Cardiovascular Terms

Aorta

largest artery in the body

Apex of the heart

lower tip of the heart

Arteriole

small artery

Artery

largest type of BV, carries blood away from the heart to all parts of the body; strong elasticity to withstand high pressure

Atrioventricular bundle (bundle of HIS)

specialized tissue in the wall between the atria and the ventricles; transmit electrical impulses between them

Atrioventricular node (AV node)

specialized tissue in the wall between the atria; electrical impulses pass from the pacemaker (SA node) through the AV node and the atrioventricular bundle towards the ventricles

Atrium

(plural atria) one of the two upper chambers of the heart

Capillary

smallest BV; materials pass to and from the bloodstream through the thin capillary walls; very delicate; carry oxygenated blood to cells

Carbon dioxide (C02)

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

Coronary arteries

BVs that branch from the aorta and carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle

Deoxygenated blood

blood that is oxygen poor

Diastole

relaxation phase of the heartbeat

Electrocardiogram

record of the electricity flowing through the heart; the electricity is represented by waves or deflections called P, QRS, or T (EKG)

Endocardium

inner lining of the heart

Endothelium

innvermost lining of BVs

Mitral valve

valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle; bicuspid valve

Murmur

abnornal swishing sound caused by improper closure of the heart valves

Myocardium

muscular, middle layer of the heart

Normal sinus rhythm

heart rhythm originating in the sinoatrial node with a rate in patients at rest of 60-100 beats per minute

Oxygen

gas that enters the blood through the lungs and travels to the heart to be pumped via arteries to all body cells

Sinoatrial (SA) Node

pacemaker; double layered membrane surrounding the heart

Pulmonary artery

artery carrying oxygen-poof blood from the heart to the lungs

Pulmonary circulation

flow of blood from the heart to the lungs and back to the heart

Pulmonary valve

valve positioned between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery

Pulmonary vein

one of two parrts of vessels carrying oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart

Pulse

beat of the heart as felt through the walls of the arteries 

Septum (plural septa)

partition or wall dividing a cavity; such as between the right and left atria (interatrial septum) and right and left ventricles (interventricular septum)

Sphygomomanometer

instrument to measure blood pressure

Systemic circulation

flow of blood from body tissue to the heart and then the heart back to body tissues 

Systole

contraction phase of the heartbeat

Tricuspid valve

located between the right atrium and the right ventricle; has three leaflet or cusps

Valve

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

Vena cava (plural venae cavae)

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

Ventricle

one of the two lower chambers of the heart

Venule

small vein

Angi/o

vessel

Aort/o

aorta

Arter/o, arteri/o

artery

Ather/o

yellowish plaque, fatty substance

Atri/o

atrium, upper heart chamber

Brachi/o

arm

Cardi/o

heart

Cholesterol/o

cholesterol (a lipid substance)

Coron/o

heart

Cyan/o

blue

Myx/o

mucus

Ox/o

oxygen

Pericardi/o

pericardium

Phleb/o

vein

Rrhythm/o

rhythm

Sphygm/o

pulse

Steth/o

chest

Thromb/o

clot

Valvul/o, valv/o

valve

Vas/o or vascul/o

vessel

Ven/o, ven/i

vein

Ventriculo/o

ventricle, lower heart chamber 

Blood components

cells (45%) and fluids (55%)

• erythrocytes

• leukocytes

• thrombocytes

  • plasma

Angiogram

procedure that records blood flow in the vessel

Arteriosclerosis

hardening of arterial wall (build up - blockages)

Endarterectomy

removal of inner wall of artery (clears things out)

Narrowed artery (stenosis)

artery isn’t blocked all the way; plaque buildip like cholesterol or fat narrows the vessel; less blood flow

Totally occluded artery (occlusion)

artery is completely blocked so theres no blood flow

Aneurysm

artery wall is weakened; vessel wall is widened and fragile; blood flows at different pressures; can cause artery to pop; this is why elasticity is super important; 

Blood flow through heart

deoxygenated blood into venae cavae - right atrium - tricuspid valve - right ventricle - pulmonary valve - pulmonary artery - lungs (to be oxygenated)

oxygenated blood into pulmonary veins - left atrium - mitral valve - left ventricle - aortic valve - aorta - rest of body

Coarctition of the aorta (CoA)

congenitall anomaly; narrowing of aorta; surgical treatment consists of removal of constricted region and end-toend anastomosis of aortic segments

Septal defects

small holes in the septa (wall) between the atria or ventricles; many close spontaneously but others require open heart surgery or less invasive catheter technique to close the hole

Tetralogy of Fallot

congenital malformation of heart involving ALL 4 of these defects:

• pulmonary artery stenosis (obstruction or narrowing)

• ventricular septal defect (hole in septum)

• shift of aorta to the right (deoxygenated blood passes through aorta)

• hypertrophy of right ventricle (had to work harder)

children with this tend to become bluish during crying or feeding

surgical interventions

Congestive heart failure (CHF)

heart is unable to pump its required amount of blood

systolic CHF - reduced ejection fraction (ventricles aren’t pumping normally so not enough blood is being pumped to the rest of the body)

diastolic CHF - ventricles can’t fully fill because they can’t relax (so blood can’t fill)

Coronary artery disease (CAD)

disease of the arteries surrounding the heart, usually the result of atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries)