Pathology: the Heart and Blood Vessels

arryhthmias

abnormal heart rhythms (dysrhythmias)

bradycardia and heart attack block

failure of proper conduction of impulses from the SA node through the AV node to the atrioventricular bundle ( bundle of His)

flutter

rapid but regular contraction, usually of the atria

fibrillation

very rapid, random, inefficient, and irregular contractions of the heart( 350 beats per minute)

atrial fibrillation

the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia; electrical impulses move randomly throughout the atria, causing it to quiver instead of contracting in a coordinated rhythm

ventricular fibrillations

electrical impulses move randomly throughout the ventricles

congenital heart disease

abnormalities in the heart at birth

coarctation of the aorta (CoA)

narrowing (coarctation) of the aorta

patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)

passageway (ductus arteriosus) between the aorta and the pulmonary artery remains open( patent) after birth

septal defectus

small holes in the wall between the atria or the ventricals

tetralogy of Fallot

congenital malformation involving four distinct heart defects: pulmonary artery stenosis, ventricular septal defect, shift of the aorta to the right, and hypertrophy of the right ventricle

congestive heart failure (CHF)

heart is unable to pump its required amount of blood

coronary artery disease (CAD)

disease of the arteries surrounding the heart

endocarditis

inflammation of the inner lining of the heart

hypertensive heart disease

high blood pressure affecting the heart

mitral valve prolapse (MVP)

improper closure of the mitral valve; mitral valve enlarges and prolapses into the left atrium during systole

murmur

extra heart sound, heard between normal beats

pericarditis

inflammation of the membrane (pericardium) surrounding the heart

rheumatic heart disease

heart disease caused by rheumatic fever

aneurysm

local widening (dilation) of an arterial wall

deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

blood clot (thrombus) forms in a large vein, usually in a lower limb

hypertension (HTN)

high blood pressure

peripheral arterial disease (PAD)

blockage of arteries carrying blood to the legs, arms, kidneys, and other organs

Raynaud disease

recurrent episodes of pallor and cyanosis primarily in fingers and toes

varicose veins

abnormally swollen and twisted veins, usually occurring in the legs; caused by damaged valves that fail to prevent the backflow of blood