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).
Cardiovascular System – Heart Glossary Reinforcement Activity
Cardiovascular System – Heart Glossary Reinforcement Activity (Text version)
- ____[Blank 1] is the ability of the blood vessels to dilate and constrict as needed.
- Compliance
- LDL
- Syncope
- A disorder in which too many red blood cells are produced is called ______[Blank 2].
- Mitral valve
- Polycythemia
- Great vessels
- ____[Blank 3] is difficult breathing.
- Dyspnea
- Pacemaker
- Roots of the Great Vessels
- A condition in which cells receive insufficient amounts of blood and oxygen is called ______[Blank 4].
- Diaphoresis
- Ischemic
- Serous
- Using extreme heat or extreme cold to destroy cells in part of the heart which were causing abnormal rhythms is called _____[Blank 5].
- Congenital
- Ablation
- Cyanosis
Check your Answers: [1]
Activity source: Cardiovascular System – Heart Glossary Reinforcement Activity by Gisele Tuzon, from Building a Medical Terminology Foundation by Kimberlee Carter and Marie Rutherford, licensed under CC BY- 4.0. /Text version added.
Attribution
- 1. Compliance, 2. Polycythemia, 3. Dyspnea, 4. Ischemic, 5. Ablation ↵