Cardiovascular, Abdominal, and Genitourinary Emergencies

Vocabulary flashcards covering cardiovascular anatomy and physiology, acute coronary syndromes, shock, emergency interventions, and abdominal and genitourinary trauma.

Atria

The upper chambers of the heart that receive incoming blood.

Ventricles

The lower chambers of the heart that pump outgoing blood.

Aorta

The body’s main artery, which receives blood ejected from the left ventricle.

Automaticity

The ability of cardiac muscle cells to contract spontaneously without receiving a stimulus from a nerve source.

Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

The division of the nervous system that controls involuntary bodily activities, consisting of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

Coronary arteries

Blood vessels originating at the first part of the aorta that supply oxygenated blood directly to the heart muscle (myocardium).

Systolic blood pressure

The maximum arterial pressure generated by the contraction of the left ventricle.

Diastolic blood pressure

The pressure maintained against the artery walls while the left ventricle is at rest between contractions.

Mean arterial pressure (MAP)

The average blood pressure measured across the cardiac cycle, serving as a key indicator of tissue perfusion.

Pulse

The wave of pressure felt in an artery when blood passes through during ventricular systole.

Cardiac output

The volume of blood pumped through the heart in $1\,\text{minute}$, determined by heart rate and stroke volume.

Perfusion

The continuous flow of oxygenated blood delivered to tissues throughout the body.

Orthostatic hypotension

A sudden drop in blood pressure that occurs when a patient changes body position.

Ischemia

A condition characterized by decreased blood flow to tissues, which can lead to cellular death if circulation is not restored.

Atherosclerosis

A progressive vascular condition involving the buildup of calcium and cholesterol inside the arteries, narrowing the lumen and making vessel walls brittle.

Thromboembolism

A blood clot floating freely through blood vessels that can become lodged and block blood flow downstream.

Angina pectoris

Crushing or squeezing chest pain that arises when the heart muscle's demand for oxygen exceeds its available supply.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI)

The death of myocardial cells resulting from sustained ischemia, often caused by a clot blocking a coronary artery.

Ventricular fibrillation

An erratic, uncoordinated twitching of the ventricles where the heart expends energy without pumping blood.

Asystole

The complete absence of all electrical and mechanical activity in the heart, typically reflecting prolonged ischemia.

Cardiogenic shock

Circulatory failure that occurs when the heart loses sufficient pumping power to circulate enough blood to meet the metabolic demands of body tissues.

Heart failure

A clinical syndrome occurring when the heart cannot pump adequately, leading to pulmonary fluid congestion or dependent edema.

Hypertensive emergency

An acute, dangerous elevation in blood pressure defined by a systolic reading greater than $180\,\text{mm Hg}$.

Aortic aneurysm

A structural weakness in the wall of the aorta that makes it susceptible to rupture or dissection.

QRS complex

The largest, typically narrow deflection on an ECG printout representing ventricular contraction.

Ventricular assist device (VAD)

A mechanical circulatory device featuring an internal pump and external power source that aids or replaces the pumping action of the ventricles.

Hollow organs

Abdominal structures—including the stomach, intestines, ureters, and bladder—that release their contents into the peritoneal cavity when ruptured.

Solid organs

Highly vascular abdominal structures—such as the liver, spleen, pancreas, and kidneys—that can bleed massively into the abdominal cavity when damaged.

Mesentery

The fold of tissue that connects the small intestine to the abdominal wall and carries its primary blood supply.

Evisceration

A severe open abdominal injury where internal organs, such as the bowel, protrude through a wound in the peritoneum.

Cavitation

The formation of a temporary wound channel caused by the pressure wave of a projectile transferring energy into body tissues.

Hematuria

The presence of blood in the urine, indicating trauma or damage to the kidneys or urinary tract.