in heart that temporarily closes opening so blood flows in only one direction

vein

thin walled vessel that carries blood from body tissues and lungs back to heart, contains valves to prevent backflow of blood

vena cava (plural: venae cavae)

largest vein in body, superior and inferior venae cavae return blood to right atrium of heart

ventricle

one of two lower chambers of heart

venule

small vein

angi/o

vessel

aort/o

aorta

arter/o, arteri/o

artery

atri/o

atrium

brachi/o

arm

cardi/o

heart

cholesterol/o

cholesterol

coron/o

heart

cyan/o

blue

myx/o

mucus

ox/o

oxygen

pericardi/o

pericardium

phleb/o

vein

sphygm/o

pulse

steth/o

chest

thromb/o

clot

valvul/o, vlav/o

valve

vas/o, vascul/o

vassel

ven/o, ven/i

vein

ventricul/o

ventricle

angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE inhibor)

antihypertensive drug that blocks conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II and dilates blood vessels

acute coronary syndrome (ACS)

unstable angina and heart attack occurring as consequences of plaque rupture in coronary arteries

echocardiography (ECHO)

high frequency sound waves that are transmitted into chest

electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)

record of electricity flowing through heart

Hypertension (HTN)

high blood pressure

implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)

instrument helps to correct heart arrhythmia

left ventricular assist device (LVAD)

device used as a bridge to transplant

patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)

when passageway between aorta and pulmonary artery remains open (patent) after birth

percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)

surgical intervention with catheter, balloon, stents

premature ventricular contraction (PVC)

abnormal heart rhythm

technetrium (Tc)

radioactive element used in cardiac scans

transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)

ultrasound imaging of heart

tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)

drugs used to dissolve blood clots

arteriography

process of recording (xray) arteries after injecting contrast material

auscultation

listening for sounds using stethoscope

beta blocker

drug used to treat angina, hypertension, arrhythmias by closing the action of epinephrine at receptor sites on cells

biventricular pacemaker

enables ventricles to beat together so that more blood is pumped out of the heart

bruit

abnormal blowing or swishing sound heard during auscultation of artery, indication of aneurysm

calcium channel blocker

drug used to treat angina and hypertension, dilates blood vessels, stopping influx of calcium into muscle cells lining vessels

cardiac arrest

sudden, unexpected stoppage of heart action

cardiac tamponade

pressure on heart caused by fluid in pericardial space

claudication

pain, tension, weakness in leg after walking has begun, caused by blockage of arteries in lower extremities due to atherosclerosis

digoxin

drug that treats arrhythmias and strengthens heartbeat

emboli

collection of materials (clots) that travel and suddenly block vessel

embolus

clot or other material that travels to distant location

fibrillation

rapid, random, inefficient, irregular contractions of heart, cardiac arrhythmia

holter monitoring

electrocardiogram taken during daily activity

infarction

area of dead tissue

petechiae

small, pinpoint hemorrhages

raynaud disease

severe, recurrent episodes of pallor and cyanosis primarily in fingers and toes, can lead to gangrene in cool weather

raynaud phenomenon

short episodes of pallor and numbness in fingers and toes due to temporary constriction of arterioles, does not cause gangrene

serum enzymes

creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LD), aspartate transferase (AST)

statins

drugs that lower cholesterol in blood

tetralogy of fallot

congenital malformation involving four distinct heart defects

thrill

vibration felt over area of turmoil in blood flow (like an aneurysm)

heparin, aspirin

drugs used to prevent thrombosis