Common Cardiac Words

Front 1

Asystole

Back 1

absence of electrical and mechanical activity in the heart. Clinical signs include apnea (absence of breathing) and lack of pulse. Without cardiac monitoring, asystole cannot be distinguished from ventricular fibrillation.

Front 2

Tachycardia

Back 2

heart rate > 100 beats/min. Pathologic tachycardia accompanies anoxia (lack of oxygen), such as that caused by anemia, congestive heart failure, hemorrhage, or shock.

Front 3

Bradycardia

Back 3

heart rate < 60 beats/min. Takes the form of sinus bradycardia, sinus arrhythmia and second- or third-degree atrioventricular block. Can be caused by excessive vagal tone. Pathologic bradycardia may be associated with a brain tumor, digitalis toxicity, heart block or vagotonus.

Front 4

Systolic pressure

Back 4

blood pressure measured during period of ventricular contraction (systole).

Front 5

Diastolic pressure

Back 5

blood pressure measured between contractions of the heart.

Front 6

Preload

Back 6

stretch of ventricular muscle at the end of diastole or just before contraction. Preload of the heart is estimated by the left ventricular filling pressure and volume at that part of the cardiac cycle. Cardiac output increases with preload.

Front 7

Afterload

Back 7

the load or resistance against which the left ventricle must ejects its volume of blood during contraction. The resistance is produced by the volume of blood already in the vascular system and by the constriction of the blood vessels.

Front 8

Central venous pressure (CVP)

Back 8

blood pressure in large veins of the body, measured from a pressure catheter inserted into the vena cava.

Front 9

Central venous blood pressure

Back 9

blood pressure in the superior vena cava, measured by inserting a pressure measuring catheter located directly outside the right atrium. It is approximately equal to the right atrial pressure. On physical exam it may be approximated by evaluation of jugular venous distension.

Front 10

Systemic vascular resistance (SVR)

Back 10

the resistance the left ventricle must overcome to pump blood through the systemic circulation.

Front 11

Total peripheral resistance

Back 11

the overall resistance to blood flow through the systemic blood vessels.

Front 12

Prolapse

Back 12

the dropping, falling, sinking or sliding of an organ from its normal position or location in the body (eg. uterus or rectum).

Front 13

Stenosis

Back 13

an abnormal condition characterized by the constriction or narrowing of an opening or passageway in a body structure (eg. heart valve, blood vessel).

Front 14

Sinus

Back 14

a cavity or channel.