Cardiac System Terms

Front 1

Afterload

Back 1

The force the ventricles must overcome to eject their blood volume; the pressure in the arterial system ahead of the ventricles.

Front 2

Acute coronary syndromes

Back 2

A general term used to describe the effects of coronary heart disease, includig angina and myocardial infarction

Front 3

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)

Back 3

Abnormal proliferation of lymphoblasts in the bone marrow, lymph nodes, and spleen; the most common type of leukemia in children and young adults.

Front 4

Acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML)

Back 4

Uncontrolled proliferation of myeloblasts (granulocyte precursors) and hyperplasia of bone marrow and the spleen; the most common acute leukemia in adults.

Front 5

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI)

Back 5

Necrosis (death) of myocardial cells.

Front 6

Agranulocytosis

Back 6

Severe neutropenia, with less than 200 cells/?m.

Front 7

Anemia

Back 7

An abnormally low number of circulating RBCs, hemoglobin concentration, or both

Front 8

Aneurysm

Back 8

Abnormal dilation of a blood vessel, commonly at a site of a weakness or tear in the vessel wall

Front 9

Angina pectoris

Back 9

(angina) Chest pain resulting from reduced coronary blood flow which causes a temporary imbalance between myocardial blood supply and demand.

Front 10

Aortitis

Back 10

Inflammation of the aorta, usually the aortic arch

Front 11

Apical impulse

Back 11

A normal, visible pulsation (thrust) in the area of the midclavicular line in the left fifth intercostal space. It can be seen on inspection in about half of the adult population.

Front 12

Aplastic anemia

Back 12

Failure of the bone marrow to produce all three types of blood cells.

Front 13

Atherosclerosis

Back 13

A progressive disease characterized by atheroma (plaque) formation that affects the intimal and medial layers of large and medium-sized arteries.

Front 14

Atherosclerosis

Back 14

A form of arteriosclerosis in which deposits of fat and fibrin obstruct and harden the arteries

Front 15

Atrial kick

Back 15

Delivery of an addition bolus of blood to the ventricles resulting from atrial systole; occurs just prior to ventricular systole.

Front 16

Auscultatory gap

Back 16

A temporary disappearance of sound between the systolic and diastolic BP.

Front 17

Blood clot

Back 17

See Thrombus.

Front 18

Blood flow

Back 18

The volume of blood transported in a vessel, in an organ, or throughout the entire circulation over a given period of time.

Front 19

Blood pressure

Back 19

The tension or pressure exerted by blood against arterial walls

Front 20

Bone marrow transplant (BMT)

Back 20

Infusion of bone marrow cells to restore bone marrow function after chemotherapy or radiation; allogeneic BMT uses donor bone marrow cells from a donor; autologous BMT uses the client's own bone marrow.

Front 21

Bradycardia

Back 21

A heart rate less than 60 BPM.

Front 22

Cardiac arrest

Back 22

Sudden failure of heart to pump.

Front 23

Cardiac cycle

Back 23

The contraction and relaxation of the heart during one heartbeat.

Front 24

Cardiac output

Back 24

(CO) The amount of blood pumped by the ventricles into the pulmonary and systemic circulations in 1 minute.

Front 25

Cardiac rehabilitation

Back 25

A long-term program of medical evaluation, exercise, risk factor modification, education, and counseling designed to limit the physical and psychological effects of cardiac illness and improve quality of life (Woods et al., 2000).

Front 26

Cardiac reserve

Back 26

The ability of the heart to respond to the body's changing need for cardiac output.

Front 27

Cardiac tamponade

Back 27

Compression of the heart due to pericardial effusion, trauma, cardiac rupture, or hemorrhage.

Front 28

Cardiomegaly

Back 28

Enlargement of the heart.

Front 29

Cardiomyopathy

Back 29

Primary abnormality of the heart muscle that affects its structural or functional characteristics.

Front 30

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)

Back 30

Proliferation and accumulation of small, abnormal, mature lymphocytes in the bone marrow, peripheral blood, and body tissues; least common type of the major leukemias.

Front 31

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)

Back 31

Abnormal proliferation of all bone marrow elements, usually associated with a chromosome abnormality (the Philadelphia chromosome).

Front 32

Chronic venous insufficiency

Back 32

A chronic disorder of inadequate venous return

Front 33

Coagulation

Back 33

The process of creating a fibrin meshwork that cements blood components together to form an insoluble clot.

Front 34

Collateral vessels

Back 34

Accessory pathways connected to the smaller arteries in the coronary system.

Front 35

Coronary heart disease (CHD)

Back 35

Heart disease caused by impaired blood flow to the myocardium

Front 36

Deep venous thrombosis

Back 36

(DVT) Blood clot (thrombus) formation and inflammation within a deep vein, usually in the pelvis or lower extremities; a common complication of hospitalization, surgery, and immobilization

Front 37

Depolarization

Back 37

The rapid inflow of sodium ions causing an electrical change in which the inside of a cell becomes positive in relation to the outside

Front 38

Diastolic blood pressure

Back 38

The minimum pressure maintained by elastic arterial walls during diastole (cardiac relaxation) to maintain blood flow through capillary beds; averages 80 mm Hg in a healthy adult.

Front 39

Dissection (aortic)

Back 39

A life-threatening emergency caused by a tear in the intima of the aorta with hemorrhage into the media

Front 40

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)

Back 40

A disruption of hemostasis characterized by widespread intravascular clotting and bleeding; a syndrome that develops as a complication of many other disorders

Front 41

Dysrhythmia

Back 41

(cardiac) A disturbance or irregularity in the electrical system of the heart.

Front 42

Dysrhythmias

Back 42

Abnormal heart rate or rhythms.

Front 43

Ectopic beats

Back 43

Impulses originating outside normal conduction pathways of the heart.

Front 44

Ejection fraction

Back 44

(EF) The percentage of total blood remaining in the ventricle at the end of diastole (relaxation); normal is 50% to 70%.

Front 45

Electrocardiography

Back 45

The graphic recording of the heart's electrical activity detected and recorded through electrodes placed on the surface of the body.

Front 46

Embolism

Back 46

Sudden obstruction of a blood vessel by debris

Front 47

Endocarditis

Back 47

Inflammation of the endocardium.

Front 48

Erythropoiesis

Back 48

Red blood cell production

Front 49

Folic acid deficiency anemia

Back 49

An anemia resulting from folic acid deficiency, a necessary nutrient for DNA synthesis and RBC maturation.

Front 50

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) anemia

Back 50

Anemia due to a hereditary defect in RBC metabolism

Front 51

Heart block

Back 51

A block in the normal conduction pathways.

Front 52

Heart failure

Back 52

Inability of the heart to pump adequate blood to meet the metabolic demands of the body.

Front 53

Heave

Back 53

An excessive thrust.

Front 54

Hemodynamics

Back 54

Study of the forces involved in blood circulation.

Front 55

Hemoglobin

Back 55

The oxygen-carrying protein within RBCs; composed the heme molecule and globin, a protein molecule.

Front 56

Hemolysis

Back 56

The process of RBC destruction

Front 57

Hemolytic anemias

Back 57

Premature destruction (lysis) of RBCs

Front 58

Hemophilia

Back 58

A group of hereditary clotting factor disorders that lead to persistent and potentially severe bleeding

Front 59

Hemophilia A (classic hemophilia)

Back 59

The most common type of hemophilia, caused by clotting factor VIII deficiency

Front 60

Hemophilia B (Christmas disease)

Back 60

Hemophilia caused by factor IX deficiency.

Front 61

Hemostasis

Back 61

Control of bleeding

Front 62

Hypertension

Back 62

Excess pressure in the arterial portion of systemic circulation.

Front 63

Intermittent claudication

Back 63

cramping, aching pain in the calves, thighs, and buttocks that occurs with a predictable level of activity and is relieved by rest.

Front 64

Iron deficiency anemia

Back 64

The most common type of anemia; results from inadequate iron for optimal RBC formation

Front 65

Ischemia

Back 65

Deficient blood flow to tissue.

Front 66

Ischemic

Back 66

Deprived of oxygen.

Front 67

Korotkoff's sounds

Back 67

Sounds heard during auscultation of blood pressure.

Front 68

Leukemia

Back 68

("white blood") A group of chronic malignant disorders of white blood cells and white blood cell precursors; characterized by replacement of bone marrow by malignant immature white blood cells, abnormal immature circulating WBCs, and infiltration of malignant cells into other tissues

Front 69

Leukocytosis

Back 69

An elevated WBC count;

Front 70

Leukopenia

Back 70

A low WBC count

Front 71

Lift

Back 71

A more sustained thrust than normal.

Front 72

Lymphadenopathy

Back 72

The enlargement of lymph nodes (over 1 cm) with or without tenderness. It may be caused by inflammation, infection, or malignancy of the nodes or the regions drained by the nodes.

Front 73

Lymphangitis

Back 73

Inflammation of a lymphatic vessel

Front 74

Lymphedema

Back 74

Swelling due to lymphatic obstruction

Front 75

Lymphedema

Back 75

Extremity edema due to accumulated lymph; may be primary or secondary, resulting from inflammation, obstruction, or removal of lymphatic vessels.

Front 76

Lymphoid tissues

Back 76

Connective tissues containing lymphocytes; include tissues of the bone marrow, thymus, lymph nodes, spleen.

Front 77

Lymphomas

Back 77

Malignancies of lymphoid tissue

Front 78

Malignant hypertension

Back 78

A hypertensive emergency, marked by a diastolic pressure greater than 120 mm Hg

Front 79

Mean arterial pressure (MAP)

Back 79

The average pressure in the arterial circulation throughout the cardiac cycle.

Front 80

Multiple myeloma

Back 80

A malignancy in which plasma cells multiply uncontrollably and infiltrate the bone marrow, lymph nodes, spleen, and other tissues

Front 81

Murmurs

Back 81

Sounds made by turbulent blood flow through the heart.

Front 82

Myocarditis

Back 82

Inflammatory disorder of the heart muscle.

Front 83

Necrosis

Back 83

Tissue cell death.

Front 84

Neutropenia

Back 84

A decrease in circulating neutrophils

Front 85

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL)

Back 85

Lymphoid tissue malignancies that do not contain Reed-Sternberg cells.

Front 86

Normal sinus rhythm (NSR)

Back 86

Normal heart rhythm, in which impulses originate in the sinus node and travel through normal conduction pathways without delay.

Front 87

Orthostatic hypotension

Back 87

A decrease in systolic BP of over 10 to 15 mm Hg and a drop in diastolic BP on standing.

Front 88

Pacemaker

Back 88

A pulse generator used to provide an electrical stimulus to the heart when the heart fails to generate or conduct its own at a rate that maintains the cardiac output.

Front 89

Paroxysmal

Back 89

Abrupt onset and termination.

Front 90

Pericarditis

Back 90

Inflammation of the pericardium.

Front 91

Peripheral vascular disease

Back 91

(PVD) Impaired blood supply to peripheral tissues, particularly the lower extremities.

Front 92

Peripheral vascular resistance (PVR)

Back 92

The opposing forces or impedance to blood flow as the arterial channels become more and more distant from the heart.

Front 93

Pernicious anemia

Back 93

Anemia resulting from failure to absorb dietary vitamin B12 due to lack of intrinsic factor

Front 94

Platelets

Back 94

(thrombocytes) Cell fragments that have no nucleus and cannot replicate

Front 95

Polycythemia

Back 95

(erythrocytosis) Excess RBCs characterized by a hematocrit higher than 55%.

Front 96

Preload

Back 96

The amount of cardiac muscle fiber tension or stretch that exists at diastole, just before ventricular contraction

Front 97

Primary hypertension (idiopathic, essential)

Back 97

(essential hypertension) A persistently elevated systemic blood pressure

Front 98

Primary polycythemia

Back 98

(polycythemia vera) A neoplastic stem cell disorder characterized by overproduction of RBCs and, to a lesser extent, white blood cells and platelets.

Front 99

Pulmonary edema

Back 99

An abnormal accumulation of fluid in the interstitial tissue and alveoli of the lung.

Front 100

Pulse

Back 100

Rhythmic pressure wave that can be felt over an artery.

Front 101

Pulse deficit

Back 101

The radial pulse is less than the apical pulse, indicating weak, inefficient left ventricular contractions

Front 102

Pulse pressure

Back 102

The difference between the systolic and diastolic BP.

Front 103

Pulse pressure

Back 103

The difference between the systolic and diastolic pressure, normally about 40 mm Hg

Front 104

Raynaud's disease

Back 104

(and phenomenon) Disorders characterized by episodes of intense vasospasm in the small arteries and arterioles of the fingers and possibly the toes

Front 105

Red blood cell

Back 105

(RBCs, erythrocytes) Blood cells shaped like a biconcave disk that contain hemoglobin required for oxygen transport to body tissues; the most common type of blood cell.

Front 106

Refractory period

Back 106

A period where myocardial cells are resistant to stimulation.

Front 107

Regurgitation

Back 107

(valvular) Backflow of blood through an incompletely closed valve into the area it just left.

Front 108

Repolarization

Back 108

Restoration of the resting cell membrane potential following generation of an action potential

Front 109

Retractions

Back 109

A pulling in of the tissue of the precordium; a slight retraction just medial to the midclavicular line at the area of the apical impulse is normal and is more likely to be visible in thin clients.

Front 110

Rheumatic fever

Back 110

A systemic inflammatory disease caused by an abnormal immune response to pharyngeal infection by group A beta-hemolytic streptococci.

Front 111

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD)

Back 111

Slowly progressive valvular deformity following acute or repeated attacks of rheumatic fever; characterized by rigid and deformed valve leaflets; fused valve commissures, and fibrosis of chordae tendineae.

Front 112

Secondary hypertension

Back 112

Elevated blood pressure resulting from an identifiable underlying process

Front 113

Sickle cell anemia

Back 113

A hereditary, chronic hemolytic anemia characterized by episodes of sickling, during which RBCs become abnormally crescent shaped.

Front 114

Stem cell transplant (SCT)

Back 114

Infusion of donor stem cells to replace the recipient's blood cell lines (WBCs, RBCs, and platelets)

Front 115

Stem cells

Back 115

(hemocytoblasts) Bone marrow precursor cells for all blood cells

Front 116

Stenosis

Back 116

Condition where valve leaflets fuse together and are unable to open or close fully.

Front 117

Stroke volume

Back 117

(SV) Volume of blood ejected from the heart during contraction.

Front 118

Sudden cardiac death (SCD)

Back 118

Unexpected death occurring within 1 hour of the onset of cardiovascular symptoms.

Front 119

Systole

Back 119

A phase during which the ventricles contract and eject blood into the pulmonary and systemic circuits.

Front 120

Systolic blood pressure

Back 120

This arterial pressure wave produced by ventricular contraction (systole); averages 120 mm Hg in healthy adults

Front 121

Tachycardia

Back 121

A heart rate exceeding 100 beats per minute (BPM).

Front 122

Thalassemia

Back 122

An inherited disorder of hemoglobin synthesis in which either the alpha or beta chains of the hemoglobin molecule are missing or defective

Front 123

Thromboangiitis obliterans

Back 123

(Buerger's disease) An occlusive vascular disease involving inflammation, spasm, and clot formation in small and medium-sized peripheral arteries

Front 124

Thrombocytopenia

Back 124

A platelet count of less than 100,000 per milliliter of blood.

Front 125

Thromboembolus

Back 125

A thrombus that breaks loose from the arterial wall

Front 126

Thrombus

Back 126

A blood clot that adheres to a vessel wall

Front 127

Valvular heart disease

Back 127

Interference of blood flow to, within, and from the heart.

Front 128

Varicose veins

Back 128

Irregular, tortuous veins with incompetent valves

Front 129

Vasoconstriction

Back 129

Smooth muscle contraction that narrows the vessel lumen

Front 130

Vasodilation

Back 130

Smooth muscle relaxation that expands the vessel lumen

Front 131

Venous thrombosis

Back 131

(thrombophlebitis) Blood clot (thrombus) formation on the wall of a vein, accompanied by inflammation of the vein wall and obstructed venous blood flow.

Front 132

Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia

Back 132

Anemia due to inadequate vitamin B12 consumption or impaired absorption.

Front 133

Von Willebrand's disease

Back 133

The most common hereditary bleeding disorder, caused by a deficit of or defective von Willebrand (vW) factor