ch10-cardiovascular and lymphatic System: Enrichment terms

apical pulse

Pulse felt or heard over the apex of the heart. It is measured in the fifth left
intercostal space (between the ribs) about 8 to 9 cm from the midline

cardiac output

The amount of blood pumped from the right or left ventricle per minute

Korotkoff sounds

Arterial sounds heard with a stethoscope during determination of blood
pressure with a cuff

perfusion

The passage of fluid, such as blood, through an organ or tissue

precordium

The anterior region over the heart and the lower part of the thorax; adjective, precordial

pulse pressure

The difference between systolic and diastolic pressure

stroke volume

The amount of blood ejected by the left ventricle with each beat

Valsalva maneuver

Bearing down, as in childbirth or defecation, by attempting to exhale
forcefully with the nose and throat closed. This action has an effect on the
cardiovascular system

bruit

An abnormal sound heard in auscultation

cardiac tamponade

Pathologic accumulation of fluid in the pericardial sac. May result from
pericarditis or injury to the heart or great vessels

ectopic beat

A heartbeat that originates from some part of the heart other than the SA
node

extrasystole

Premature contraction of the heart that occurs separately from the normal
beat and originates from a part of the heart other than the SA node

flutter

Very rapid (200 to 300 bpm) but regular contractions, as in the atria or the
ventricles

hypotension

A condition of lower-than-normal blood pressure

intermittent claudication

Pain in a muscle during exercise caused by inadequate blood supply. The pain disappears with rest

mitral valve prolapse

Movement of the cusps of the mitral valve into the left atrium when the
ventricles contract

occlusive vascular disease

Arteriosclerotic disease of the vessels, usually peripheral vessels

palpitation

A sensation of abnormally rapid or irregular heartbeat

pitting edema

Edema that retains the impression of a finger pressed firmly into the skin

polyarteritis nodosa

Potentially fatal collagen disease causing inflammation of small visceral arteries. Symptoms depend on the organ affected

Raynaud disease

A disorder characterized by abnormal constriction of peripheral vessels in the arms and legs on exposure to cold

regurgitation

A backward flow, such as the backflow of blood through a defective valve

subacute bacterial endocarditis (SBE)

Growth of bacteria in a heart or valves previously damaged by rheumatic fever

tetralogy of Fallot

A combination of four congenital heart abnormalities: pulmonary artery
stenosis, interventricular septal defect, displacement of the aorta to the right, and right ventricular hypertrophy

thromboangiitis obliterans

Inflammation and thrombus formation resulting in occlusion of small vessels, especially in the legs. Most common in young men and correlated with heavy smoking. Thrombotic occlusion of leg vessels may lead to gangrene of the feet. Patients show a hypersensitivity to tobacco. Also called Buerger disease

vegetation

Irregular outgrowths of bacteria on the heart valves; associated with rheumatic fever

Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome (WPW)

A cardiac arrhythmia consisting of tachycardia and a premature ventricular beat caused by an alternative conduction pathway

cardiac catheterization

Passage of a catheter into the heart through a vessel to inject a contrast
medium for imaging, diagnosing abnormalities, obtaining samples, or
measuring pressure

central venous pressure (CVP)

Pressure in the superior vena cava

cineangiocardiography

The photographic recording of fluoroscopic images of the heart and large
vessels using motion picture techniques

Doppler echocardiography

An imaging method used to study the rate and pattern of blood flow

Holter monitor

A portable device that can record up to 24 hours of an individual's ECG
readings during normal activity

homocysteine

An amino acid in the blood that at higher-than-normal levels is associated
with increased risk of cardiovascular disease

phlebotomist

Technician who specializes in drawing blood

phonocardiography

Electronic recording of heart sounds

plethysmography

Measurement of changes in the size of a part based on the amount of blood contained in or passing through it. Impedance plethysmography measures changes in electrical resistance and is used in the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis

pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP)

Pressure measured by a catheter in a branch of the pulmonary artery. It is an indirect measure of pressure in the left atrium

radionuclide heart scan

Imaging of the heart after injection of a radioactive isotope; the PYP
(pyrophosphate) scan using technetium-99 m (99mTc) is used to test for myocardial infarction because the isotope is taken up by damaged tissue; the MUGA (multigated acquisition) scan gives information on heart function

Swan–Ganz catheter

A cardiac catheter with a balloon at the tip that is used to measure pulmonary arterial pressure. It is flow-guided through a vein into the right side of the heart and then into the pulmonary artery

transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)

Use of an ultrasound transducer placed endoscopically into the esophagus to obtain images of the heart

triglyceride

Simple fat that circulates in the bloodstream

ventriculography

X-ray study of the ventricles of the heart after introduction of an opaque dye by means of a catheter

atherectomy

Removal of atheromatous plaque from the lining of a vessel. May be done by open surgery or through the lumen of the vessel

commissurotomy

Surgical incision of a scarred mitral valve to increase the size of the valve
opening

embolectomy

Surgical removal of an embolus

intraaortic balloon pump (IABP)

A mechanical assist device that consists of an inflatable balloon pump inserted through the femoral artery into the thoracic aorta. It inflates during diastole to improve coronary circulation and deflates before systole to allow blood ejection from the heart

ventricular assist device (VAD)

A pump that takes over the function of the left ventricle in delivering blood
into the systemic circuit. These devices are used to assist patients awaiting heart transplantation or those who are recovering from heart failure; most common is a left ventricular assist device (LVAD)

angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor

A drug that lowers blood pressure by blocking the formation in the blood of
angiotensin II, a substance that normally acts to increase blood pressure

angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)

A drug that blocks tissue receptors for angiotensin II; angiotensin II receptor antagonist

antiarrhythmic agent

A drug that regulates the rate and rhythm of the heartbeat

beta-adrenergic blocking agent

Drug that decreases the rate and strength of heart contractions; beta-blocker

calcium-channel blocker

Drug that controls the rate and force of heart contraction by regulating calcium entrance into the cells

Coumadin

Drug that inhibits clotting by inhibiting formation of vitamin K, a factor necessary for blood coagulation. Trade name for the generic warfarin

digitalis

A drug that slows and strengthens heart muscle contractions

diuretic

Drug that eliminates fluid by increasing the kidneys’ output of urine. Lowered blood volume decreases the heart’s workload

heparin

Substance that inhibits blood clotting by interfering with the conversion of
prothrombin to thrombin

hypolipidemic agent

Drug that lowers serum cholesterol

lidocaine

A local anesthetic that is used intravenously to treat cardiac arrhythmias

loop diuretic

Drug that increases urine output by inhibiting electrolyte reabsorption in the kidney nephrons (loops)

nitroglycerin

A drug used in the treatment of angina pectoris to dilate coronary vessels

statins

Drugs that act to lower lipids in the blood. The drug names end with -statin, such as lovastatin, pravastatin, atorvastatin

streptokinase (SK)

An enzyme used to dissolve blood clots

tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)

A drug used to dissolve blood clots. It activates production of a substance
(plasmin) in the blood that normally dissolves clots

vasodilator

A drug that widens blood vessels and improves blood flow