Med Term Chapter 10

Heart

Muscular, cone-shaped organ the size of a fist, located behind the sternum (breast bone) and between the lungs. The pumping action of the * circulates blood throughout the body. The * consists of two smaller upper chambers, the right atrium and the left atrium and two larger lower chambers, the right ventricle and the left ventricle. The right atrium receives the blood returning from the body through the veins and contracts to fill the right ventricle, which then pumps blood to the lungs. The left atrium receives the blood from the lungs and contracts to fill the left ventricle, then contracts to pump blood from the heart through the arteries to the body tissues. The atrial septum separates the atria and ventricular septum separates the ventricles

atrioventricular valves

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consist of the tricuspid and mitral valves, which lie between the right atrium and the right ventricle and the left atrium and left ventricle, respectively. Valves of the heart keep blood flowing in one direction.

semilunar valves

pulmonary and aortic valves located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery and between the left ventricle and the aorta

Pericardium

two-layer sac surrounding the heart, consisting of an external fibrous and an internal serous layer. The internal serous layer is then divided into the two parts: the outer layer, called the parietal pericardium, and the inner layer, called the epicardium. Between there is the pericardial space, which contains fluid produced by the serous layer that facilitates movement of the heart

Epicardium

outer lining covering the heart; also part of the pericardium

Myocardium

middle, thick, muscular layer of the heart

Endocardium

inner lining of the heart

blood vessels

tubelike structures that carry blood throughout the body

Arteries

blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. All *, with the exception of the pulmonary * carry oxygen and other nutrients from the heart to the body cells. The pulmonary *, in contrast, carries carbon dioxide and other waste products from the heart to the lungs

Arterioles

smallest arteries

aorta

largest artery in the body, which originates at the left ventricle, briefly ascends as the arch of the aorta, then descends through the thorax and abdomen

Veins

blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart. All veins, with the exception of the pulmonary *, carry blood containing the carbon dioxide and other waste products. The pulmonary * carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart

venae cavae

largest veins in the body. The inferior vena cava carries blood to the heart from body parts below the diaphragm, and the superior vena cava returns the blood to the heart from the upper part of the body.

Capillaries

microscopic blood vessels that connect arterioles with venules. Materials are passed between the blood and tissue through the * walls

Blood

fluid circulated through the heart, arteries, capillaries, and veins; composed of plasma and formed elements, such as erythrocytes, leukocytes, and thrombocytes (platelets)

Plasma

clear, straw-colored, liquid portion of blood in which cells are suspended. * is approximately 90% water. The other 10% is composed of solutes (dissolved substances), which include proteins, electrolytes, and vitamins. * is comprises approximately 55 % of the total blood volume

Serum

clear, watery fluid portion of the blood that remains after a clot has formed

cells (formed elements)

production of new blood * takes place in bone marrow, the spongy tissue inside some bones

Erythrocytes

red blood cells that carry oxygen

Leukocytes

white blood cells that combat infection and respond to inflammation. There are five types of white blood cells

Thrombocytes

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one of the formed elements in the blood that is responsible for aiding in the clotting process

angi/o

vessels, blood vessels

aort/o

aorta

arteri/o

artery, arteries

atri/o

atrium

cardi/o

heart

cyt/o

cell

hem/o, hemat/o

blood

lymph/o

lymph, lymphatic tissue

lymphaden/o

lymph node

my/o

muscle

myelo/o

bone marrow

phleb/o, ven/o

veins

plasm/o

plasma

splen/o

spleen

thym/o

thymus gland

valvul/o

valve

ventricul/o

ventricle

ather/o

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yellowish, fatty plaque

ech/o

sound

electr/o

electricity, electrical activity

embol/o

plug

erythr/o

red

immun/o

immune system

isch/o

deficiency, blockage

leuk/o

white

thromb/o

blood clot

Brady

slow

endo, intra

within

Pan

all, total

Peri

surrounding

Poly

many, much

Tachy

rapid, fast

Apheresis

removal

ar ic ous

pertaining to

Centesis

surgical puncture to remove fluid

Ectomy

excision, removal

Emia

in the blood

Genic

producing, originating, causing

Gram

the record, radiographic image

Grpahy

the process of producing a picture or record

Ia

diseased or abnormal state, condition of

ism

state of

Itis

inflammation

Logist

one who studies and treats

Logy

study of

Lysis

loosening, dissolution, separating

Megaly

enlargement

Oma

tumor, swelling

Osis

abnormal condition

Pathy

disease

Penia

abnormal reduction in number

plasty

surgical repair

Rrhage

excessive flow

Rrhaphy

suturing, repairing

Sclerosis

hardening

Scopy

visual examination

Stasis

control, stop, standing

Stenosis

constriction or narrowing

Us

noun suffix, no meaning

acute coronary syndrome (ACS)

sudden symptoms of insufficient blood supply to the heart indicating unstable angina or acute myocardial infarction. Rapid assessment is necessary to determine the diagnosis and treatment and to minimize heart damage

aneurysm

ballooning of a weakened portion of an arterial wall

angina pectoris

chest pain, which may radiate to the left arm and jaw, that occurs when there is an insufficient supply of blood to the heart muscle

Arrhythmia

any disturbance or abnormality in the heart's normal rhythmic pattern

cardiac arrest

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sudden cessation of cardiac output and effective circulation, which requires cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

cardiac tamponade

acute compression of the heart caused by fluid accumulation in the pericardial cavity

coronary artery disease (CAD)

condition that reduces the flow of blood through the coronary arteries to the myocardium that may progress to depriving the heart tissue sufficient oxygen and nutrients to function normally; most often caused by coronary atherosclerosis. CAD is a common cause of heart failure and myocardial infarction

cor pulmonale

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enlargement of the heart's right ventricle due to pulmonary disease

deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

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condition of thrombus in a deep vein of the body. Most often occurs in the lower extremities. A clot, or part of a clot, can break off and travel to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism.

Fibrillation

rapid, quivering, uncoordinated contractions of the atria or ventricles causing cardiac arrhythmia

heart failure (HF)

condition in which there is an inability of the heart to pump enough blood through the body to supply the tissues and organs with nutrients and oxygen

hypertensive heart disease (HHD)

disorder of the heart caused by persistent high blood pressure; it may be associated with hypertrophy (abnormal thickening of the heart muscle) or dilation of the chambers of the heart (due to thinning and stretching of the heart muscle)

intermittent claudication

condition of pain, tension, and weakness in a lib that starts when walking is begun, increases until walking is no longer possible, and then completely resolves when the patient is at rest. It is caused by reversible muscle ischemia that occurs with peripheral artery disease

mitral valve stenosis

narrowing of the mitral valve from scarring, usually caused by episodes of rheumatic fever

myocardial infarction (MI)

death (necrosis) of a portion of the myocardium caused by lack of oxygen resulting from an interrupted blood supply

peripheral artery disease (PAD)

disease of the arteries in the arms and legs, resulting in narrowing or complete obstruction of the artery. This is most commonly caused by atherosclerosis, but occasionally nu inflammatory diseases, emboli, or thrombus formation. The most common symptoms of peripheral artery disease is intermittent claudication

rheumatic heart disease

damage to the heart muscle of heart valves caused by one or more episodes of rheumatic fever

varicose veins

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distended or tortuous veins usually found in the lower extremities

artificial cardiac pacemaker

battery-powered apparatus implanted under the skin with leads placed on the heart or in the chamber of the heart; used to treat an abnormal heart rhythm, usually one that is too slow, secondary to an abnormal sinus node

automatic implantable cardiac defibrillator (AICD)

a device implanted in the body that continuously monitors the heart rhythm. If life-threatening arrhythmias occur, the device delivers an electric shock to convert the arrhythmia back to a normal rhythm