Alterations of Cardiovascular Function

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, coronary disorders, heart failure, and pediatric congenital defects based on the lecture material.

Varicose veins

Distended, tortuous, and palpable veins in which blood has pooled, usually occurring in the saphenous vein due to trauma or gradual venous distention.

Chronic venous insufficiency

Inadequate venous return over a long period resulting from varicose veins or valvular incompetence; often leads to venous stasis ulcers.

Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS)

An oncologic emergency characterized by the progressive occlusion of the SVC, leading to venous distention and edema in the upper extremities and head, most commonly caused by bronchogenic cancer.

Vasculitis

Inflammation of blood vessels caused by infections (Hepatitis B/C, EBV, CMV), drugs (PCN, Sulfa, quinolones), or autoimmune diseases (SLE, RA).

Primary (essential) hypertension

A consistent elevation of systemic arterial blood pressure with no known cause, representing $95\%$ of hypertensive cases.

Secondary hypertension

Hypertension caused by altered hemodynamics related to an underlying primary disease (e.g., renal artery stenosis, pheochromocytosis) or drugs.

Malignant hypertension

Rapidly progressive hypertension where diastolic pressure is usually $>140\,\text{mm Hg}$, which can lead to encephalopathy.

Orthostatic (Postural) Hypotension

A decrease in systolic blood pressure by $20\,\text{mm Hg}$ or more and diastolic blood pressure by $10\,\text{mm Hg}$ or more upon standing due to a lack of normal compensation for gravitational changes.

True aneurysm

A local dilation of a vessel wall involving all three layers of the arterial wall, categorized as fusiform or circumferential.

Aortic dissection

A surgical emergency involving a tear in the intima of the aorta through which blood flows, further spreading the tear.

Embolism

A bolus of matter (such as a dislodged thrombus, air bubble, or fat aggregate) that circulates in the bloodstream and then lodges, obstructing blood flow.

Virchow triad

Three factors that contribute to venous thrombosis: venous stasis, venous endothelial damage, and hypercoagulable states.

Atherosclerosis

A form of arteriosclerosis involving the accumulation of lipid-laden macrophages in the arterial wall, leading to plaque development.

Foam cells

Macrophages that have consumed large amounts of oxidized LDL, contributing to the formation of fatty streaks and atherosclerosis progression.

Stable angina

Predictable chest pain resulting from myocardial ischemia.

Prinzmetal angina

Unpredictable chest pain, also known as variant angina, caused by myocardial ischemia.

Myocardial stunning

A temporary loss of contractile function in the heart that persists for hours to days after blood flow has been restored following an ischemic event.

Hibernating myocardium

Tissue that undergoes metabolic adaptation to prolong myocyte survival during persistent ischemia.

Troponin I

The most specific biomarker for myocardial infarction, which begins to elevate within $2$ to $4$ hours of the event.

Thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger disease)

An inflammatory disease occurring mainly in young men who smoke, which obliterates the small- and medium-sized peripheral arteries.

Raynaud phenomenon

Episodic vasospasm in the arteries of the fingers (and sometimes toes) that is secondary to other systemic diseases or conditions.

Aschoff bodies

Fibrinoid necrotic deposits found in individuals with Rheumatic fever.

Valvular Stenosis

A condition where a heart valve orifice is constricted and narrowed, impeding the forward flow of blood and increasing the workload of the preceding chamber.

Valvular Regurgitation

Also called insufficiency or incompetence; it occurs when valve leaflets fail to shut completely, permitting the backflow of blood.

Osler nodes

Painful erythematous nodules located on the pads of the fingers and toes, associated with infective endocarditis.

Janeway lesions

Nonpainful hemorrhagic lesions on the palms and soles associated with infective endocarditis.

Cardiac Tamponade

A severe and potentially fatal restriction of cardiac motion caused by the accumulation of fluid in the pericardial sac, presenting with hypotension, increased JVP, and distant heart sounds.

Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy

A common inherited heart defect characterized by a thick septal wall that can cause angina, syncope, and palpitations.

Dilated (congestive) cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy characterized by impaired systolic function leading to increased intracardiac volume and ventricular dilation.

Restrictive cardiomyopathy

A condition where the myocardium becomes rigid and noncompliant, raising filling pressures during diastole and impeding ventricular filling.

Left heart failure (Systolic)

An ejection problem where the heart is unable to generate adequate cardiac output to perfuse tissues, defined by an LVEF $<40\%$, often following an MI.

Left heart failure (Diastolic)

A filling problem where pulmonary congestion occurs despite normal stroke volume or ejection fraction, defined by an LVEF $>40\%$, caused by decreased compliance of the left ventricle.

Cor pulmonale

Right heart failure resulting from primary pulmonary disease such as COPD or pulmonary hypertension.

High output failure

An inability of the heart to supply tissues with nutrients despite adequate blood volume and normal or elevated contractility, commonly caused by anemia, sepsis, or hyperthyroidism.

First-degree heart block

A conduction disorder characterized by a constant PR interval greater than $0.2\,\text{seconds}$.

Second-degree heart block, Mobitz I (Wenckebach)

A heart block featuring progressive prolongation of the PR interval until one QRS complex is dropped, then the pattern resumes.

Atrial fibrillation

A dysrhythmia where atrial rates are $>300\,\text{bpm}$, characterized by a wavy, chaotic baseline without recognizable P waves, increasing the risk of stroke and thrombus.

Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

A pre-excitation syndrome involving an accessory pathway (bundle of Kent) that bypasses the AV node, resulting in a shortened PR interval and a Delta wave.

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)

A congenital acyanotic defect where the vessel between the pulmonary artery and aorta fails to close, resulting in a continuous machinery-type murmur.

Tetralogy of Fallot

A cyanotic syndrome involving four defects: VSD, overriding aorta, pulmonary valve stenosis, and right ventricle hypertrophy.

Coarctation of the aorta

An obstructive defect involving the narrowing of the aortic lumen, causing hypertension in the upper extremities and decreased or absent pulses in the lower extremities.

Kawasaki disease

An acute, self-limiting systemic vasculitis in children characterized by high fever, "strawberry tongue," and a high risk for coronary artery aneurysm development.