Cardiovascular System Disorders Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering cardiovascular anatomy, physiology, diagnostic tests, cardiac disorders, dysrhythmias, heart failure, congenital defects, inflammatory conditions, hypertension, and types of shock.

Sinoatrial (SA) Node

The natural pacemaker of the heart located in the right atrium that sets the sinus rhythm.

Atrioventricular (AV) Node

A node in the cardiac conduction system located in the floor of the right atrium that delays impulse transmission to the ventricles.

P Wave

The electrocardiogram (ECG) wave representing the depolarization of the atria.

QRS Wave

The electrocardiogram (ECG) wave complex representing the depolarization of the ventricles.

T Wave

The electrocardiogram (ECG) wave representing the repolarization of the ventricles.

Baroreceptors

Sensory receptors located in the aorta and internal carotid arteries that detect changes in blood pressure.

Cardiac Control Center

A region in the medulla oblongata that controls the rate and force of heart contractions.

Left Coronary Artery

A main coronary artery branching from the aorta that divides into the left anterior descending (interventricular) artery and the left circumflex artery.

Right Coronary Artery

A main coronary artery branching from the aorta that gives off the right marginal artery and the posterior interventricular artery.

Diastole

The relaxation phase of the myocardium that is required for filling the heart chambers with blood.

Systole

The contraction phase of the myocardium that provides increased pressure to eject blood from the heart chambers.

Pulse Deficit

The difference in rate between apical and radial pulses.

Cardiac Output (CO)

The amount of blood pumped by each ventricle in 1 minute, calculated as $CO = HR \times SV$.

Stroke Volume (SV)

The volume of blood ejected from each ventricle with each contraction.

Preload

The amount of blood delivered to the heart by venous return before contraction.

Afterload

The force required to eject blood from the ventricles, determined by peripheral resistance in the arteries.

Systolic Pressure

The peak blood pressure exerted against arterial walls when blood is ejected from the ventricles.

Diastolic Pressure

The sustained pressure present in the arterial system when the ventricles are relaxing.

Auscultation

The clinical technique of listening to internal body sounds, such as heart valves and murmurs, using a stethoscope.

Angiography

A diagnostic imaging technique used to visualize blood flow in the coronary arteries.

Nitroglycerin

A cardiovascular drug that acts as a peripheral and coronary vasodilator to reduce cardiac workload and treat angina attacks.

Metoprolol (Lopressor)

A beta-blocker that blocks beta-adrenergic receptors and slows heart rate, used for hypertension, angina, and dysrhythmias.

Nifedipine (Adalat)

A calcium channel blocker and peripheral vasodilator used to treat angina, hypertension, and antiarrhythmias.

Digoxin (Lanoxin)

A cardiotonic drug that slows conduction through the AV node and increases the force of contraction to treat heart failure and atrial arrhythmias.

Enalapril (Vasotec)

An ACE inhibitor that blocks the formation of angiotensin II and aldosterone to treat hypertension.

Furosemide (Lasix)

A diuretic that increases excretion of water and sodium, used to treat hypertension and edema associated with congestive heart failure.

Simvastatin (Zocor)

A lipid-lowering medication that decreases cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels in hypercholesterolemia.

Warfarin (Coumadin)

An anticoagulant drug that interferes with vitamin K in the synthesis of clotting factors to prevent thromboemboli.

ASA (Aspirin)

An agent that prevents platelet adhesion and reduces inflammation, used for prophylaxis of thromboemboli.

Angina Pectoris

Chest pain that occurs when there is a deficit of oxygen to meet myocardial requirements.

Variant Angina

A pattern of angina pectoris characterized by vasospasms occurring at rest.

Unstable Angina

A prolonged, severe form of chest pain occurring at rest that may precede a myocardial infarction.

Myocardial Infarction (MI)

Gross necrosis of heart muscle resulting from total obstruction of a coronary artery.

Cardiac Serum Enzymes

Enzymes and proteins including CPK-MB, AST, LDH-1, myosin, and cardiac troponin whose elevated levels in blood serum indicate myocardial infarction.

Sick Sinus Syndrome

A conduction abnormality of the SA node marked by alternating bradycardia and tachycardia.

Atrial Flutter

An atrial conduction dysrhythmia characterized by an atrial rate of 160 to 350 beats/min.

Atrial Fibrillation

An atrial rate over 350 beats/min causing uncoordinated muscle contractions, blood pooling in the atria, and risk of thrombus formation.

First-Degree Heart Block

A partial conduction delay at the AV node that prolongs the PR interval on an ECG without dropping ventricular contractions.

Second-Degree Heart Block

A partial AV node conduction delay in which the PR interval gradually increases until one ventricular contraction is missed.

Total Heart Block

A third-degree block where no conduction occurs through the AV node, causing ventricles to contract slowly and independently of atrial contraction.

Ventricular Fibrillation

A dysrhythmia in which ventricular muscle fibers contract independently and rapidly, leading to lack of filling, zero cardiac output, and cardiac standstill.

Cardiac Arrest

The complete cessation of all electrical and mechanical activity in the heart, showing a flat line on an ECG.

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

A condition in which the heart is unable to pump out sufficient blood to meet the metabolic demands of the body.

Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea

An acute onset of shortness of breath occurring during sleep, indicating presence of acute pulmonary edema from left-sided heart failure.

Ascites

The accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity leading to marked abdominal distention, often a complication of right-sided heart failure.

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)

The most common congenital heart defect, characterized by an abnormal opening in the interventricular septum.

Tetralogy of Fallot

The most common cyanotic congenital heart condition, composed of four defects: VSD, dextroposition of the aorta (overriding aorta), pulmonary stenosis, and right ventricular hypertrophy.

Rheumatic Fever

An acute systemic inflammatory condition resulting from an abnormal immune reaction to an antecedent Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection.

Infective Endocarditis

An infection of the heart valves or endocardium, subacutely caused by Streptococcus viridans and acutely caused by Staphylococcus aureus.

Pericardial Effusion

An accumulation of a large volume of fluid in the pericardial sac that compresses the heart wall and restricts filling.

Primary (Essential) Hypertension

Idiopathic elevated blood pressure consistently above 140/90 mm Hg leading to increased arteriolar vasoconstriction and arterial damage over time.

Secondary Hypertension

High blood pressure that results directly from an underlying condition such as renal disease, endocrine disorders, or pheochromocytoma.

Malignant Hypertension

An uncontrollable, severe, and rapidly progressive form of hypertension characterized by an extremely high diastolic pressure.

Hypovolemic Shock

Shock caused by a loss of circulating blood or plasma volume, such as from hemorrhage, severe burns, dehydration, peritonitis, or pancreatitis.

Cardiogenic Shock

Shock resulting from a decreased pumping capability of the heart, commonly caused by myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, or cardiac tamponade.

Vasogenic (Neurogenic) Shock

Shock caused by widespread vasodilation due to loss of sympathetic and vasomotor tone, triggered by severe pain, fear, spinal cord injury, or hypoglycemia.

Anaphylactic Shock

Shock characterized by systemic vasodilation and increased capillary permeability due to a severe allergic reaction.

Septic (Endotoxic) Shock

Shock caused by severe infection and systemic vasodilation, most commonly associated with virulent gram-negative bacteria.