Cardiology Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards for Cardiology lecture review.

Cardiology

The medical specialty that studies the anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular system.

Cardiologist

Medical specialists who use diagnostic tests, medical and surgical procedures, and drugs to treat cardiovascular diseases.

Cardiovascular System

Consists of the heart and blood vessels in a continuous, circular pathway that carries blood to and from all parts of the body.

Arteries

Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart to the body or lungs.

Veins

Blood vessels that carry blood from the body and lungs back to the heart.

Capillaries

The smallest blood vessels in the body.

Septum

The central wall that divides the heart into left and right sides.

Tricuspid Valve

One of the four valves of the heart; controls blood flow.

Pulmonary Valve

One of the four valves of the heart; controls blood flow.

Mitral (Bicuspid) Valve

One of the four valves of the heart; controls blood flow.

Aortic Valve

One of the four valves of the heart; controls blood flow.

Chordae Tendineae

Ropelike connective tissues attached to the valve leaflets that help stabilize the valves when they are closed.

Endocardium

The innermost layer of the heart that lines the atria, ventricles, and heart valves.

Myocardium

The heart muscle; responds to electrical impulses generated by a node within the heart itself.

Pericardium

The outermost layer of the heart and the membrane that surrounds the heart.

Mediastinum

The area in the thoracic cavity where the heart is located.

Lumen

The central opening in a blood vessel through which blood flows.

Arterioles

Smaller arteries that branch off from large arteries.

Venules

Small veins that merge as capillaries combine to form a large vein.

Aorta

The largest artery in the body that receives oxygenated blood from the left ventricle.

Coronary Arteries

Branch off directly from the ascending aorta to provide oxygen-rich blood to the myocardium.

Brachiocephalic Trunk

A major artery that branches off the aortic arch.

Left common carotid

A major artery that branches off the aortic arch on the left side.

Left subclavian

A major artery that branches off the aortic arch on the left side.

Axillary Artery

The artery that the subclavian artery becomes.

Brachial Artery

The artery that the axillary artery divides into, bringing oxygenated blood to the upper arm.

Radial Artery

An artery in the lower arm located on the thumb side.

Ulnar Artery

An artery in the lower arm located on the pinky side.

Thoracic Aorta

Aorta that travels inferiorly through the thoracic cavity, branching into arteries that bring blood to several organs.

Abdominal Aorta

Aorta that brings oxygenated blood to organs in the abdominopelvic cavity.

Iliac Artery

Artery located in the pelvic region that branches off the abdominal aorta; becomes the femoral artery.

Femoral Artery

Artery located in the upper leg.

Popliteal Artery

Artery located near the knee joint.

Tibial Artery

Artery located in the front and back of the lower leg.

Peroneal Artery

Artery located on the little toe side of the lower leg.

Pulmonary Arteries

They carry deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs.

Pulmonary Veins

They carry oxygenated blood from the lungs back to the heart.

Superior Vena Cava

One of the two major veins that bring blood back to the heart from the body.

Inferior Vena Cava

One of the two major veins that bring blood back to the heart from the body.

Jugular Vein

Vein that brings blood from the head to the superior vena cava.

Portal Vein

Vein that carries blood from the intestines to the liver.

Saphenous and Femoral Veins

Veins that carry blood from the leg to the groin.

Sinoatrial Node (SA Node)

Initiates the electrical impulse that begins each heartbeat.

Atrioventricular Node (AV Node)

Receives the impulse to contract from the SA node.

Systole

Contraction phase of a heartbeat.

Diastole

Resting period between contractions of the heart.

Foramen Ovale

A small opening in the septum between the atria in a fetal heart, allowing some blood to flow directly from the right atria to the left atria.

Ductus Arteriosus

A connecting blood vessel between the pulmonary trunk and the aorta in a fetal heart.

Acute Coronary Syndrome

A condition that occurs if the flow of oxygenated blood through the coronary artery to the myocardium is blocked by a blood clot or atherosclerosis.

Ischemia

Restriction in blood supply to tissues (myocardium), causing a shortage of oxygen.

Necrosis

Death of tissue due to lack of blood flow.

Myocardial Infarction

Also known as a Heart Attack; death (necrosis) of myocardial cells due to severe lack of oxygenated blood to the myocardium.

Angina Pectoris

Mild to severe chest pain caused by ischemia of the myocardium.

Cardiomyopathy

Any disease condition of the heart muscle.

Cardiomegaly

Enlargement of the heart.

Congestive Heart Failure

A chronic disease of the heart muscle in which the heart cannot pump sufficient amounts of blood.

Peripheral Edema

Swelling in the feet/ankles/legs due to fluid in the tissues.

Ascites

Fluid in the abdomen.

Pulmonary Congestion/Edema

Fluid leaking into the lungs, causing shortness of breath and coughing.

Endocarditis

Infection and inflammation of the inner lining of the heart.

Pericarditis

Infection and inflammation of the outermost layer of the heart.

Cardiac Tamponade

Fluid build up in the pericardial sac that compresses the heart to the point that it cannot pump blood to the body.

Mitral Valve Prolapse

Structural abnormality in which the leaflets of the mitral valve do not close tightly causing regurgitation of blood back into the left atrium with each contraction.

Rheumatic Heart Disease

Autoimmune response to an untreated strep throat infection that attacks the body’s own tissue including the mitral and aortic valve.

Murmur

Abnormal heart sound created by turbulence as blood leaks through a defective heart valve.

Aneurysm

Area of dilation and weakness in the wall of a blood vessel.

Arteriosclerosis

Degenerative changes over time produce hardened artery walls, reducing flexibility and increasing blood pressure.

Atherosclerosis

A specific type of arteriosclerosis where fatty deposits in the walls of the arteries restrict blood flow.

Coronary Artery Disease

Atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels.

Hyperlipidemia

High levels of lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides) in the blood.

Hypertension

Elevated blood pressure.

Hypotension

Blood pressure lower than 90/60 mm Hg.

Phlebitis

Infection or inflammation of a vein.

Raynaud Disease

A disease in which there is sudden, severe vasoconstriction of the arteries in the fingers and toes.

Varicose Veins

Enlarged, swollen, and twisting veins due to faulty valves.

Arrhythmia/Dysrhythmia

Any type of irregularity in the rate or rhythm of the heart.

Bradycardia

Slow heart rate.

Tachycardia

Fast heart rate.

Ventricular Fibrillation (V-Fib)

A very serious cardiac rhythm disturbance that prohibits the heart from pumping blood, causing collapse and cardiac arrest.

Asystole

Without a heart beat or contraction, indicating cardiac arrest.

Atrial Fibrillation

An irregular, often rapid heart rate that commonly causes poor blood flow.

Flutter

An arrhythmia in which there is a very fast but regular rhythm of the atria and ventricles.

Palpitation

The sensation that your heart has skipped a beat or added an extra beat.

Cardiac Enzymes

Blood test that measures the levels of two enzymes that are released into the blood when myocardial cells die during a myocardial infarction.

C-Reactive Protein

Blood test that measures the level of inflammation in the body, which can indicate the risk for heart disease.

Lipid Profile

Blood test that provides a comprehensive picture of the blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides.

Cardiac Stress Test

A procedure to evaluate the heart’s response to exercise in patients with chest pain, palpitations, or arrhythmias.

Electrocardiography

A procedure that records the electrical activity of the heart.

Holter Monitor

A monitor worn by the patient to document arrhythmias that occur infrequently.

Angiography

Radiologic procedure in which a radiopaque contrast dye is injected into a blood vessel to outline it.

Doppler Ultrasonography

A procedure that uses Doppler technology and sound waves to get an image of blood flow through an artery or vein.

Echocardiography

A procedure that uses ultra high-frequency sound waves to create a moving image of the heart and its chambers and valves as it contracts and relaxes.

Auscultation

Procedure that uses a stethoscope to listen to heart sounds.

Sphygmomanometer

Instrument used to measure a patient's blood pressure.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

Emergency procedure to manually preserve brain function until further measures are taken to restore spontaneous circulation and breathing in a person in cardiac arrest.

Cardioversion

A medical procedure that restores a normal heart rhythm in people with certain types of abnormal heartbeats (arrhythmias) usually using electric shocks.

Defibrillation

An emergency treatment for ventricular fibrillation and other life-threatening arrhythmias using electrical shock.

Pulse Rate

A vital sign that is measured by counting the beats per minute (BPM) by feeling the pulse.

Sclerotherapy

A medical procedure used to eliminate varicose veins and spider veins by injecting a solution directly into the vein.

Aneurysmectomy

Procedure to remove an aneurysm and repair the artery.