Cardio

Cardiology

The branch of medicine that deals with disorders of the heart and parts of the circulatory system.

Heart

A muscly organ that pumps blood throughout the body.

Blood

Composed of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma.

Arteries

Vessels that carry blood with oxygen away from the heart.

Veins

Vessels that carry blood without oxygen back to the heart.

Capillaries

Small blood vessels that facilitate the exchange of nutrients, oxygen, and waste products between the blood and surrounding tissues.

Circulatory System

Also known as the cardiovascular system, it plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis and ensures a steady flow of nutrients and oxygen to cells while removing waste products.

Plasma

The liquid component of blood that contains water, proteins, and salts, and transports nutrients, hormones, and proteins to the parts of the body that need it.

Red Blood Cells (RBCs)

Make up 45% of the blood and contain hemoglobin, which carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body.

White Blood Cells (WBCs)

Part of the body's immune system, they help fight off infection and other diseases.

Endocardium

The innermost layer of the heart that encloses the heart and its major vessels, keeping the heart in a stable position.

Myocardium

The middle layer of the heart that generates the force needed to circulate the blood throughout the body.

Epicardium

The outer layer of the heart that contains blood vessels and connective tissue, regenerating and nourishing the heart.

Pericardium

The protective sac surrounding the heart and its major vessels, lubricating the heart to reduce friction.

Atria

The upper chambers of the heart that receive blood from the veins and pump it into the ventricles.

Ventricles

The lower chambers of the heart that receive blood from the atria and pump it to the rest of the body.

Pulmonary Valves

Valves that open and close, allowing blood to flow into different places.

Congenital Heart Disease

Symptoms include abnormal heart rhythms, blue-tinted skin, shortness of breath, failure to feed or develop normally, and swollen body tissue or organs.

Cardiac Arrhythmia

Occurs when electrical impulses in the heart don't work properly, leading to symptoms such as fluttering in the chest, chest pain, fainting, or dizziness.

Hypertension

Also known as high blood pressure, it is the pressure of blood pushing against the walls of arteries and can be measured using a blood pressure machine.

Heart Failure

Two types include systolic heart failure (when the heart can't fill properly) and diastolic heart failure (when the heart can't pump properly).

EKG

A test that records the electrical signal from the heart to check for different heart conditions.

Echocardiogram

A test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the heart and show blood flow through the heart and heart valves.

Cardiac Catheterization

A procedure used to study the various functions of the heart or obtain diagnostic information by threading a catheter through an artery or vein into the heart.