Chapter Five

Front 1

ACE inhibitor

Back 1

blocks the action of the enzyme that causes the blood vessels to contract resulting in hypertension

Front 2

anemia

Back 2

a lower than normal number of red blood cells in the blood

Front 3

aneurysm

Back 3

a localized weak spot or balloon-like enlargement of the wall of an artery

Front 4

angina

Back 4

a condition of episodes of severe chest pain due to inadequeat blood flow to the myocardium

Front 5

angioplasty

Back 5

a procedure in which a small balloon is used to open a partially blocked coronary artery by flattening the plaque deposit and stretching the lumen

Front 6

anticoagulant

Back 6

medication administered to slow blood clotting and to prevent new clots from forming; also known as a thrombolytic agent

Front 7

aplastic anemia

Back 7

a type of anemia that is marked by an absence of all formed blood elements

Front 8

arrhythmia

Back 8

an abnormality, or the loss of the normal rhythm, of the heartbeat

Front 9

atherectomy

Back 9

the surgical removal of plaque from the interior lining of an artery

Front 10

atheroma

Back 10

a deposit of plaque on or within the arterial wall

Front 11

atherosclerosis

Back 11

hardening and narrowing of the arteries due to a buildup of cholesterol plaque

Front 12

atrial fibrillation

Back 12

occurs when the normal rhythmic contractions of the atria are replaced by rapid irregular twitching of the muscular heart wall

Front 13

automated external defibrillator

Back 13

device that samples the heart's electrical rhythms, and when necessary, externally shocks the heart to restore a normal cardiac rhythm

Front 14

beta-blocker

Back 14

a medication that reduces the workload of the heart by slowing the rate of the heart beat

Front 15

blood dyscrasia

Back 15

any pathologic condition of the cellular elements of the blood

Front 16

bradycardia

Back 16

an abnormally slow heartbeat

Front 17

cardiac arrest

Back 17

an event in which the heart abruptly stops or develops a very abnormal arrhythmia that prevents it from pumping blood

Front 18

cardiac catheterization

Back 18

a procedure in which a catheter is passed into a vein or artery and is guided into the heart

Front 19

cardiomyopathy

Back 19

the term used to describe all diseases of the heart muscle

Front 20

carotid endarterectomy

Back 20

surgical removal of the lining of a portion of a clogged carotid artery leading to the brain

Front 21

cholesterol

Back 21

a fatty substance that travels through the blood and is found in all parts of the body

Front 22

chronic venous insufficiency

Back 22

a condition in which venous circulation is inadequate due to partial vein blockage or leakage of venous valves

Front 23

coronary thrombosis

Back 23

damage to the heart muscle caused by a thrombus blocking a coronary artery

Front 24

defibrillation

Back 24

the use of electrical shock to restore the heart's normal rhythm

Front 25

diuretic

Back 25

medication administered to stimulate the kidneys to increase the secretion of urine to rid the body of excess sodium and water

Front 26

electrocardiogram

Back 26

a record of the electrical activity of the myocardium

Front 27

embolism

Back 27

blockage of a vessel by an embolus

Front 28

embolus

Back 28

a foreign object such as a blood clot, a quantity of air or gas, or a bit of tissue or tumor that is circulating in the blood

Front 29

endocarditis

Back 29

inflammation of the inner layer of the heart

Front 30

erythrocytes

Back 30

mature red blood cells

Front 31

hemoglobin

Back 31

the iron-containing pigment of the erythrocytes that transports oxygen from the lungs to all of the body tissues

Front 32

hemolytic anemia

Back 32

a condition of an inadequate number of circulating erythrocytes due to the premature destruction of these cells by the spleen

Front 33

hemostasis

Back 33

to control bleeding

Front 34

ischemic heart disease

Back 34

a group of cardiac disabilities resulting from an insufficient supply of oxygenated blood to the heart

Front 35

leukemia

Back 35

a malignancy characterized by a progressive increase of abnormal leukocytes

Front 36

leukocytes

Back 36

white blood cells

Front 37

leukopenia

Back 37

any situation in which the total number of leukocytes in the circulating blood is less than normal

Front 38

megaloblastic anemia

Back 38

the bone marrow produces abnormal red blood cells known as megaloblasts, which have a reduced capacity to carry oxygen

Front 39

myelodysplastic syndrome

Back 39

a group of bone marrow disorders that are characterized by the insufficient production of one or more types of blood cells due to dysfunction of the bone marrow

Front 40

myocardial infarction

Back 40

blockage of a coronary artery

Front 41

orthostatic hypotension

Back 41

low blood pressure that occurs in a standing position

Front 42

paroxysmal atrial tachycardia

Back 42

an episode during which there are very rapid and regular heartbeats that originate in the atrium

Front 43

pericardium

Back 43

the double-walled membranous sac that encloses the heart

Front 44

pernicious anemia

Back 44

a form of anemia caused by a lack of the protein that helps the body absorb vitamin B12 which is necessary for the formation of red blood cells

Front 45

phlebitis

Back 45

inflammation of a vein

Front 46

Raynaud's Phenomenon

Back 46

a peripheral arterial occlusive disease in which intermittent attacks are triggered by cold or stress

Front 47

septicemia

Back 47

the presence of pathogenic microorganisms or their toxins in the blood

Front 48

sickle cell anemia

Back 48

a genetic disorder that causes abnormal hemoglobin, resulting in some red blood cells assuming an abnormal sickle shape

Front 49

tachycardia

Back 49

an abnormally rapid heartbeat

Front 50

thallium stress test

Back 50

a diagnostic test performed to evaluate how well blood flows through the coronary arteries to the heart muscle during exercise

Front 51

thrombocytopenia

Back 51

a condition in which there is an abnormally small number of platelets in the circulating blood

Front 52

thrombolytic

Back 52

medication administered to slow blood clotting and to prevent new clots from forming; also known as an anticoagulant

Front 53

thrombosis

Back 53

an abnormal condition in which a thrombus develops within a blood vessel

Front 54

thrombus

Back 54

a blood clot attached to the interior wall of a vein or artery

Front 55

valvulitis

Back 55

an inflammatory condition of a heart valve

Front 56

varicose veins

Back 56

abnormally swollen veins that usually occur in the legs

Front 57

ventricular fibrillation

Back 57

the rapid, irregular, and useless contractions of the ventricles

Front 58

ventricular tachycardia

Back 58

a very rapid heart beat that begins within the ventricles