Key Terms #10

Ambulatory

When referring to a patient, describes someone who is capable of walking bout; not bedridden

Antecubital fossa

A triangular region on the anterior aspect of the elbow where the brachial artery is located

Aortic valve

heart valve located between the left ventricle and aorta

Arrhythmia

abnormal rhythm of the pulse; also referred to as dysrhythmia

Atrial septum

the band of tissue that separates the atria of the heart

Automaticity

the ability of the heart to start, operate, and function independently

Bicuspid valve

the heart valve between the left atrium and left ventricle

Blood pressure

the amount of blood flow ejected from the left ventricle of the heart during systole and the amount of resistance the blood meets due to systematic vascular resistance

Body temperature

the measurement of the degree of tissue heat deep within the body

Bradycardia

A slower than normal heart rate

Bradypnea

a slower than normal breathing rate

Cardiac cycle

one sequence of contraction (systole) and relaxation (diastole) of the heart

Cardiac myocytes

muscle cells of the heart

Cardioverter defibrillator

a device placed in the chest or abdomen that attempts to correct abnormal heart rhythms

Depolarization

process by which the cardiac muscle cells change their charge from a negative to positive intracellular state

Diastole

the filling phase of the cardiac cycle

Dyspnea

difficult or labored breathing

Dysrhythmia

abnormal rhythm of the pulse; also referred to as arrhythmia

Einthoven triangle

the three-lead arrangement for electrocardiography that often accompanies an echocardiogram

Electrocardiogram

a graphic record of the electrical current as it progresses through the heart

Endocardium

the innermost layer of the heart wall

Epicardium

the outmost layer of the heart wall

Essential hypertension

high blood pressure with no known cause; also referred to as primary hypertension

Foley catheter

a urinary catheter that drains urine using a tube that is held in place by a balloon that is inflated inside of the urinary bladder 

Homeostasis

the body’s ability or tendency to maintain internal equilibrium by adjusting its physiologic processes

Hyperthermia

elevation in body temperature; also referred to as primary hypertension

Idiopathic

no known cause

Infiltration

the displacement and accumulation of fluid from an intravenous needle into the surrounding tissue

Infusion pump

an electronic device that regulates intravenous therapy using pressure to infuse solutions into the body

Inpatients

patients who have been admitted to a hospital and typically stay overnight

Interventricular septum

the band of tissue that separates the ventricles of the heart

Intravenous infusion

the administration of fluids into a vein

Leads

electrocardiographic electrodes

Left atrium

the chamber of the heart the receives oxygen-rich blood form the lungs and then pumps it into the right ventricle

Left ventricle

the chamber of the heart that receives blood from the left atrium and pumps it into the aorta to be disseminated throughout the body

Motion mode

mode used to display motion of the reflectors

Myocardium

the muscular portion of the heart wall

Normal sinus rhythm

the cardiac cycle of the heart functioning normally

Nosocomial infections

hospital-acquired infections

Oscilloscope

the screen on which electrocardiograms are displayed

Outpatients

patients who travel to the hospital for a procedure and leave the same day; many are ambulatory (able to walk unassisted), though some may need transport assistance

Pacemaker

an electronic device placed in the chest to regulate abnormal heart rhythms

Paracentesis

a procedure that uses a needle to drain fluid from the abdominal cavity for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes

Phlebitis

inflammation of a vein

Portable sonograms

sonographic procedures performed away from the sonography department

Pulmonary Embolus

a blood clot that has become lodged in an artery supplying blood to the heart

Pulmonic valve

heart valve located between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery

Pulse

the result of blood that is pushed through the arterial system of the body by the beating heart

Pyrexia

elevation in body temperature; also referred to as hyperthermia or fever

Repolarization

process by which cardiac muscle cells return to a more negatively charged intracellular state; the resting state of the cardiac muscle cells 

Respiration

the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs

Right atrium

chamber of the heart that receives deoxygenated blood from the body

Right ventricle

chamber of the heart that receives blood from the right atrium and moves it into the pulmonary circulation for reoxygenation

Secondary hypertension

high blood pressure with an underlying known cause

Sinoatrial node

the heart’s natural pacemaker

Sphygmomanometer

instrument used to obtain a blood pressure measurement

Systole

the contraction phase of the cardiac cycle

Tachycardia

a rapid heart rate

Tachypnea

rapid breathing

Thrombus

blood clot

Tragus

the small pointed eminence on the anterior aspect of the external ear

Tricuspid valve

the heart valve located between the left atrium and left ventricle 

Venipuncture

the surgical puncture of a vein to provide access to obtain a blood sample or for intravenous therapy

Vital signs

fundamental physiological functions of the body that can be utilized to monitor homeostasis, including body temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and respiration

Volumetric controller

a device used to mechanically compress intravenous tubing at a certain frequency to infuse the IV solution at a specified rate