Cardiovascular System - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering heart anatomy, cardiac cycle, auscultation, murmurs, heart sounds, and common cardiovascular diseases.

Pericardium

Fibrous sac that protects and surrounds the heart.

Endocardium

Thin inner lining of the heart's chambers and valves.

Myocardium

Muscular wall of the heart responsible for contraction.

Tricuspid valve

Right AV valve between the right atrium and right ventricle.

Mitral valve (bicuspid)

Left AV valve between the left atrium and left ventricle.

Pulmonic valve

Right semilunar valve between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery.

Aortic valve

Left semilunar valve between the left ventricle and aorta.

Atrioventricular (AV) valves

Valves between atria and ventricles (tricuspid and mitral).

Semilunar (SL) valves

Valves between ventricles and great vessels (pulmonic and aortic).

Base of the heart

Top portion of the heart.

Apex of the heart

Bottom, pointed end of the heart.

Precordium

Area of the chest overlying the heart.

Intercostal space (ICS)

Space between adjacent ribs used to describe cardiac locations.

Right atrium (RA)

Chamber that receives deoxygenated blood from the body via SVC and IVC.

Right ventricle (RV)

Chamber that pumps blood to the lungs via the pulmonary artery.

Left atrium (LA)

Chamber that receives oxygenated blood from the lungs via pulmonary veins.

Left ventricle (LV)

Chamber that pumps oxygenated blood to the body via the aorta.

Superior vena cava (SVC)

Drains deoxygenated blood from the upper body into the right atrium.

Inferior vena cava (IVC)

Drains deoxygenated blood from the lower body into the right atrium.

Pulmonary artery (PA)

Carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.

Pulmonary veins

Return oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium.

Aorta

Main artery distributing oxygenated blood to the body.

Systole

Phase of the cardiac cycle when the ventricles contract and eject blood.

Diastole

Phase of the cardiac cycle when the ventricles relax and fill with blood.

S1 (lub)

Heart sound produced when the AV valves close at the start of systole.

S2 (dub)

Heart sound produced when the SL valves close at the end of systole.

Apical impulse (PMI)

Most prominent cardiac impulse, usually at 4th–5th left intercostal space, midclavicular line.

Jugular venous distension (JVD)

Visible neck vein distention indicating elevated central venous pressure.

Carotid bruit

Abnormal whooshing sound over the carotid artery suggesting carotid disease.

Thrill

Vibratory sensation on palpation indicating turbulent blood flow.

Lift/Heave

Abnormal upward movement of the precordium due to an enlarged ventricle.

Carotid arteries

Neck arteries; examined for bruit and pulse quality.

Auscultation areas (cardiac)

Aortic (2nd right ICS), Pulmonic (2nd left ICS), Erb’s point (3rd left ICS), Tricuspid (4th left ICS), Mitral/apex (5th left ICS at MCL).

Angle of Louis

Bony landmark (manubriosternal angle) used in chest examination and listening sites.

S3

Low-pitched extra heart sound (early diastole) often due to rapid ventricular filling; HF-related but physiologic in young people.

S4

Low-pitched extra heart sound (late diastole) due to atrial contraction; often HF-related.

Murmur

Blowing or turbulent sound heard over valves or vessels; caused by stenosis or regurgitation.

Stenosis

Valve narrowing that produces a murmur when the valve opens.

Regurgitation

Valve backflow that produces a murmur when the valve closes.

Innocent murmur

Murmur due to nonpathologic causes; not associated with valve disease.

Pathologic murmur

Murmur caused by valvular heart disease or structural abnormality.

Split S1

S1 that is narrow; best at left lower sternal border; occurs with certain valve closures.

Split S2

S2 that is normal with inspiration; abnormal if wide, fixed, or paradoxical.

ECG (electrocardiogram)

Recording of electrical activity of the heart from the conduction system.

SA node

Sinoatrial node; natural pacemaker initiating the cardiac impulse.

AV node

Atrioventricular node; delays impulse between atria and ventricles.

Bundle of His

Conduction pathway from AV node to the ventricles.

Ventricles

Lower heart chambers that pump blood to lungs and body.

Ankle-brachial index (ABI)

SBP ankle divided by SBP brachial; <0.90 indicates PAD.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)

Atherosclerotic obstruction of peripheral arteries causing leg ischemia.

Claudication

Pain in the legs with exercise due to PAD.

Chronic venous insufficiency

Pooling of blood in legs with edema and varicose veins due to venous dysfunction.

Venous stasis ulcers

Ulcers from chronic venous insufficiency.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

Clot in a deep vein; risk factors include immobility; can cause PE.

Homan’s sign

Calf pain with dorsiflexion suggesting DVT risk.

Raynaud’s phenomenon

Triphasic color change of fingers (white-blue-red) with cold or stress.

Lymphedema

Chronic swelling from lymphatic obstruction or dysfunction; non-pitting in some cases.

Hypertension (HTN)

High blood pressure; often called the silent killer due to lack of symptoms.

Angina pectoris

Chest pain due to myocardial ischemia; stable vs ACS.

Coronary artery disease (CAD)

Atherosclerosis of coronary arteries leading to ischemia.

Myocardial infarction (MI)

Heart attack; prolonged ischemia causing myocardial cell death; ST elevation and troponin rise.

Pericarditis

Inflammation of the pericardium; friction rub and sharp chest pain; better when leaning forward.

Valvular heart disease

Murmurs from stenosis or regurgitation of valves; causes include congenital defects, rheumatic fever, endocarditis.

Hypoperfusion/ischemia

Inadequate blood flow to tissues; can cause dyspnea, confusion, and organ dysfunction.

Left-sided heart failure

Heart failure with pulmonary congestion; dyspnea, orthopnea, crackles, pulmonary edema.

Right-sided heart failure

Systemic venous congestion; JVD, edema, ascites, hepatomegaly.

Ejection fraction (EF)

Percentage of blood pumped out of the ventricle with each beat (normal 50–70%).

HFrEF

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction; systolic dysfunction.

HFpEF

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction; diastolic dysfunction due to stiff ventricles.

ACE inhibitors/ARBs

Medications that reduce afterload and BP; used in HF and HTN.

Beta blockers

Medications that reduce heart rate and contractility; used in HTN and HF.

Diuretics

Medications that remove excess fluid; used in HTN and HF.

CABG

Coronary artery bypass graft; surgical rerouting of blood around blocked arteries.

Ventricular assist device (VAD)

Mechanical device that helps the heart pump blood.

Heart transplant

Surgical replacement of the diseased heart.

Orthopnea

Shortness of breath when lying flat, common in left-sided HF.

Pulmonary edema

Fluid accumulation in the lungs due to heart failure.

Surgical auscultation terms

Diaphragm favored for high-pitched sounds; bell for low-pitched sounds and extra sounds.

6 P’s of PAD

Pain, Pallor, Pulselessness, Paresthesia, Paralysis, Poikilothermia—signs of limb ischemia.

Hemosiderin staining

Brownish skin discoloration from chronic venous disease.

Dependent edema

Swelling that worsens when dependent (standing or sitting).