Cardiovascular

Question 1

Aortic aneurysm

Answer 1

diagnosis of enlarged aorta; due to a weakened aortic wall

Question 2

Aortic dissection

Answer 2

diagnosis in which the arterial wall splits apart

Question 3

Arrhythmia

Answer 3

Disturbance of rhythm in the heartbeat

Question 4

Aortic rupture

Answer 4

Diagnosis in which the arterial wall breaks open as could happen in aortic dissection, ruptured aortic aneurysm trauma

Question 5

Atrial fibrillation

Answer 5

Irregular beating of the atria; indicates that the sinus node is not conducting a normal sinus rhythm; a “fib”

Question 6

Atrial flutter

Answer 6

Irregular beating of the atria; often described as “a-flutter with 2 to 1 block or 3 to 1 block”

Question 7

Atrial septal defect

Answer 7

ASD; a hole in the atrial septum that causes blood in the RA and LA to mix

Question 8

Bradycardia

Answer 8

Slow heart rate (HR < 60)

Question 9

Cardiac ischemia

Answer 9

Decreased blood flow through the coronary vessels and to the heart; usually diagnosed by ST segment depressions on EKG

Question 10

Cardiomegaly

Answer 10

Enlarged heart

Question 11

Cardiomyopathy

Answer 11

Disease of the heart muscle

Question 12

Dilated cardiomyopathy

Answer 12

Dysfunctional heart muscle because of an enlarged heart

Question 13

Extra systoles

Answer 13

Extra beats of the heart heard during auscultation

Question 14

Friction rub

Answer 14

Described as grating, scratching sound of the heart indicative of pericarditis

Question 15

Gallop

Answer 15

Three or four sounds, resembling the sounds of a gallop

Question 16

Irregularly irregular

Answer 16

Heart rhythm for anyone with Atrial Fibrillation

Question 17

Jugular vein distention

Answer 17

JVD, sign of CHF

Question 18

Murmur

Answer 18

abnormal heart sound rated on 1-6 scale

Question 19

Myocardial infarction

Answer 19

Death of cardiac muscle due to prolonged ischemia when blood flow through the coronary artery is obstructed

Question 20

Myocarditis

Answer 20

Inflammation of the heart muscle

Question 21

NSTEMI

Answer 21

Non ST segment elevation MI; a heart attack that is not diagnosed on the EKG but is diagnosed by an elevated troponin on a blood test

Question 22

Pericardial tamponade

Answer 22

Diagnosis due to fluid in the pericardium that exerts pressure on the heart and hampers its ability to contract normally

Question 23

Pericarditis

Answer 23

Inflammation of the pericardium evidence on physical exam by the presence of a friction rub on heart auscultation

Question 24

Pulse exam

Answer 24

Carotid, brachial, radial, femoral, popliteal, dorsal pedis (DP) or posterior tibia (PT)

Question 25

STEMI

Answer 25

ST elevation myocardial infarction; When the EKG shows “ST segment elevation” it indicates an acute heart attack

Question 26

Tachycardia

Answer 26

Fast heart rate (HR > 100 bpm)

Question 27

Ventricular fibrillation

Answer 27

Irregular beating of the ventricles; this is a terminal event that requires immediate electrical cardioversion

Question 28

Valvular vegetation

Answer 28

An infectious growth on the cardiac valves

Question 29

Ventricular septal defect “A VSD”

Answer 29

A hole in the ventricular septum that causes blood to mix between the RV and LV

Question 30

Ventricular wall thrombus

Answer 30

A blood clot that attaches to the inside wall of the ventricle; pieces of the thrombus can break off and spread to anywhere in the body leading to infarctions