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aorta |
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largest artery in the body |
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arteriole |
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small artery |
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artery |
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largest type of bloodvessel; carries blood away from the heart to all parts of the body. Notice that artery and away begin with "a" |
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atrioventricular bundle (bundle of His) |
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specialized muscle fibers connecting the atria with the ventricles and transmitting electrical impulses between them. His is pronounced "hiss" |
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atrioventricular node (AV node) |
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specialized tissue in the wall between the atria. Electrical impulses pass from the pacemaker (SA node) through the AV node and the atrioventriular bundle or bundle of His toward the ventricles. |
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atrium (plural: atria) |
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one of two upper chambers of the heart |
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capillary |
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smallest blood vessel. Materials pass to and from the bloodstream through the thin capillary walls. |
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carbon dioxide (CO2) |
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Gas (waste) released by body cells, transported via veins to the heart and then to the lungs for exhalation |
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coronary arteries |
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blood vessels that branch from the aorta and carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle |
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deoxygenated blood |
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blood that is oxygen-poor |
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diastole |
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relaxation phase of the heartbeat |
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electrocardiogram |
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record of the electricity flowing through the hear. The electricity is represented by waves or deflections called P, QRS, or T |
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endocardium |
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inner lining of the heart |
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endothelium |
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innermost lining of blood vessels |
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mitral valve |
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valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle; bicuspid valve |
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murmur |
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abnormal swishing sound caused by improper closure of the heart valves |
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myocardium |
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muscular, middle layer of the heart |
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normal sinus rhythm |
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heart rhythm originating in the sinoatrial node with a resting rate of 60 to 100 beats per minute |
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oxygen |
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gas that enters the blood through the lungs and travels to the heart to be pumped via arteries to all body cells |
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pacemaker (sinoatrial node) |
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specialized nervous tissue in the right atrium that begins the heartbeat. An artificial cardiac pacemaker is an electronic apparatus implanted in the chest to stimulate heart muscle that is weak and not functioning |
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pericardium |
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double-layered membrane surrounding the heart |
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pulmonary artery |
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artery carrying oxygen-poor blood from the heart to the lungs |
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pulmonary circulation |
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flow of blood from the heart to the lungs and back to the heart |
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pulmonary valve |
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valve positioned between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery |
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pulmonary vein |
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one of two pairs of vessels carrying oxyenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart |
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pulse |
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beat of the heart as felt through the walls of the arteries |
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septum (plural: septa) |
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partition or wall dividing a cavity; such as between the right and left atria (interatrial spetum) and right and left ventricles (interventricular septum) |
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sinoatrial node (SA node) |
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pacemaker of the heart |
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sphygmomanometer |
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instrument to measure blood pressure |
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systemic circulation |
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flow of blood from body tissue to the heart and then from the heart bak to body tissues |
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systole |
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contraction phase of the heartbeat. |
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tricuspid valve |
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located between the right atrium and the right ventricle; it has three (tri-) leaflets, or cusps |
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valve |
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structure in veins or in the heart that temporarily closes an opening so that blood flows in only one direction |
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vein |
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thin walled vessel that carries blood from body tissues and lungs back to the heart. Veins contain valves to prevent backflow of blood |
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vena cava (plural: venae cavae) |
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largest vein in the body. The superior and inferior venae cavae return blood to the right atrium of the heart |
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ventricle |
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one of two lower chambers of the heart |
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venule |
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small vein |
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acute coronary syndromes (ACSs) |
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unstable angina and myocardial infarction (heart attack), which are consequences of plaque rupture in coranary arteries |
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angina (pectoris) |
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chest pain resulting from myocardial ischemia. Stable angina occurs predictably with exertion; unstable angina is chest pain that occurs more often and wth less exertion |
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angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor |
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antihypertensive drug that blocks the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, causing blood vessels to dilate. It prevents heart attacks, CHF, stroke and death. |
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auscultation |
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listening for sounds in blood vessels or other body structures, typically using a stethoscope |
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beta-blocker |
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drug used to treat angina, hypertension, and srrhymias. It blocks the action of epinephrine (adrenaline) at receptor sites on cells, slowing the heartbeat and reducing the workload on the heart |
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biventricular pacemaker |
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device enabling ventricles to beat together (in synchrony) so that more blood is pumped out of the heart |
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bruit |
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abnormal blowing or swishing sound heard during ausultation of an artery or orga |
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calcium channel blocker |
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drug used to treat angina and hypertension. It dilates blood vessels by blockibg the influx of calcium into muscle cells lining vessels |
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cardiac arrrest |
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sudden, unexpected stoppage of heart action; sudden cardiac death |
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cardiac tamponade |
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pressure on the heart caused by fluid in the pericardial space |
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claudication |
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pain, tension, and weakness in a leg after walking has begun, but absence of pain at rest |
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digoxin |
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drug that treats arrhythmias and strenghtens the heartbeat |
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embolus (plural: emboli) |
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clot or other substance that travels to a distant location and suddenly blocks a blood vessel |
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infarction |
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area of dead tissue |
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nitrates |
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drugs used in the treatment of angina. They dilate blood vessels, increasing blood flow and oxygen to myocardial tissue |
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nitroglycerin |
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nitrate drug used in the treatment of angina |
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occclusion |
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closure of a blood vessel due to blockage |
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palpitations |
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uncomfortable sensations in the chest related to cardiac arrhythmias, sucha s premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) |
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patent |
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open |
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pericardial friction rub |
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scraping or grating noise heard on auscultation of the heart; suggestive of pericarditis |
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petechiae |
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small, pinpoint hemorrhages |
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statins |
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drugs used to lower cholesterol in the bloodstream |
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thrill |
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vibration felt over an area of turmoil in blood flow (as a blocked artery) |
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vegetations |
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clumps of platelets, clotting proteins, microorganisms, and red blood cells on diseased heart valves |
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