Pathophysiology Exam 3 - Circulatory and Cardiovascular Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering peripheral vascular and cardiovascular pathophysiology based on lecture materials.

Right Heart

The right atrium, right ventricle, and associated valves; functions as the venous side of the heart receiving deoxygenated blood from the body.

Left Heart

The left atrium, left ventricle, and associated valves; functions as the arterial side of the heart delivering oxygenated blood to the body via the aorta.

Cardiac Output (CO)

The average volume of blood ejected by the left ventricle into circulation per minute, calculated as $\text{HR} \times \text{SV}$ with a normal range of $4\text{--}6\,L/min$.

Stroke Volume (SV)

The volume of blood ejected by a ventricle per contraction or heartbeat, averaging approximately $70\,mL/beat$.

Preload

The volume of blood in the ventricles at the end of diastole before contraction, determining the degree of cardiac muscle stretch.

Contractility

The intrinsic pumping ability of the cardiomyocytes to respond to electrical signals and shorten to eject blood.

Inotropic Effect

An effect on cardiac muscle contractility; positive inotropic factors increase contractility, whereas negative inotropic factors decrease it.

Afterload

Any form of vascular resistance against which a heart chamber must pump to eject blood forward.

Pulmonary Vascular Resistance (PVR)

The right ventricular afterload, representing the vascular resistance of the pulmonary artery and its branches throughout the lungs.

Systemic Vascular Resistance (SVR)

The left ventricular afterload, representing the resistance offered by the aorta and systemic arterial vasculature.

Venous Congestion

The pooling and settling of blood within peripheral veins when venous flow fails to return effectively upward to the heart.

Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)

A condition caused by incompetent leg vein valves, leading to venous backflow, elevated hydrostatic pressure, edema, skin discoloration, and stasis ulcers.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

A blood clot adhering to the wall of a deep vein, most commonly occurring in the deep veins of the legs or thighs.

Virchow's Triad

The three factors predisposing to pathologic thrombus formation: endothelial injury, stasis of blood flow, and hypercoagulability.

Pulmonary Embolus (PE)

A blockage in the pulmonary arterial bed caused by a venous clot (such as a DVT) breaking loose and traveling through the right heart into the lungs.

Vasomotor Tone

The baseline muscular state of flexibility, compliance, and contraction maintained by arterial wall smooth muscle.

Perfusion

The process of delivering oxygen and nutrients via oxygenated arterial blood flow to tissue beds throughout the body.

Intermittent Claudication

Ischemic leg muscle pain occurring during exertion and relieved by rest, caused by peripheral arterial disease.

Arteriosclerosis

A chronic disease of the arterial system characterized by abnormal thickening, hardening, and loss of elasticity of arterial walls.

Atherosclerosis

A form of arteriosclerosis where lipid deposits (atheromas) and collagen accumulate inside arterial walls to form inflammatory plaques.

Atherosclerotic Plaque

A fibrous structure with a lipid core formed within an arterial wall that protrudes into the lumen, diminishing arterial patency.

Primary Hypertension

A persistent elevation of systemic arterial pressure ($>130/80\,mmHg$) driven by complex factors including SNS overactivity, RAAS overdrive, and atherosclerosis.

Aneurysm

A localized dilation or outpouching of an arterial wall caused by structural weakening from atherosclerosis and high blood pressure.

Atrial Fibrillation (Afib)

An atrial dysrhythmia characterized by chaotic electrical activity that causes the atria to quiver ineffectively rather than contract smoothly.

Ventricular Fibrillation (Vfib)

A deadly ventricular dysrhythmia characterized by uncoordinated quivering of the ventricles, resulting in zero cardiac output.

Atrial Kick

A small, coordinated atrial contraction at the end of diastole that propels additional blood into the ventricles before systole.

Stable Angina

Predictable chest pain occurring with exertion and relieved by rest or nitroglycerin, caused by slow plaque development and established collateral circulation.

Arteriogenesis

A compensatory form of angiogenesis where new arterial branches develop around a chronically blocked coronary vessel to provide collateral flow.

Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)

A clinical spectrum of acute myocardial ischemia triggered by sudden clot formation, plaque rupture, or coronary arterial emboli.

Unstable Angina

A form of ACS caused by plaque rupture with partial coronary artery occlusion, resulting in sudden worsening chest pain or pain at rest.

Myocardial Infarction (MI)

Irreversible necrosis of myocardial cells caused by prolonged ischemia and total coronary artery occlusion.

Troponin

A specific cardiac biomarker protein released into the blood exclusively by injured and dying myocardial cells.

Valvular Stenosis

A valvular defect where a constricted, narrowed valve orifice restricts forward blood flow, generating turbulent flow and murmurs.

Valvular Incompetence

A valvular defect where a floppy valve fails to close completely during diastole or systole, allowing regurgitant backflow and generating murmurs.

Murmur

An abnormal rumbling or turbulent sound produced when blood flows improperly through stenotic or incompetent heart valves.

Left Heart Failure (LHF)

Inability of the left ventricle to pump blood forward effectively, causing decreased cardiac output and retrograde fluid backup into the pulmonary vasculature.

Right Heart Failure (RHF)

Inability of the right ventricle to pump blood forward into the lungs, causing decreased filling of the left heart and systemic venous congestion.

Cor Pulmonale

Right-sided heart failure caused specifically by elevated pulmonary vascular resistance stemming from underlying lung disease.

B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP)

A hormone secreted by the ventricles in response to fluid overload and muscle stretch; elevated serum levels serve as the diagnostic marker for heart failure.