Vocabulary & Check Your Knowledge

Cardiovascular System – Heart Vocabulary

5.25 liters of blood

The volume of blood ejected by the ventricle in one minute is called the cardiac output.

70 mL blood per contraction

The amount of blood ejected from the ventricle in one contraction is called the stroke volume.

Ablation

Using extreme heat or extreme cold to destroy cells in part of the heart which were causing abnormal rhythms.

Angina Pectoris

Chest pain.

Angiogram

An x-ray of the coronary blood vessels using a special catheter and an injection of dye.

Antihypertensives

Class of medications used to treat high blood pressure.

Arrhythmias

Absence of a regular heart rhythm.

Asymptomatic

Pertaining to without symptoms.

Atherosclerosis

A hardening of the arteries that involves the accumulation of plaque.

Auscultation

Listening to the heart using a stethoscope.

AV

Atrioventricular: the area of the heart where the atria and ventricles meet.

AV Valves

Atrioventricular valves: mitral (bicuspid) valve allows blood to flow from left atrium to left ventricle, tricuspid valve allows blood to flow from right atrium to right ventricle.

Bradycardia

Pertaining to a slow heart (rate).

Cardiac Troponin

The regulatory protein for muscle contraction.

Clubbing of the fingers and toes

Broadening of the nails and exaggerated curvature of the nails.

Compliance

The ability of the blood vessels to dilate and constrict as needed.

Congenital

Present at birth.

Creatine Kinase MB

An enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of creatine to phosphocreatine, consuming ATP.

CT

Computerized tomography: a special 3-dimensional x-ray, also called CAT=Computerized Axial Tomography.

Cyanosis

Abnormal condition of blue (bluish colour, lips and nail beds). Typically caused by low oxygenation.

Diabetes Mellitus

An endocrine system disorder in which the pancreas does not produce insulin or the cells of the body do not respond to insulin. This results in high levels of glucose in the blood.

Diaphoresis

Sweating.

Ductus Arteriosus

Connection between pulmonary trunk and aorta in the fetal heart.

Dyspnea

Difficult breathing.

ECG

ECG/EKG both these abbreviations mean electrocardiogram or a recording of the electrical impulses in the heart.

Echocardiography

Process of using sound to record the heart.

Electrocardiograph

Instrument used to record electrical activity within the heart.

Foramen Ovale

Opening between right and left atria, which is normal in the fetal heart.

Great Vessels

The great vessels include the superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, aorta and pulmonary trunk.

HDL

High-density lipoprotein, often referred to as ‘good’ cholesterol.

Heart Murmur

An abnormal heart sound.

Heart Rate

The number of times the heart contracts in one minute.

Hypercholesterolemia

Higher than normal levels of cholesterol in the blood.

Hyperlipidemia

Excessive fat in the blood.

Hypertension

High blood pressure.

Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICD)

An electronic implant that provides an automatic shock to convert a dangerous heart rhythm to a normal heart rhythm.

Inferior Vena Cava

One of the two largest veins in the body. It carries deoxygenated blood from the torso and legs back to the heart.

Interatrial Septum

The wall separating the right and left atria.

Interventricular Septum

The wall of myocardium that separates the right and left ventricles.

Ischemic

Ischemia is a condition in which cells receive insufficient amounts of blood and oxygen.

LDL

Low-density lipoprotein, often referred to as ‘bad’ cholesterol.

Mitral Valve

Also known as the bicuspid valve.

MRI

Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Highly detailed images produced using a strong magnet and radio waves.

Pacemaker

An electronic implant that initiates a heart beat.

Palpitations

A feeling in the chest that may be caused by an irregular heart rhythm.

Pericardial fluid

Pericardial fluid is a serous fluid which allow the 2 layers of serous pericardium to slide smoothly against each other as the heart beats.

Plaque

A fatty material including cholesterol, connective tissue, white blood cells, and some smooth muscle cells.

Polycythemia

A disorder in which too many red blood cells are produced.

Pulmonary Trunk

Very large artery referred to as a trunk, a term indicating that the vessel gives rise to several smaller arteries.

Roots of the Great Vessels

The part of each great vessel (aorta, pulmonary trunk, inferior vena cava, superior vena cava) that connects to the base of the heart.

Serous

You may recall that serous membranes throughout the body are folded back on themselves, which results in a double-layered membrane separated by serous fluid. The serous membrane surrounding the lungs is called pleura. The serous membrane surrounding the abdominopelvic organs is called peritoneum.

Silent Mis

A myocardial infarction without symptoms. The patient may not know that they are having an MI.

Sinus Rhythm

This is the rhythm set by the heart’s pacemaker, the sinoatrial node and is usually approximately 60-90 beats per minute in a resting adult.

Superior Vena Cava

One of the two largest veins in the body. It carries deoxygenated blood from the head and upper extremities back to the heart.

Syncope

Fainting.

Tachycardia

Condition of a fast heart (rate).

Attribution