The cardiovascular system

Arteries

Take blood away from the heart, small arteries are called arterioles, most carry oxygenated blood

Capillaries

Microscopic blood vessels where gas exchange occurs; allows O₂ to enter the cells and picks up CO₂ from the cells

Veins

Brings blood back to the heart, have valves , small veins are called venules, most carry deoxygenated blood

Systemic circulation

Blood flows from the left side of the heart to tissue capillaries and then to the right side of the heart 

Pulmonary circulation

Blood flows from the right side of the heart to the lung capillaries and then to left side of the heart

right atrium

blood enters here from the body

right ventricle

blood leaves here on the way to the lungs

left atrium

blood enters here from the lungs

left ventricle

blood leaves here on the way to the body

Atria

The two upper chambers of the heart and receive blood into the heart

Ventricles

the two lower chambers of the heart and send blood out of the heart

Interatrial septum

separates the two upper chambers

Interventricular septum

separates the two lower chambers

Endocardium

innermost lining of the heart wall and heart valves

myocardium

middle, muscular layer of the heart wall

pericardium

fibrous, membranous sac surrounding the heart

tricuspid valve

between the right atrium and the right ventricle

pulmonary valve

between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery

mitral valve

between the left atrium and left ventricle

aortic valve

between the left ventricle and the aorta

systole

Contraction phase, walls of right and left ventricle contract to pump blood into pulmonary artery and aorta, tricuspid and mitral valves are closed, pulmonary and aortic valves are open

diastole

Relaxation phase, ventricle walls relax and blood flows into atria from vena cava and pulmonary veins, tricuspid and mitral valves are open, pulmonary and aortic valves are closed

SA node

Primary responsibility is to initiate heartbeat, located in right atrium

AV Node

Receives electrical impulse from SA node, located in interatrial septum

bundle of His

Receives electrical impulse from AV node, located in interventricular septum

right and left bundle branches

Two divisions for impulse received from Bundle of His, located in ventricular walls, stimulates contraction of the ventricles causing blood to be pumped away from the heart

ECG/EKG = electr/o/cardi/o/gram

Record of the electrical activity of the heart

P-wave

Spread of electrical wave over the atria before contraction

QRS wave

Spread of electrical wave over the ventricles as they contract

T wave

Electrical recovery and relaxation of the ventricles

angi/o

vessel (blood)

angioplasty

surgical repair of a blood vessel

ather/o

plaque (fatty substance)

atherosclerosis

hardening of plaque

coron/o

heart (crown or circle)

coronary

pertaining to the heart

cyan

blue

cyanosis

abnormal condition of blue skin

phleb/o

vein

phlebotomy

incision of a vein

steth/o

chest

stethoscope

instrument used to examine the chest

thromb/o

clot

thrombolysis

breakdown of clots

vas/o

vessel, duct, vas deferens

vasodilation

widening of a vessel

arrythmia

abnormal heart rhythm

bradycardia

slow heart rate

atrial flutter

rapid, regular contractions of the heart; 250-350 bpm

atrial fibrillation

rapid, random, irregular contractions of the heart; 350 or more bpm

congestive heart failure

Heart is unable to pump blood out, results in more blood being received than is able to leave

coronary heart disease

Disease of the arteries surrounding the heart, usually due to atherosclerosis (deposits of plaque on the walls of the artery)

isch/-emia

to hold back + blood condition, Blood flow is decreased or stopped; usually caused by coronary artery occlusion

My/o/cardi/-al Infarction

pertaining to the muscle in the heart, Death of cardiac muscle due to lack of oxygen and blood flow to part of the heart; a heart attack

unstable angina

Symptom of chest pain at rest or chest pain of increasing frequency as a result of myocardial ischemia

embolus

Collection of material that travels to and suddenly blocks a blood vessel

Peri-/card/-itis

inflammation surrounding the heart, Inflammation of the pericardial membrane that surrounds the heart

aneurysm

Widening of an arterial wall; can rupture causing life threatening bleeding

hypertension

high blood pressure, >140/90 adults

hypotension

low blood pressure, less than normal BP

lipoproteins

LDL and HDL

LDL

low density lipoprotein <130 mg/dl is normal; high = atherosclerosis

HDL

high density lipoproteins >60ml/dl is normal

total cholesterol

<200 mg/dl is normal

cardiac biomarkers

chemicals measured in the blood that show evidence of a heart attack

doppler ultrasound

Instrument used to measure sound waves on a blood vessel.  Arteries or veins in neck, arms, or legs are examined to detect vascular occlusion (which is a blockage due to a clot)

Echocardiography (ECHO)

Sound waves are transmitted into the chest, and echoes returning from the valves, chambers and surfaces of the heart are electronically plotted and recorded.  This procedure can show the structure and movement of the heart

Sphygmomanometer

Device used to measure blood pressure

Cardiac Catheterization

Thin, flexible tube is guided into the heart through a vein or artery.  May be used to aid in diagnosis and/or treatment of heart conditions

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)

Balloon tipped catheter is inserted into a coronary artery to open the artery; stents may be placed to keep the artery open  

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Vein from another part of the body is used to replace a diseased vessel to make a detour around the blockage

pacemaker

Device used to regulate the heartbeat; may be used for slow heartbeats or atrial fibrillation

defibrillator

Machine that delivers a brief discharge of electricity applied to the skin to stop lethal arrhythmias and allow the heart to restart in a normal rhythm

cardioversion

a setting on a defibrillator that can be used to convert non-lethal arrhythmias to a normal rhythm

AF, AFib

atrial fibrillation

AV

arteriovenous, atrioventricular

BP

blood pressure

CABG

coronary artery bypass graft

CAD

coronary artery disease

Cath

catheter, catheterization

CHF

congestive heart failure

DVT

deep vein thrombosis

ECG, EKG

electrocardiogram

LV

left ventricle

MI

myocardial infarction, mitral insufficiency

PAC

premature atrial contraction

PVC

premature ventricle contraction

SA

sinoatrial

VF, VFib

ventricular fibrillation

VT

ventricular tachycardia