MERGED MED TERM CARDI AND LYMPH

Atherosclerosis

A form of arterial hardening caused specifically by the buildup of plaque in the blood vessels.

Secondary hypertension

High blood pressure that is caused by another underlying disease process.

Congenital

Referring to a condition resulting from an abnormality or failure to develop correctly during prenatal development.

Lipid profile

A diagnostic blood panel that assesses the amount of fat in the blood, including total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL)

A component of blood cholesterol considered the good cholesterol, which should ideally remain elevated.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)

A component of blood cholesterol considered the bad cholesterol, which should ideally remain low.

B-type natriuretic peptide

A brain hormone measured via blood test to evaluate cardiovascular issues.

C-reactive protein (CRP)

A blood marker that, when elevated, serves as an identified risk factor for atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (CAD).

Homocysteine

An amino acid protein in the blood that is associated with a higher risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and stroke when elevated.

Creatine kinase

An enzyme released into the blood by dead myocardial cells following a myocardial infarction (MI).

Auscultation

The clinical examination method of listening to internal body sounds using a stethoscope.

Holter monitor

A continuous EKG device that records electrical activity on a digital recording unit as a patient works, plays, and rests over $24$ to $48\,\text{hours}$.

Persantine/Thallium exercise test

A diagnostic assessment for individuals unable to perform physical exercise that combines nuclear imaging with a drug that increases heart demand.

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)

A diagnostic procedure involving the insertion of a small probe into the esophagus to image the anatomy and function of heart valves.

Homans' sign

A rapid physical assessment for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) evaluated by tilting the foot back to check for calf or knee pain.

Color Doppler ultrasonography

An imaging modality utilizing high-frequency sound waves to assess cardiac valve function and display the rate of blood flow through the heart and vessels.

Thrombolysis

The process of injecting a medication specifically designed to dissolve a blood clot and reopen a blocked vessel.

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)

A procedure in which an inflatable balloon is used to reopen a plaque-filled vessel by compressing the plaque against the vessel wall.

Stent

A medical device placed within a narrowed blood vessel to prop it open and maintain patency.

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)

A surgical procedure wherein a blocked coronary vessel is bypassed using a live tissue graft, such as a vein harvested from the leg, or synthetic graft material.

Cardioversion

A procedure aimed at converting an abnormal cardiac arrhythmia back into a normal rhythm.

Palpitations

Uncomfortable sensory perceptions of rapid, irregular heartbeats.

Automated external defibrillator (AED)

An external device placed on the chest that delivers an electrical shock to restore a regular rhythm to a fibrillating heart.

Varicose veins

Superficial veins located close to the skin in the lower extremities that become dilated, swollen, and lumpy.

Beta blockers

Cardiovascular medications that decrease the effects of epinephrine and stress hormones to manage hypertension and lower myocardial workload following an infarction.

ACE inhibitors

Drugs that inhibit enzyme activity to diminish the production of angiotensin II.

Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs)

Medications that prevent angiotensin from binding to its receptors on vascular smooth muscle, promoting vasodilation.

Calcium channel blockers

Pharmaceutical agents that block the influx of calcium ions into cardiac muscle and arterial wall cells.

Chronotropic drugs

Agents that alter the rate of the heart.

Inotropic drugs

Medications that alter and control the force or strength of myocardial contractions.

Dromotropic drugs

Pharmaceuticals that influence electrical conduction speed through the atrioventricular (AV) node and heart muscle.

Anticoagulants

Medications that lower susceptibility to blood clot formation while carrying a significant risk of bleeding.

Diuretics

Drugs that act on the kidneys to promote urinary fluid excretion, reducing overall circulating fluid volume and cardiac workload.

Bradycardia

An abnormally slow heart rate measuring below $60\,\text{beats/min}$.

Tachycardia

An abnormally rapid heart rate measuring above $100\,\text{beats/min}$.

Systole

The phase of the cardiac cycle representing the contraction and ejection of blood from the heart, corresponding to the upper blood pressure number.

Diastole

The relaxation phase of the cardiac cycle, corresponding to the lower blood pressure number.

Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia (PAT)

A form of supraventricular tachycardia characterized by sudden bouts of irregular, rapid heart rates.

Ventricular fibrillation (V-fib)

A severe arrhythmia where the heart muscle merely quivers rather than pumping effectively, treatable by shock from an AED.

Humoral mechanisms

An immune line of defense relying on antibodies that bind directly to pathogens to cause their destruction.

Lymph

A clear, thin, watery fluid similar to blood plasma that travels through lymphatic vessels to transport waste and immune components.

Angi/o

Blood or lymph vessels

Aortr/o

Aorta

Arteri/o

Artery

Ather/o

Plaque, fatty substance

Brady-

Slow

Cardi/o

Heart

Coron/o

Coronary, crown

–emia

Blood, blood condition

Erythr/o

Red

Hem/o, hemat/o

Blood, relating to the blood

Leuk/o

White

Phleb/o

Vein

Tachy-

Fast, rapid

Thromb/o

Clot

Ven/o

Vein

aneurysm

A located wiak spot ot balloon-like enlargement of the wall of an artery.

angina

Severe episodes of spasmodic choking og suffocating chest pain caused by an insufficient supply of oxygen to the heart muscle

antiarrhythmic

Medication administered to control irregularitites of the heartbeat.

anticoagulant

Medication administered to slow blood clotting and to prevent new clots from forming; also known as a thrombolytic.

antihypertensive

Medication administered to lower high blood pressure.

anemia, aplastic

A marked absence of all formed blood elements.

arrhythmia

An irregularity or the loss of normal rhythm of the heartbeat; also known as dysrhythmia.

arteritis

Inflammation of an artery or arteries.

atheroma

Fatty deposit within the wall of an artery.

atherosclerosis

Hardening and narrowing of the arteries due to a buildup of cholesterol plaques.

bradycardia

An abnormally slow heartbeat.

cardiac catheterization

Placement of a catheter through a vein or artery and into the heart.

cholesterol

Lipids that travel in the blood in packages called lipoproteins

defibrillation

The use of electric shock to restore the heart's normal rhythem

diastolic

Which occurs when the ventricles are relaxed, is the lowest pressure against the walls of the blood vessels.

electrocardiogram

A record of the electrical activity of the myocardium

embolism

Blocked vessel by an embolus.

fibrillation

Rapid, random, and ineffective contractions of the heart

hemoglobin

A blood test that measures the average blood glucose level over the previous three to four months

hemostasis

To control bleeding

hypoperfusion

A deficiency of blood passing through an organ or body part.

ischemia

Deficiency in blood supply due to either the constriction or the obstruction of a blood vessel.

palpitation

An examination technique in which the examiner s hands are used to feel the texture, size, consistency, and location of certain body parts.

plaque

A solid raised area of skin that is different form the area around it and greater than $0.5\,\text{cm}$ in diameter.

systolic

Which occurs when the ventricles contract, is the highest pressure against the walls of the blood vessels.

tachycardia

An abnormally fast heartbeat.

Immune System

A group of specialized cells located throughout different parts of the body that recognize foreign substances and neutralize them.

Lymph Node

A bean-shaped lymphatic structure that filters lymph fluid entering via afferent lymphatic vessels and exiting through efferent lymphatic vessels.

Natural Active Immunity

Immunity achieved when an individual produces their own antibodies naturally in response to direct exposure to an environmental pathogen or infectious disease.

Artificial Active Immunity

Immunity stimulated by deliberate exposure to an antigenic substance, such as a killed or attenuated pathogen via vaccination or immunization, prompting the body to produce its own antibodies.

Natural Passive Immunity

Temporary immunity acquired through the natural transfer of maternal antibodies to an infant across the placenta during pregnancy and through breast milk during lactation.

Artificial Passive Immunity

Temporary immunity established by administering an injection of exogenous antibodies produced by another person or animal, such as hyperimmune serum for snake venom.

Tonsillitis

An inflammation and enlargement of the tonsils, typically characterized by redness, swelling, and purulent exudative patches.

Allograft

Tissue or an organ transplanted between genetically non-identical individuals of the same species.

Splenectomy

The surgical removal or excision of the spleen.

Lymphedema

Localized tissue swelling caused by an obstruction or impairment of lymphatic drainage, leading to an abnormal accumulation of interstitial fluid.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

A retrovirus that selectively targets and impairs host helper T cells, destroying immune competence and causing acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Mediastinum

The central interpleural compartment within the thoracic cavity located between the lungs, containing the heart, major blood vessels, trachea, and esophagus.

Endocardium

The smooth, innermost endothelial layer lining the inner chambers and valves of the heart.

Myocardium

The thick middle muscular layer of the heart wall composed of cardiac muscle fibers responsible for contractility.

Pericardium

The double-walled fibroserous membrane enveloping the heart, consisting of an outer parietal layer and an inner visceral layer (epicardium) separated by the pericardial cavity.

Sinoatrial (SA) Node

The primary physiological pacemaker of the heart located in the right atrium that spontaneously generates action potentials to trigger atrial contraction.

Systole

The phase of the cardiac cycle during which the heart muscle contracts to pump blood out of the chambers.

Diastole

The phase of the cardiac cycle during which the heart muscle relaxes and the cardiac chambers fill with blood.