Monitor Technician

CSHS

Acute coronary syndromes (ACSs)

unstable angina and myocardial infarction (heart attack), which are consequences of plaque rupture in coronary arteries

Angina (pectoris)

chest pain resulting from myocardial ischemia

Stable angina

chest pain that occurs predictably with exertion

Unstable angina

chest pain that occurs more often and with less exertion

Aorta

the largest artery in the body

Aortic valve

the valve that opens the way for oxygen-rich blood to pass from the left ventricle into the aorta

Arteriole

a small artery

Artery

the largest type of blood vessel; it carries blood away from the heart to all parts of the body

Arrhythmia

abnormal heart rhythms

Artificial pacemaker

a device that uses electrical impulses to regulate the heart rhythm or to reproduce that rhythm

Atrioventricular bundle

specialized muscle fibers connecting the atria with the ventricles and transmitting electrical impulses between them

Atrioventricular (AV) node

specialized tissue in the wall between the atria; electrical impulses pass from the pacemaker (SA node) through the AV node and the bundle of His toward the ventricles

Atrium

one of two upper chambers of the heart; pl. atria

Blood pressure

the pressure of the blood within the arteries produced primarily by the contraction of the heart muscles

Bundle of His

also known as the atrioventricular bundle

Cardiology

the study and treatment of heart disorders

Cardiovascular system

the circulatory system comprising the heart and blood vessels which carries nutrients and oxygen to the tissues of the body and removes carbon dioxide from them

Capillary

the smallest blood vessel

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

gas (waste) released by body cells, transported via veins to the heart, and then to the lungs for exhalation

Cardiac arrest

a sudden, unexpected stoppage of heart action; sudden cardiac death

Circulatory system

the system that transports oxygenated blood from the lungs and heart through the body via arteries; made of the heart, arteries, capillaries, and veins

Coronary arteries

blood vessels that branch from the aorta and carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle

Contraction

the tightening and shortening of a muscle

Deoxygenated blood

blood that is low in oxygen (oxygen poor)

Defibrillator

a device used to correct a dangerously abnormal heart rhythm, usually ventricular fibrillation, or to restart the heart by depolarizing its electrical conduction system and delivering brief, measured electrical shocks to the chest wall or the heart muscle itself

Diastole

the relaxation phase of the heartbeat

Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)

a recording of the electrical activity of the heart

Embolus

a clot or other substance that travels to a distant location and suddenly blocks a blood vessel; pl. emboli

Endocardium

the inner lining of the heart

Endothelium

the innermost lining of blood vessels

Fibrillation

in coordinate twitching of the heart muscle fibers

Heart failure

the inability of the heart to keep up with the demands on it and, specifically, failure of the heart to pump blood with normal efficiency

Heart rate

the number of heart beats per unit time, usually per minute

Heart rhythm disorder

an abnormal rhythm of the heartbeat due to irregularities in transmission of the electrical signals that normally control the heart rate and rhythm; aka arrhythmia

Hypertension

high blood pressure

Hypotension

low blood pressure

Infarction

an area of dead tissue

Mitral valve

the valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle; aka the bicuspid valve

Murmur

an abnormal swishing sound caused by improper closure of the heart valves

Myocardium

the muscular. middle layer of the heart

Normal sinus rhythm

a heart rhythm originating in the sinoatrial node with a resting rate of 60-100 beats per minute

Occlusion

a closure of a blood vessel due to blockage

Oxygen

a gas that enters the blood through the lungs and travels to the heart to be pumped via arteries to all body cells

Palpitations

uncomfortable sensations in the chest related to cardiac arrhythmias, such as premature ventricular contractions (PVCs)

Pericardial friction rub

a scraping or grating noise heard on auscultation of the heart; suggestive of pericarditis

Pacemaker

a specialized nervous tissue in the right atrium that begins the heartbeat

Pericardium

the double-layered membrane surrounding the heart

Pulmonary artery

the artery carrying oxygen-poor blood from the heart to the lings

Pulmonary circulation

the flow of blood from the heart to the lungs and back to the heart

Pulmonary valve

the valve position between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery

Pulmonary vein

one of two pairs of vessels carrying oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart

QRS complex

the deflections in the tracing of the EKG, comprising of the Q, R, and S waves, that represent the ventricular activity of the heart (the depolarization of the ventricles)

Right atrium

the right upper chamber of the heart that receives deoxygenated blood from the body through the vena cava and pumps it into the right ventricle which then sends it to the lungs to be oxygenated

Right ventricle

the lower right chamber of the heart that receives deoxygenated blood from the right atrium and pumps it under low pressure into the lungs via the pulmonary artery

Septum

the partition or wall dividing a cavity

SInoatrial (SA) node

the system that controls the heart rate by generating electrical pulses and conducting them throughout the muscle of the heart, stimulating the heart to contract and pump blood

Superior vena cava

a large vein that receives blood from the head, neck, upper extremities, and thorax and delivers it to the right atrium of the heart

Systemic circulation

the flow of blood from body tissue to the heart and then from the heart back to body tissues

Systole

the contraction phase of the heartbeat

Tachycardia

a rapid heart rate, usually defined as greater than 100 beats per minute

Tricuspid valve

the valve located between the right atrium and right ventricle; it has trilleaflets or cusps

Valve

a structure in veins or in the heart that temporarily closes and opening so that blood flows in only one direction

Vein

a thin-walled vessel that carries blood from body tissues and lungs back to the heart; contains valves to prevent the backflow of blood

Vena cave

the largest vein in the body; ti returns blood to the right atrium of the heart

Ventricle

one of two lower chambers of the heart

Ventricular fibrillation

an abnormal irregular heart rhythm, whereby there are very rapid, uncoordinated fluttering contractions of the lower chambers (ventricles) of the heart

Ventricular tachycardia

an abnormally rapid heart rhythm that originates from a ventricle; can lead to ventricular fibrillation

Venule

s small vein