Chapter 14 Flashcards
aorta
The main artery, which receives blood from the left ventricle and delivers it to all the other arteries that carry blood to the tissues of the body
aortic aneurysm
A weakness in the wall of the aorta that makes it susceptible to rupture
aortic valve
The one-way valve that lies between the left ventricle and the aorta and keeps blood from flowing back into the left ventricle after the left ventricle ejects its blood into the aorta; one of four heart valves
arrhythmia
An irregular or abnormal heart rhythm
asystole
The complete absence of heart electrical activity
atherosclerosis
A disorder in which cholesterol and calcium build up inside the walls of blood vessels, eventually leading to partial or complete blockage of blood flow
atrium
One of two (right and left) upper chambers of the heart. The right atrium receives blood from the vena cava and delivers it to the right ventricle. The left atrium receives blood from pulmonary veins and delivers it to the left ventricle.
acute coronary syndrome
A term used to describe a group of symptoms caused by myocardial ischemia; includes angina and myocardial infarction
acute myocardial infarction (AMI)
A heart attack; death of heart muscle following obstruction of blood flow to it. Acute in this context means “new” or “happening right now”.
angina pectoris
Transient (short-lived) chest discomfort caused by partial or temporary blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle
anterior
The front surface of the body; the side facing you in the standard anatomic position
automaticity
The ability of cardiac muscle cells to contract without stimulation from the nervous system
autonomic nervous system
The part of the nervous system that controls the involuntary activities of the body such as the heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion of food
bradycardia
A slow heart rate, less than 60 beats/min
cardiac arrest
A state in which the heart fails to generate effective and detectable blood flow; pulses are not palpable in cardiac arrest, even if muscular and electrical activity continues in the heart
cardiogenic shock
A state in which not enough oxygen is delivered to the tissues of the body, caused by low output of blood from the heart. It can be a severe complication of a large acute myocardial infarction, as well as other conditions.
cardiac output
A measure of the volume of blood circulated by the heart in 1 minute, calculated by multiplying the stroke volume by the heart rate
congestive heart failure (CHF)
A disorder in which the heart loses part of its ability to effectively pump blood, usually as a result of damage to the heart muscle and usually resulting in a backup of fluid into the lungs
coronary arteries
The blood vessels that carry blood and nutrients to the heart muscle
defibrillate
To shock a fibrillating (chaotically beating) heart with specialized electrical current in an attempt to restore a normal, rhythmic beat
dependent edema
Swelling in the part of the body closest to the ground, caused by collection of fluid in the tissues; a possible sign of congestive heart failure
dilation
Widening of a tubular structure such as a coronary artery
dissecting aneurysm
A condition in which the inner layers of an artery, such as the aorta, become separated, allowing blood (at high pressures) to flow between the layers
hypertensive emergency
An emergency situation created by excessively high blood pressure, which can lead to serious complications such as stroke or aneurysm
