DIAG & STMPT TERMS

aneurysm

Localized abnormal dilation of a vessel, usually an artery

arrest

Condition of being stopped or bringing to a stop

cardiac

Loss of effective cardiac function, which results in cessation of circulation. ____ may be due to ventricular fibrillation or asystole in which there is no observable myocardial activity.

circulatory

Cessation of the circulation of blood due to ventricular standstill or

fibrillation

arrhythmia

Inability of the heart to maintain a normal sinus rhythm, possibly including

a rapid or slow beat or “skipping” a beat;

arrhythmia

also called dysrhythmia

bruit

Soft blowing sound heard on auscultation, possibly due to vibrations associated

with the movement of blood, valvular action, or both

cardiomyopathy

Any disease or weakening of heart muscle that diminishes cardiac

function

catheter

Thin, flexible, hollow plastic tube that is small enough to be threaded

through a vein, artery, or tubular structure

coarctation

Narrowing of a vessel, especially the aorta

deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

Blood clot that forms in the deep veins of the body, especially those in the

legs or thighs

ejection fraction (EF)

Calculation of how much blood a ventricle can eject with one contraction

heart failure (HF)

Failure of the heart to supply an adequate amount of blood to tissues and

organs

heart failure (HF)

is commonly caused by impaired coronary blood flow, cardiomyopathies,

and heart valve disease.

embolus

Mass of undissolved matter (foreign object, air, gas, tissue, thrombus) circulating in blood or lymphatic channels until it becomes lodged in a vessel

fibrillation

Quivering or spontaneous muscle contractions, especially of the heart,

causing ineffectual contractions

hemostasis

Arrest of bleeding or circulation

hyperlipidemia

Excessive amounts of lipids (cholesterol, phospholipids, and triglycerides)

in the blood

hypercholesterolemia

The term _______a refers to elevation of cholesterol in the blood. It

has been associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis.

atherosclerosis

The term hypercholesterolemia refers to elevation of cholesterol in the blood. It

has been associated with an increased risk of ______

hypertension (HTN)

Common disorder characterized by elevated blood pressure persistently

exceeding 140 mm Hg systolic or 90 mm Hg diastolic

primary

HTN in which there is no identifiable cause; also called essential

hypertension

secondary

HTN that results from an underlying, identifiable, commonly correctable

cause

hypertensive heart disease

Any heart disorder caused by prolonged hypertension, including left ventricular

hypertrophy, coronary artery disease, cardiac arrhythmias, and

heart failure

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)

Implantable battery-powered device that monitors and automatically corrects

ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation by sending electrical impulses

to the heart

ventricular fibrillation

In __ ___, the heart quivers rather than beats, and blood is not

pumped to the brain. Unless treatment is received within 5 to 10 minutes, ventricular fibrillation causes death.

infarct

Area of tissue that undergoes necrosis following cessation of blood supply

ischemia

Local and temporary deficiency of blood supply due to circulatory obstruction

mitral valve prolapse (MVP)mitral valve prolapse (MVP)

Common and occasionally serious condition in which the leaflets of the

mitral valve prolapse into the left atrium during systole causing a characteristic

murmur heard on auscultation

radioisotope

Chemical radioactive material used as a tracer to follow a substance

through the body or a structure

palpitation

Sensation that the heart is not beating normally, possibly including

“thumping,” “fluttering,” “skipped beats,” or a pounding feeling in the chest

patent ductus arteriosus

Failure of the ductus arteriosus to close after birth, allowing blood to flow

from the aorta into the pulmonary (lung) artery

perfusion

Circulation of blood through tissues or the passage of fluids through vessels

of an organ

tetralogy of Fallot

Congenital anomaly consisting of four elements: (1) pulmonary artery

stenosis; (2) interventricular septal defect; (3) transposition of the aorta, so

that both ventricles empty into the aorta; (4) right ventricular hypertrophy

caused by increased workload of the right ventricle

stent

Slender or threadlike device used to hold open vessels, tubes, or

obstructed arteries

thrombus

Blood clot that obstructs a vessel