autonomic nervous system
portion of the nervous system that regulates involuntary actions, such as heart rate, digestion, and peristalsis
leaflet
small flat structure that comprises the valves of the heart and prevents backward flow of blood
lumen
tubular space or channel within an organ or structure of the body, space within an artery, vein, or intestine
vasoconstriction
narrowing of the lumen of a blood vessel that limits blood flow
vasodialation
widening of the lumen caused by the relaxing of muscles or cell walls
arteries
carry blood from the heart to all cells of the body
tunica externa
outer covering of the arteries made from connective tissue; provides strength and flexibility
tunica media
middle layer of the arteries, made from smooth muscle; contraction and dilation responsible for vasoconstriction and vasodialation
tunica intima
innermost layer of the arteries, made of endothelial cells that provide a smooth surface on the inside of the blood vessel
arterioles
smaller forms of the arteries that lead into the capillaries
capillaries
microscopic vessels that join the arterial system with the venous system. Only one single cell layer thick, enabling the exchange of gasses and waste from cell to bloodstream
veins
return blood to the heart
venules
smaller forms of the veins that develop from the union of capillaries
valves
small structures inside of veins that prevent the backward flow of blood
pericardium
the sac surrounding the heart, consists of three layers
endocardium
a serous membrane that lines the four chambers of the heart and its valve and is continuous with the endothelium of the arteries and veins
myocardium
the muscular layer of the heart
epicardium
the outermost layer of the heart
superior vena cava
collects deoxygenated blood from the upper part of the body
infeior vena cava
collects deoxygenated blood from the lower part of the body
pulmonary artery
left and right arteries by which the blood leaves the right ventricle
pulmonic valve
prevents blood regurgitation into the right ventricle after its expelled from the heart
pulmonary veins
carry oxygenated from the lungs back to the heart and into the left atrium
mitral (bicuspid) valve
valve in the heart consisting of two leaflets; sits at the left ventricle
aortic semilunar valve
valve in the aorta that prevents blood from going back into the heart
coronary arteries
left and right arteries that supply the heart with its own oxygen
sinoatrial node
the pacemaker; portion of the heart that possesses its own rhythm, initiates and propagates each heartbeat without being stimulated by external nerves
atrioventricular node
node stimulated by heartbeat that causes the atria to contract
bundle of His (AV bundle)
tract of conductive fibers that relays the heartbeat to the Purkinje fibers
Purkinje fibers
conductive fibers that transmit the heartbeat signals and cause the ventricles to contract
electrocardiograph
instrument that reads the skin for the weak electrical pulses of heart contractions
P wave
portion of an electrocardiograph that measures the depolarization (contraction) of the atria
QRS complex
portion of an electrocardiograph that measures the depolarization (contraction) of the ventricles
T wave
portion of an electrocardiograph that shows the repolarization (recovery) of the ventricles
blood pressure
the force exterted by blood against the arterial walls during two phases of heartbeat, systole and diastole
systole
portion of a blood pressure reading when blood is forced out of the heart
diastole
portion of blood pressure when the ventricles are filling with blood
sphygmomanometer
tool used to measure blood pressure
aneurysm/o
combining form of “widened blood vessel”
angi/o
combining form of “vessel,” but can mean a blood vessel or a lymph node vessel
vascul/o
combining form of “blood vessel”
aort/o
combining form of “aorta”
arteri/o
combining form of “artery”
arteriol/o
combining form of “arteriole”
atri/o
combining form of “atrium”
ather/o
combining form of “fatty plaque”
coron/o
combining form of “heart”
electr/o
combining form of “electricity”
embol/o
combining form of “embolus” or plug
hemangi/o
combining form of “blood vessel”
my/o
combining form of “muscle”
phleb/o
combining form of “vein”
ven/o
combining form of “vein”
scler/o
combining form of “hardening”
sphygm/o
combining form of “pulse”
sten/o
combining form of “narrowing”
thromb/o
combining form of “blood clot”
valv/o or valvul/o
combining form of “valve”
vas/o
combining form of “vessel” and also “duct”
ventricul/o
combining form of “ventricle”
-cardia
suffix for “heart condition”
-gram
suffix for “recording” or “writing”
-graph
suffix for “instrument of recording”
-graphy
suffix for “process of recording”
-stenosis
suffix for “narrowing”
angina
chest pain, generally caused by inadequate bloodflow to the myocardium
dyspnea
breathing difficulty
arrhythmia
heartbeat irregularity
syncope
loss of consciousness
ateriosclerosis
progressive disease of arterial walls that causes them to become thick, and brittle. Often caused by the buildup of fatty plaque
embolus
a dislodged piece of fatty plaque (thrombus) in the bloodstream
thrombus
a blood clot made of fatty plaque
hyperlipidemia
above normal fat levels in the blood
endarterectomy
procedure where a surgeon opens a blocked artery and removes the blocking material
coronary artery disease
any disease that interferes with the ability of the coronary artery to supply blood to the myocardium
diaphoresus
intense sweating
endocarditis
inflammation of the inner lining of the heart and its valves
vegetation
small masses in the heart formed of platelets, fibrin, and bacteria
varicose veins
enlarged, engorged, and twisted superficial veins
myxoma
cancerous growth composed of mucous connective tissue on the heart
aneurysm
localized abnormal dilation of a vessel, usually an artery
fibrillation
arrhythmia in where there is an abnormally rapid quivering of the myocardium
heart block
condition where there is interference with the normal transmission of electric impulses from the SA node to the Purkinje fibers
atherosclerosis
deposit of plaques containing cholesterol and lipids that narrow the lumen in the arteries
bruit
soft, blowing sound heard on auscultation; the movement of blood as it passes an obstruction
cardiomyopathy
disease or weakening of the heart muscle that diminishes cardiac function
coarctation
narrowing of a blood vessel, especially the aorta
embolism
condition in which a mass (commonly a blood clot) gets lodged in a blood vessel, obstructing blood flow
infarction
localized tissue necrosis due to blocked blood supply
ischemia
local temporary deficiency of blood supply to an organ or tissue due to circulatory obstruction
mitral valve prolapse
structural deficit in which the mitral valve leaflets prolapse into the left atrium during systole contraction
palpitation
sensation of an irregular heartbeat
phlebitis
inflammation of a deep or superficial vein of the arms or legs
thrombosis
abnormal condition in which a blood clot develops in a vessel and obstructs at the site of formation
deep vein thrombosis
blood clot that forms in the deep veins of the body, especially those in the legs or thighs
defibrillation
electrical shock delivered randomly during cardiac cycle to treat emergency or life-threatening arrhythmias
cardioversion
defibrillation technique using low energy shocks to treat arrhythmia, typically synchronized with the R waves of an ECG
sclerotherapy
injection of a chemical irritant into a vein to produce inflammation and fibrosis that destroys the lumen of the vein
thrombolysis
destruction of a blood clot using anticlotting agents called clot-busters
angioplasty
any endovascular procedure that reopens narrowed blood vessels and restores forward blood flow
percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
a balloon is inserted into the coronary artery to enlarge the lumen of the blocked artery and restore blood flow
biopsy
removal of a small piece of tissue for diagnostic purposes
catheter ablation
treatment for cardiac arrhythmia; usually performed under fluoroscopic guidance
commissurotomy
surgical separation of the leaflets of the mitral valve that have fused together at some point
coronary artery bypass graft
placement of a vessel graft from another part of the body to bypass the blocked part of a coronary artery and restore blood supply to the heart muscle
embolectomy
removal of the embolus (any mass moving through the vascular channels)
endarterectomy
removal of fatty plaque from the interior of an occluded vessel using a specially designed catheter fitted with a cutting device
automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
a small battery powered device that monitors and automatically corrects ventricular tachycardia by sending electrical impulses into the heart
laser ablation
procedure using heated lasers to treat varicose veins
valvotomy
incision on a valve to increase the size of the opening, used in treating mitral stenosis
cardiac catheterization
passing a catheter into the heart through a vein or artery to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the heart
lipid panel
series of blood tests that look for fat content in the blood
angiography
radiographic image of the inside of a blood vessel after the injection of a contrast medium
aortography
angiography of the aorta and its branches after the injection of a contrast medium
coronary angiography
radiographic image of the inside of a blood vessel after the injection of a contrast medium to determine the degree of stenosis or obstruction of the arteries that supply blood to the heart
magnetic resonance angiography
type of MRI scan that uses a magnetic field and radio waves to provide detailed images of blood vessels
multiple-gated acquisition scan
nuclear procedure that uses radioactive tracers to detect how well the heart walls move as they contract and also calculates the ejection fraction rate (amount of blood the ventricle can pump in one contraction)
nuclear perfusion study
test used in conjunction with a stress test to detect the presence of coronary artery disease that is causing obstruction; also called thallium scan or cardiolite scan
venography
radiography of a vein after injection of a contrast medium to detect incomplete filling of a vein, indicating an obstruction
angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
blood pressure lowering medication that functions by inhibiting the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II
beta-blockers
medication that blocks the effect of adrenaline and decreases the heart rate
calcium channel blocker
block movement of calcium (required for blood vessel contraction) into myocardial cells and arterial walls, causing heart rate and blood pressure to decrease
nitrates
medication that dilates the vessels of the heart and causes an increased amount of oxygen to be delivered to the myocardium, also widens other blood vessels in the body.
statins
medication that lowers cholesterol in the blood and reduce its production in the liver by blocking the enzyme that produces it
AAA
abdominal aortic aneurysm
ACE
angiotensin-converting enzyme (inhibitor)
AFib
atrial fibrillation
AICD
automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
AS
aortic stenosis
ASHD
arteriosclerotic heart disease
CA
cardiac arrest
CABG
coronary artery bypass graft
CAD
coronary artery disease
CC
cardiac catheterization
CHD
coronary heart disease
CK
creatine kinase
CPR
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
DVT
deep vein thrombosis
ECG
electrocardiogram
EKG
electrocardiogram
ECHO
echocardiogram
HDL
high-density lipoprotein
LDL
low-density lipoprotein
LA
left atrium
MI
myocardial infarction
MRA
magnetic resonance angiogram
MUGA scan
multiple-gated acquisition scan
MVP
mitral valve prolapse
NSR
normal sinus rhythm
PTCA
percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
RA
right atrium
RV
right ventricle
SA
sinoatrial
US
ultrasound
