Chapter 5: The Cardiovascular System

ACE inhibitor

blocks the action of the enzyme that causes the blood vessels to contract resulting in hypertension

anemia

a lower than normal number of erythrocytes in the blood

aneurysm

a localized weak spot, or balloon-like enlargement, of the wall of an artery

aneurysmectomy

the surgical removal of an aneurysm

aneurysmorrhaphy

the surgical suturing of an aneurysm

angiitis

the inflammation of a blood or lymph vessel

angina

a condition of episodes of severe chest pain due to inadequate blood flow to the myocardium

angiography

a radiographic study of the blood vessels after the injection of a contrast medium

angiostenosis

the abnormal narrowing of a blood vessel

antiarrhythmic

a medication administered to control irregularities of the heartbeat

anticoagulant

slows coagulation and prevents new clots from forming

antihypertensive

a medication administered to lower blood pressure

aorta

the largest blood vessel in the body; the main trunk of the arterial system and begins from the left ventricle of the heart

aortic semilunar valve

located between the left ventricle and the aorta

aplastic anemia

characterized by an absence of all formed blood elements caused by the failure of blood cell production in the bone marrow

arrhythmia

describes an abnormality, or the loss of the normal rhythm, of the heart

arteriectomy

the surgical removal of part of an artery

arteries

large blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart to all regions of the body

angioplasty

a procedure in which a small balloon is used to open a partially blocked coronary artery by flattening the plaque deposit and stretching the lumen

arterioles

the smaller, thinner branches of arteries that carry blood to the capillaries

arteriosclerosis

any of a group of diseases characterized by thickening and the loss of elasticity of arterial walls

artificial pacemaker

used primarily as treatment for bradycardia or atrial fibrillation

aspirin

recommended to reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke by slightly reducing the ability of the blood to clot

atherectomy

the surgical removal of plaque buildup from the interior of an artery

atheroma

a deposit of plaque on or within the arterial wall

atherosclerosis

hardening and narrowing of the arteries caused by a buildup of cholesterol plaque on the interior walls of the arteries

atria

the two upper chambers of the heart

atrial fibrillation

occurs when the normal rhythmic contractions of the atria are replaced by rapid irregular twitching of the muscular heart wall

atrioventicular node

located on the floor of the right atrium near the interatrial septum

automated external defibrillator

designed for use by nonprofessionals in emergency situations when defibrillation is required

bacterial endocarditis

an inflammation of the lining or valves of the heart caused by the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream

basophils

the least common type of WBC

beta-blocker

reduces the workload of the heart by slowing the rate of the heart beat

blood

the fluid tissue in the body

blood dyscrasia

any pathologic condition of the cellular elements of the blood

blood gases

gases that are normally dissolved in the liquid portion of blood

blood pressure

the measurement of the amount of systolic and diastolic pressure exerted against the walls of the arteries

blood types

classified according to the presence, or absence, of certain antigens; four major blood types are A, AB, B, and O

bradycardia

an abnormally slow resting heart rate

bundle of His (HISS)

a group of fibers located within the interventricular septum

calcium channel blocker agents

cause the heart and blood vessels to relax by decreasing the movement of calcium into the cells of these structures

capillaries

the smallest blood vessels in the body

cardiac arrest

an event in which the heart abruptly stops or develops a very abnormal arrhythmia that prevents it from pumping blood

cardiac catheterization

a diagnostic procedure in which a catheter is passed into a vein or artery and then guided into the heart

cardiologist

a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating abnormalities, diseases, and disorders of the heart

cardiomegaly

the abnormal enlargement of the heart

cardiomyopathy

the term used to describe all diseases of the heart muscle

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

an emergency procedure for life support consisting of artificial respiration and manual external cardiac compression

cardiovascular

pertaining to the heart and blood vessels

cardiovascular system

consists of the heart, blood vessels, and blood

carditis

an inflammation of the heart

carotid arteries

the major arteries that carry blood upward to the head

carotid endarterectomy

the surgical removal of the lining of a portion of a clogged carotid artery leading to the brain

cholesterol

a fatty substance that travels through the blood and is found in all parts of the body

cholesterol-lowering drugs

used to combat hyperlipidemia by reducing the undesirable cholesterol levels in the blood

chronic venous insufficiency

a condition in which venous circulation is inadequate due to partial vein blockage or leakage of venous valves

congenital heart defects

structural abnormalities caused by the failure of the heart to develop normally before birth

coronary arteries

supply oxygen-rich blood to the myocardium

coronary artery bypass graft

a piece of vein from the leg or chest is implanted on the heart to replace a blocked coronary artery and to improve the flow of blood to the heart (AKA bypass surgery)

coronary artery disease

atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries that reduces the blood supply to the heart muscle

coronary thrombosis

damage to the heart muscle caused by a thrombus blocking a coronary artery

Coumadin

an anticoagulant administered to prevent blood clots from forming or growing larger

deep vein thrombosis

the condition of having a thrombus attached to the wall of a deep vein

defibrillation

the use of electrical shock to restore the heart's normal rhythm

diastolic pressure

occurs when the ventricles are relaxed; the lowest pressure against the walls of an artery

digital subtraction angiography

combines angiography with computerized components to clarify the view of the area of interest by removing the soft tissue and bones from the images

digitalis

strengthens the contraction of the heart muscle, slows the heart rate, and helps eliminate fluid from body tissues

diuretic

administered to stimulate the kidneys to increase the secretion of urine to rid the body of excess sodium and water

duplex ultrasound

a diagnostic procedure to image the structures of the blood vessels and the flow of blood through these vessels

electrocardiogram

a record of the electrical activity of the myocardium

electrodardiography

the noninvasive process of recording the electrical activity of the myocardium

embolism

the sudden blockage of a blood vessel by an embolus

embolus

a foreign object, such as a blood clot, quantity of air or gas, or a bit of tissue or tumor that is circulating in the blood

endocarditis

an inflammation of the inner lining of the heart

endocardium

the inner lining of the heart

eosinophils

destroy parasitic organisms and play a major role in allergic reactions

epicardium

the external layer of the heart and the inner layer of the pericardium

erythrocytes

mature red blood cells produced by the red bone marrow (red blood cells - RBC)

fibrinogen

clotting protein found in the plasma

heart

a hollow, muscular organ located between the lungs

heart failure

a chronic condition in which the heart is unable to pump out all of the blood that it receives

heart murmur

an abnormal sound heard when listening to the heart or neighboring large blood vessels

hemangioma

a benign tumor made up of newly formed blood vessels

hematologist

a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating abnormalities, diseases, and disorders of the blood and blood-forming tissues

hemochromatosis

a genetic disorder in which the intestines absorb too much iron

hemoglobin

the iron-containing pigment of the erythrocytes

hemolytic anemia

a condition o fan inadequate number of circulating red blood cells due to the premature destruction of red blood cells by the spleen

hemorrhage

the loss of a large amount of blood in a short time

hemostasis

to stop or control bleeding

Holter monitor

a portable electrocardiograph that is worn by an ambulatory patient to continuously monitor the heart rates and rhythms over a 24-hour period

hyperlipidemia

the general term used to describe elevated levels of cholesterol and other fatty substances in the blood

hypertension

the elevation of arterial blood pressure to a level that is likely to cause damage to the cardiovascular system

hypoperfusion

a deficiency of blood passing through an organ or body part

hypotension

lower than normal arterial blood pressure

implantable cardioverter defibrillator

a double action pacemaker

iron-deficiency anemia

the most common form of anemia

ischemia

a condition in which there is an insufficient oxygen supply due to a restricted blood flow to a part of the body

ischemic heart disease

a group of cardiac disabilities resulting from an insufficient supply of oxygenated blood to the heart

left atrium

receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs through the four pulmonary veins

left ventricle

receives oxygen-rich blood from the left atrium