Comprehensive Study Notes on Cardiology

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and definitions related to cardiology, focusing on concepts, terms, and important conditions related to the cardiovascular system.

Cardiology

The study of the cardiovascular system, involving the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases and conditions.

Cardiologists

Medical professionals who specialize in treating conditions such as coronary artery disease, congenital heart defects, and myocardial infarction.

Cardiovascular system

A system consisting of the heart and blood vessels.

Arteries

Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.

Veins

Blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart.

Capillaries

Tiny blood vessels where the exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and waste occurs with tissues.

Myocardium

The muscular tissue of the heart responsible for pumping blood.

Endocardium

The thin layer of tissue that lines the heart and reduces friction.

Atria

The upper chambers of the heart that receive blood.

Ventricles

The lower chambers of the heart that pump blood.

Valves

Structures in the heart that control the flow of blood between chambers and into arteries.

Systolic pressure

The top number in a blood pressure reading, indicating pressure in blood vessels while the heart is contracting.

Diastolic pressure

The bottom number in a blood pressure reading, indicating pressure in blood vessels while the heart is relaxing.

Arrhythmia

An irregular heartbeat that can affect the heart's ability to pump blood.

Congestive heart failure (CHF)

A condition in which the heart is unable to pump blood forcefully enough, leading to reduced blood flow and symptoms like weakness and dyspnea.

Cardiac arrest

The complete stoppage of all heart activity.

Myocardial infarction (MI)

A heart attack; an infarct of heart muscle caused by blocked coronary arteries.

Atherosclerosis

A condition involving the hardening and narrowing of the arteries due to plaque build-up.

Hypertension (HTN)

High blood pressure, typically defined as a systolic pressure above 130 mmHg or diastolic pressure above 80 mmHg.

Defibrillation

The process of using an electrical device to restore a normal heartbeat.

Varicose veins

Swollen and distended veins, often found in the legs, caused by valve failure.

Aneurysm

Localized widening of an artery due to a weakness in the arterial wall.

Arrhythmia

An irregular heartbeat.

Auscultation

The act of listening to sounds within the body, such as the heart or lungs, typically using a stethoscope.

Blood pressure (BP)

A measurement of the pressure exerted by blood against the walls of a blood vessel.

Systolic pressure

The top number, representing pressure while the heart is contracting.

Diastolic pressure

The bottom number, representing pressure while the heart is relaxing.

Bradycardia

An abnormally slow heart rate, defined as being below 60 beats per minute (bpm).

Infarct

An area of tissue necrosis (death) that develops due to ischemia.

Lumen

The channel inside a blood vessel that carries the blood.

Myocardial ischemia

Loss of blood supply to the heart muscle tissue (myocardium) due to the occlusion of a coronary artery.

Occlusion

The blockage of a blood vessel or another hollow structure.

Tachycardia

An abnormally fast heart rate, defined as being greater than 100 bpm.

Bacterial endocarditis

Inflammation of the inner lining of the heart (endocardium) caused by bacteria.

Congenital septal defect (CSD)

A birth defect in the wall separating the chambers of the heart, allowing blood to pass between them.

Congestive heart failure (CHF)

A condition where the heart muscle cannot pump blood forcefully enough, leading to weakness, dyspnea, and edema.

Coronary artery disease (CAD)

Chronic heart disease caused by arteriosclerosis or atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

The formation of blood clots in deep veins, most commonly in the legs.

Fibrillation

Abnormal quivering or contractions of heart fibers.

Heart murmur

An abnormal heart sound, such as a soft blowing sound or a harsh click.

Heart valve prolapse

Occurs when heart valve cusps are too loose and fail to shut tightly, allowing blood to flow backward (regurgitation).

Heart valve stenosis

Occurs when heart valve cusps are too stiff and unable to open fully.

Hypertension (HTN)

Blood pressure that is consistently above the normal range (usually above 130/80 mmHg).

Hypotension

Blood pressure that is lower than 90/60 mmHg.

Myocardial infarction (MI)

An infarct of the heart muscle caused by the occlusion of one or more coronary arteries; commonly known as a heart attack.

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD)

Disease of the blood vessels away from the central region of the body, typically in the legs.

Varicose veins

Swollen and distended veins, most commonly found in the legs.

Cardiac biomarkers

Complex proteins, such as creatine kinase (CK) and troponin, released by heart muscle when it is damaged.

Cardiac catheterization (heart cath)

The passage of a thin tube through veins or arteries into the heart to detect abnormalities or collect samples.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

A combination of external chest compressions and rescue breathing used during cardiac arrest.

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)

Open-heart surgery where a blood vessel is grafted to route blood around an occluded coronary artery.

Defibrillation

The use of an electrical shock to convert an arrhythmia back to a normal heartbeat; also called cardioversion.

Doppler ultrasonography

An imaging technique using ultrasound to evaluate blood flow and heart muscle movement.

Electrocardiography (ECG/EKG)

A procedure that records the electrical activity of the heart.

Endarterectomy

The surgical removal of the inner lining of an artery to remove plaques.

Holter monitor

A portable EKG monitor worn for several hours or days to assess heart activity during daily life.

Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)

An implanted device that applies a shock to the heart to stop life-threatening arrhythmias.

Pacemaker

An electrical device used to artificially stimulate heart muscle contraction, typically to treat bradycardia.

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)

A method for treating narrowed coronary arteries using a balloon catheter to dilate the vessel.

Sphygmomanometer

An instrument used for measuring blood pressure.

Stent

A stainless steel tube placed within a blood vessel to widen the lumen.

Stress test

A method for evaluating cardiovascular fitness, often involving a treadmill (exercise stress test) or drugs (chemical stress test).

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)

A procedure where the patient swallows an ultrasound head to better visualize internal heart structures.

Venipuncture

Puncturing a vein to withdraw blood or inject fluids.

Antilipidemic

Medication that reduces the amount of cholesterol and lipids in the bloodstream.

Antiplatelet agent

Medication that inhibits the ability of platelets to clump together.

Beta-blocker drugs

Medications used to treat hypertension and angina by lowering the heart rate.

Intravascular thrombolytic therapy

The use of 'clot-buster' drugs, such as streptokinase (SK) or tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), to dissolve clots.