Cardiovascular System Flashcards Chapter 11

Cardiovascular System Key Terms

• Pulmonary Vein: Transports oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart.

• Valve: Regulates blood flow direction within veins or the heart, preventing backflow.

• Vena Cava: The body's largest veins (superior and inferior) delivering deoxygenated blood to the right atrium.

• Arteries: Thick, elastic blood vessels carrying oxygenated blood away from the heart, sustaining high pressure.

• Veins: Thinner blood vessels returning deoxygenated blood from body tissues and lungs to the heart, equipped with valves.

• Pulse: The tactile sensation of the heart's beat as felt through arterial walls.

• Septal Defect: Small openings in the heart wall between atria (atrial) or ventricles (ventricular).

• Vasoconstriction: The narrowing of blood vessels, influencing blood flow and pressure.

• Tachycardia: Rapid heart rate exceeding 100 beats per minute.

• Thromophlebitis: Inflammation of a vein due to clot formation.

• Arteriole: Small arteries that convey oxygenated blood to capillaries; they branch from arteries.

• Atrium: One of the two upper chambers in the heart responsible for pumping blood.

• Aorta: The largest artery in the body, distributing oxygenated blood from the heart to the circulatory system.

• Heart Block: Impaired conduction of electrical impulses through the heart's AV node.

• Mitral Valve Prolapse: Improper closure of the valve between the heart's left atrium and ventricle during contraction.

• Flutter: Rapid, regular contractions of the heart's atria or ventricles.

• Thrombotic Occlusion: Vessel blockage due to a blood clot.

• Coronary Artery Disease: Narrowing or blockage of arteries surrounding the heart, leading to insufficient blood flow (ischemia).

• Hypertensive Heart Disease: Heart complications resulting from high blood pressure.

• Coarctation of the Aorta: Congenital constriction of the aorta, affecting blood flow.

• Congestive Heart Failure: Heart's decreased ability to pump adequate blood volume.

• Tetralogy of Fallot: Congenital heart defect comprising four different anomalies.

• Raynaud Disease: Episodes of skin pallor and numbness in fingers/toes from temporary arterial constriction.

• Deep Vein Thrombosis: Formation of clots in deep veins, particularly in the legs.

• Superior Vena Cava: Transfers oxygen-poor blood from the upper body to the heart.

• Coronary Arteries: Supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle from the aorta.

• Mitral Valvulitis: Inflammation of the mitral valve often linked to rheumatic fever.

• Valvuloplasty: Procedure utilizing a balloon catheter to widen a narrowed heart valve.

• Sphygmomanometer: Instrument designed for measuring blood pressure.

• Interatrial Septum: Wall separating the heart's two atria.

• Hemangioma: Benign tumor of blood vessels, common in infants, often self-resolving.

• Petechiae: Small, pinpoint hemorrhages indicative of bleeding disorders.

• Embolus: A clot or other matter that travels through the bloodstream, risking vessel occlusion.

• Digoxin: Medication used to manage abnormal heart rhythms.

• ECG (Electrocardiography): Diagnostic tool for recording electrical activity of the heart.

• Cardiac Catheterization: Procedure to assess and treat heart conditions via a flexible tube inserted into the heart.

• High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL): Cholesterol type associated with lower coronary artery disease risk.

• Thrombolytic Therapy: Use of drugs to dissolve blood clots in patients with coronary thrombosis.

• Aneurysm: Abnormal widening or dilation of a blood vessel.

• Secondary Hypertension: Elevated blood pressure stemming from underlying conditions.

• Essential Hypertension: High blood pressure with no identifiable cause; defined as 140/90 mmHg or higher.

• Pericardiocentesis: Procedure for fluid removal from the pericardial sac surrounding the heart.

• Palpitations: Sensations of irregular heartbeats experienced in the chest.

• Pulmonary Artery: Carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs for oxygenation.

• Claudication: Pain or cramping in limbs triggered by physical activity due to inadequate blood flow.

• Vegetations: Lesions on heart valves resulting from infection-related damage.

• Myocardial Infarction: Heart muscle tissue death due to insufficient blood supply (heart attack).

• Ischemia: Condition where blood flow to a body area is restricted.

• Angina: Chest pain caused by insufficient oxygen supply to the heart muscle.

• Endocardium: Smooth inner lining of the heart and heart valves.

• Murmur: Abnormal heart sounds caused by faulty valve closure.

• Hypercholesterolemia: Excess cholesterol levels in the bloodstream.

• Phlebitis: Inflammation of a vein.

• Cyanosis: Bluish skin discoloration due to oxygen deficiency in blood.

• Atheroma: Accumulation of fatty substances forming a plaque in arteries.

• Auscultation: Listening to internal organ sounds via a stethoscope.

• Ventricle: One of the two lower chambers of the heart.

• Septum: Wall dividing the heart's right and left sides.

• Diastole: Phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle relaxes.

• Atrioventricular Valves: Valves located between atria and ventricles.

• Sinoatrial Node (SA): Heart's pacemaker initiating electrical impulses for heart contractions.

• Tricuspid Valve: Valve controlling blood flow between the right atrium and right ventricle.

• Mitral Valve: Valve located between the left atrium and left ventricle; known as the bicuspid valve.

• Pericardium: Double-layered membrane encasing the heart.

• Systole: Phase of the heartbeat when the heart contracts actively pumping blood.

• Fibrillation: Rapid, erratic contractions of the heart muscle.

• Myocardium: The muscular layer of the heart wall, the thickest layer allowing for contraction.

• Cardiomyopathy: Disease affecting the heart muscle.

• Cardiomegaly: Enlargement of the heart.

• Arteriosclerosis: Hardening of the arteries, affecting blood flow.

• Atrioventricular Node (AV Node): Critical for signal transmission from atria to ventricles via specialized fibers.

• P Wave: Represents atrial excitation before contraction.

• QRS Complex: Depicts ventricular excitation as the ventricles contract.

• T Wave: Reflects recovery and relaxation of the ventricles post-contraction.