simple CVS glossary

Question 1

acute coronary syndromes

Answer 1

a range of life threatening conditions from unstable angina to large MI

Question 2

afterload

Answer 2

force that the heart is having to work against

Question 3

angina pectoris (angina)

Answer 3

pain or discomfort in the chest resulting from myocardial ischaemia (can also radiate to the arm and shoulder region)

Question 4

aortic stenosis

Answer 4

narrowing of the aortic valve

Question 5

bradycardia

Answer 5

slower than normal HR

Question 6

baroreceptor

Answer 6

pressure receptor arterial baroceptors are high pressure sensors in the aortic arch and carotid sinus

Question 7

chronotrope

Answer 7

a substance which alters the rhythm of the heart - a positive chronotrope increases the heart rate

Question 8

coarctation of the aorta

Answer 8

a discrete narrowing of the aorta near to the site of the ductus arteriosis

Question 9

contractility

Answer 9

the force of contraction for a given myocardial fibre length (starling curve) positive inotropes such as NA increase contractility

Question 10

cyanosis

Answer 10

blue colouration of the skin or mucous membranes due to high circulating levels of deoxygenated haemoglobin in arterial blood

Question 11

diastole

Answer 11

phase of the cardiac cycle when the ventricles are filling (relaxed)

Question 12

dyspnoea (dyspnea)

Answer 12

an abnormal awareness of breathlessness

Question 13

hydrostatic pressure

Answer 13

the pressure in a fluid which exerts a force on the walls of the structure or vessel containing that fluid

Question 14

hyperplasia

Answer 14

increase in organ size due to increase in number of cells

Question 15

hypertrophy

Answer 15

increase in organ size due to increase in cell size

Question 16

inotrope

Answer 16

a substance which alters the force of contraction of the heart - positive inotrope increases contractility

Question 17

mitral valve

Answer 17

left AV valve - bicuspid

Question 18

mitral stenosis

Answer 18

narrowing of the opening of the mitral valve

Question 19

murmur

Answer 19

a sound due to turbulent blood flow, heard on auscultation of the heart or blood vessel

Question 20

myocardial ischaemia

Answer 20

shortage of blood flow to a region of the heart, usually result of partial occlusion of a coronary artery

Question 21

myocardial infarction

Answer 21

irreversible necrosis of heart tissue due to an obstruction of a coronary vessel

Question 22

oncotic pressure

Answer 22

the component of osmotic pressure due to plasma proteins

Question 23

orthopnea

Answer 23

sensation of laboured breathing when lying flat

Question 24

paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea

Answer 24

severe breathlessness which wakens patient from sleep

Question 25

preload

Answer 25

related to end diastolic volume and end-diastolic pressure blood in heart during diastole

Question 26

pulmonic stenosis

Answer 26

stenosis (narrowing) of the pulmonary valve

Question 27

systole

Answer 27

phase of the cardiac cycle when the ventricles are contracting

Question 28

tachycardia

Answer 28

a higher than normal HR