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