medical terminology
structures of the heart (anatomy)
chambers, valves, septum, and major blood vessels
Three types of vessels
Arteries, Veins, Capillaries
Heart structure (layers)
epicardium , myocardium, and endocardium
epicardium
outer layer of the heart
myocardium
middle layer of the heart
endocardium
inner layer of the heart
Four heart chambers
right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, and left ventricle
Blood flow through the heart
Deoxygenated blood enters right atrium, moves to right ventricle, goes to lungs for oxygenation. Oxygenated blood returns to left atrium, then left ventricle, and is pumped to body through aorta
Pulmonary circulation
carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs and back, where it picks up oxygen and releases carbon dioxide
right ventricle
Pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs
left ventricle
Pumps oxygenated blood to the body
Pulmonary arteries
blood vessels that carry deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs for oxygenation
Pulmonary Veins
blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart
Heart valves
structures within the heart that help control the flow of blood, ensure that blood flows in one direction and prevent backflow
Conduction system of the heart
a network of specialized cardiac muscle cells that coordinate and regulate the heartbeat by generating and conducting electrical impulses
Cardiac direction of electricity
starts at the sinoatrial node and travels through the atria, atrioventricular node, bundle of HIS, bundle branches, and Purkinje fibers, causing the heart to contract and pump blood efficiently
sinoatrial node (define)
a group of cells located in the right atrium of the heart that start the electrical impulses for the heart to beat
Atrioventricular
the valves between the atria and ventricles in the heart that control blood flow by regulating electrical signals for proper heart function
Bundle of HIS
a group of specialized cardiac muscle cells responsible for transmitting electrical impulses from the AV node to the ventricles for coordinated heart contractions
Right and Left Bundle branches
part of the heart's electrical conduction system, carries impulses to the right and left ventricles
Perkinje fibers
Specialized fibers in the heart's conduction system that help transmit electrical impulses from the atrioventricular node to the ventricles, causing them to contract
Heart wave segments
(P wave, QRS complex, and T wave) represents different electrical activities during a heartbeat
Systole
the phase of the cardiac cycle when the heart muscle contracts and pumps blood out of the chambers into the arteries
Diastole
Period of heart relaxation and filling with blood, occurring between contractions, allows the chambers to refill and prepares for the next heartbeat
Normal BP
around 120/80 mmHg
Sphygmomanometer
blood pressure cuff- device used to measure blood pressure, consisting of an inflatable cuff to restrict blood flow and a gauge to measure pressure
5 contributing factors to BP
genetics, diet, physical activity, stress levels, and age
aneurysm/o
aneurysm (combining form)
angi/o
blood vessels (combining form A )
vascul/o
blood vessels (combining form V )
arteri/o
artery (combining form)
cardi/o
heart (combining form)
phleb/o
vein (combining form P )
ven/o
Vein (combining form V )
scler/o
hard (combining form)
sphygm/o
Pulse (combining form)
sten/o
constriction (combining form)
thromb/o
clot (combining form)
-cardia
heart or heart condition (word element)
brady-
slow (word element)
endo-
within or inner (word element)
peri-
around or surrounding (word element P )
trans-
around or surrounding (word element T )
Arteriosclerosis
hardening and thickening of the arteries, reducing blood flow and potentially leading to serious health issues like heart disease and stroke
Coronary Artery Disease
a condition where plaque builds up in the coronary arteries, leading to reduced blood flow to the heart muscle
Endocarditis
Inflammation of the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves, often caused by bacterial infection. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, and heart murmur
Varicose Veins
Enlarged, twisted veins, usually in the legs, caused by weakened valves and increased pressure
Aneurism
A bulge in a blood vessel wall due to weakness, potentially leading to rupture and severe complications
Angina
chest pain or discomfort caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle due to narrowed coronary arteries
Arrhythmia
Irregular heartbeat that can be too fast (tachycardia) or too slow (bradycardia), disrupting the heart's rhythm
Embolism
A sudden blockage of a blood vessel by a foreign substance such as a blood clot or air bubble, leading to tissue damage or organ malfunction
Heart Faliure
heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. Symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling
Hyperlipidemia
Excessive levels of fats in the blood, increasing the risk of heart disease
hypertension
abnormally high blood pressure
Hypotension
abnormally low blood pressure that can lead to dizziness, fainting, and inadequate blood flow to the body's organs
Orthostatic hypotension
Sudden drop in blood pressure when standing up, causing dizziness or fainting. Common in elderly or those with dehydration or certain medical conditions
Peripheral Artery Disease
A circulatory condition causing narrowed arteries, reducing blood flow to limbs, often leading to pain or numbness
Syncope
sudden, temporary loss of consciousness caused by a lack of blood flow to the brain, leading to fainting
Deep Vein Thrombosis
a blood clot forming in a deep vein, usually in the leg
Electrocardiogram and Electrocardiograph
tests that record the electrical activity of the heart to detect abnormalities
Stress test
assessment to evaluate the heart's response to physical exertion, monitoring heart activity and blood pressure
Lipid panel
Blood test measuring cholesterol levels to assess cardiovascular disease risk
Doppler US
uses sound waves to evaluate blood flow in the body to diagnose conditions like blood clots or heart valve issues
Cardiac Catheterization
procedure using a catheter to diagnose and treat heart conditions like CAD or valve issues
Angioplasty
procedure to open blocked or narrowed blood vessels, usually arteries, to improve blood flow
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
a surgical procedure to improve blood flow to the heart by bypassing blocked arteries
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator
device that monitors heart rhythm and delivers an electric shock to restore normal rhythm if needed
Defibrillation
Process of delivering an electric shock to the heart to restore normal rhythm and is used in emergencies such as cardiac arrest or life-threatening arrhythmias
Cardioversion
procedure to restore the heart's normal rhythm using electrical shocks or medications
ACE Inhbitors
Therapeutic Action: Dilates blood vessels, lowers blood pressure, and improves heart function.
Generic Name: Lisinopril, Enalapril.
Contraindications: Pregnancy, history of angioedema, severe kidney disease.
Uses: Hypertension, heart failure, post-heart attack treatment.
Antiarrhythmics
Therapeutic action: Correct abnormal heart rhythms
Generic name: Varies (e.g., amiodarone, flecainide)
Contraindications: Severe bradycardia, heart block
Uses: Atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia
Anticoagulants
Therapeutic action: Prevent blood clot formation
Generic name: Warfarin, Heparin
Contraindications: Active bleeding, recent surgery
Uses: Prevent strokes, DVT, PE
Beta blockers
Therapeutic action: Reduce heart rate and blood pressure
Generic name: Propranolol, Metoprolol
Contraindications: Bradycardia, asthma
Uses: Hypertension, angina, arrhythmias
Diuretics
Therapeutic action: Increase urine output
Generic name: Furosemide
Contraindications: Anuria, electrolyte imbalance
Uses: Edema, hypertension
Nitrates
Therapeutic action: Vasodilation (blood vessel widening)
Generic name: Nitroglycerin
Contraindications: Hypotension, severe anemia
Uses: Angina, heart failure
Statins
Therapeutic action: Lower cholesterol levels
Generic name: Atorvastatin, Simvastatin
Contraindications: Liver disease, pregnancy
Uses: Prevent heart disease, treat high cholesterol
ACE
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (abbrv)
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme
converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II, increasing blood pressure
AV
atrioventricular (abbrv)
CABG
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (abbrv)
CAD
Coronary Artery Disease (abbrv)
CC
cubic centimeter (abbrv)
cubic centimeter
(mL) used as volume measurement
Carbon dioxide
byproduct of human respiration
DVT
Deep Vein Thrombosis (abbrv)
ECG/EKG
Electrocardiogram (abbrv)
ECHO
Echocardiogram (abbrv)
Echocardiogram
a test that uses sound waves to create images of the heart's chambers, valves, and surrounding structures
HF
Heart Failure (abbrv)
HTN
hypertension (abbrv)
mmHg
Unit of pressure used in blood pressure measurements
ICD
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (abbrv)
LV
Left Ventricle (abbrv)
RV
Right Ventricle (abbrv)
LA
Left Atrium (abbrv)
Left Atrium
one of the four chambers of the heart, receives oxygenated blood from the lungs
PAD
Peripheral Arterial Disease (abbrv)
RA
Right Atrium (abbrv)
Right Atrium
one of four chambers of the heart, receives deoxygenated blood from the body
SA
sinoatrial/sinoatrial node (abrv)