First Year Medicine

Front 1

5HT

Back 1

Abbreviation for serotonin, a monoamine neurotransmitter

Front 2

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)

Back 2

A tachycardia originating from above the ventricles.

Front 3

atheroma

Back 3

"lump of wax", from Athera = wax in Greek, nodular accumulation of a soft, flaky, yellowish material at the center of large plaques, composed of macrophages nearest the lumen of the artery

Front 4

diurnal BP variation

Back 4

10-20%

Front 5

ceftriaxone

Back 5

a cephalosporin antibiotic, can be overprescribed - often not needed unless allergic to penicillin

Front 6

CABG

Back 6

A common acronym for heart bypass surgery; stands for "coronary artery bypass grafting."

Front 7

Fallots Tetralogy 

Back 7

A common heart defect associated with cyanosis. There are four parts to the defect (Tetra = four). The name 'Fallot' refers to the French doctor who described the features of the defect.

Front 8

Dextrocardia

Back 8

A condition in which the heart lies in the right side (instead of the left) of the chest. The heart may be normal or have other defects.

Front 9

Congestive Heart Failure

Back 9

A condition which occurs when there is a buildup of fluid (i.e. congestion) in the lungs or other organs such as the liver. This congestion usually results when the heart is unable to work efficiently. Children with heart failure may have symptoms such as marked shortness of breath and difficulty with feeding. The term 'heart failure' does not mean that the heart will suddenly stop beating.

Front 10

Premature atrial contraction (PAC)

Back 10

A contraction in the atrium which is initiated by an ectopic focus and occurs earlier than the next expected normal sinus beat.

Front 11

arteriosclerosis

Back 11

a general term describing any hardening (and loss of elasticity) of medium or large arteries 

Front 12

Aldosterone

Back 12

a hormone that increases the reabsorption of sodium and water and the release (secretion) of potassium in the kidneys. This increases blood volume and, therefore, increases blood pressure

Front 13

Angioplasty

Back 13

a procedure performed during a heart catheterization, in which atherosclerotic plaques (blockages) in the coronary arteries are compressed against the vessel wall by expanding a balloon from within the artery. 

Front 14

Ventricular Tachycardia (VT

Back 14

A rapid heart rate that starts in the ventricles. During VT, the heart does not have time to fill with enough blood between heart beats to supply the entire body with sufficient blood. It may cause dizziness and light-headedness.

Front 15

Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO)

Back 15

A small hole between the atriums, related to failure of the normal Foramen Ovale to close completely after birth. Such a communication is present in about 20% of normal adults and very seldom causes any problem or requires treatment.

Front 16

APTT

Back 16

activated partial thromboplastin time, measures intrinsic pathway (and common pathway). The test is termed "partial" due to the absence of tissue factor from the reaction mixture. It is used to detect clotting abnormalities and monitor treatment with heparin.

Front 17

croup

Back 17

acute laryngotracheobronchitis (parainfluenza virus, sudden onset, barking cough, stridor, fever, worse at night. Lasts 48h)

Front 18

secretory otitis media

Back 18

adenoidal obstruction of Eustachian tube --> poor aeration, decreased hearing --> grommet (ventilation tube)

Front 19

Atopy

Back 19

allergic hypersensitivity affecting parts of the body not in contact with the allergen, e.g. eczema, allergic conjunctivitis, asthma, allergic rhinitis. Strong hereditary component.

Front 20

Banding

Back 20

An operation which involves placing a band of narrow tape around the main pulmonary artery to reduce blood flow and pressure in the lungs. This is a temporary operation used to alleviate the effects of some heart problems . The banding delays the need for further heart surgery until a more appropriate time, e.g. allowing time for the baby to grow.

Front 21

micardis

Back 21

ARII blocker

Front 22

ABG

Back 22

arterial blood gas

Front 23

cartia

Back 23

aspirin

Front 24

Noten

Back 24

Atenolol

Front 25

Lipitor

Back 25

atorvastatin

Front 26

Amoxycillin

Back 26

better absorbed than penicillin V (oral) or G (IV)

Front 27

active hyperaemia

Back 27

blood flow increases to an organ in response to increased metabolism (increased demand)

Front 28

angina pectoris

Back 28

chest pain due to ischemia (a lack of blood and hence oxygen supply) of the heart muscle, generally due to obstruction or spasm of the coronary arteries (the heart's blood vessels)

Front 29

anosmia

Back 29

complete loss of smell

Front 30

Atresia

Back 30

Complete obstruction to a valve or blood vessel, so that blood cannot get past this point in the circulation and has to take an alternative route.

Front 31

Aortic Atresia

Back 31

Complete obstruction to the aortic valve or the aorta

Front 32

Mitral Atresia

Back 32

Complete obstruction to the mitral valve.

Front 33

haemoptysis

Back 33

coughing up blood

Front 34

Sudden cardiac death (SCD)

Back 34

Death due to cardiac causes within 1 hour of the onset of symptoms, with no prior warning. Usually caused by ventricular fibrillation.

Front 35

theophylline

Back 35

direct smooth muscle relaxant, member of xanthine family, similar structure to caffeine, numerous side effects.

Front 36

Class II antiarrhythmic drugs

Back 36

Drugs which act as beta-adrenergic blocking agents (e.g. Propanolol, Metoprolol, Atenolol)

Front 37

Class III antiarrhythmic drugs

Back 37

Drugs which act directly on cardiac cell membrane, prolong repolarisation and refractory periods, increase VF threshold, and act on peripheral smooth muscle to decrease peripheral resistance (e.g. amiodarone, sotalol)

Front 38

Class I antiarrhythmic drugs

Back 38

Drugs which act selectively to depress fast sodium channels, slowing conduction in all parts of the heart (e.g. Quinidine, Procainamide, Flecainide, Encainide, Propafenone)

Front 39

otalgia

Back 39

ear pain

Front 40

diaphoresis

Back 40

excessive sweating

Front 41

Atrial Flutter (AFL)

Back 41

Fast, organised atrial rhythm.

Front 42

stridor

Back 42

harsh sound on inspiration (narrowing of upper airway)

Front 43

HSDNM

Back 43

heart sounds dual no murmur

Front 44

HCM

Back 44

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Front 45

seretide

Back 45

ICS+LABA

Front 46

stress hyperglycemia

Back 46

inflammatory response --> insulin resistance, glucose in blood is used by lymphocytes. E.g. in diabetics with infection, glucose goes up, less control.

Front 47

arteriole cushions

Back 47

innervated intimal smooth muscle cushions that might have a role in myocardial perfusion and heart disease, reducing turbulent flow but also sites for vasospasm and atherosclerosis

Front 48

JVPNR

Back 48

Jugular venous pressure not raised

Front 49

frusemide/furosemide

Back 49

loop diuretic, potassium losing, used to treat CHF and oedema - also banned in elite sports as it masks other drugs

Front 50

MCS

Back 50

microscopy culture sensitivity

Front 51

Claudication

Back 51

Muscle pain during exercise, usually in the legs, caused by an insufficient vascular supply. The most common cause is hardening of the arteries - arteriosclerosis

Front 52

Anoxia

Back 52

no oxygen

Front 53

tinnitus

Back 53

noise in the ears

Front 54

unilateral wheeze

Back 54

not asthma, may be foreign body obstruction or a mucosal plug

Front 55

thrills

Back 55

palpable murmur

Front 56

somac

Back 56

pantoprazole (PPI)

Front 57

quinsy

Back 57

peritonsillar abscess

Front 58

Spironolactone

Back 58

potassium sparing diuretic, aldosterone antagonist, used to treat heart failure, ascites in patients with liver disease, low-renin hypertension, hypokalemia, secondary hyperaldosteronism (such as occurs with hepatic cirrhosis)

Front 59

PVC or VPD

Back 59

Premature ventricular contraction: A contraction in the ventricle which is initiated by an ectopic focus and occurs earlier than the next expected normal sinus or escape rhythm beat.

Front 60

PT

Back 60

prothrombin time, measures extrinsic pathway of coagulation - used to monitor warfarin dosage (see also INR), liver damage, and vitamin K status. Normal range is 0.8-1.2

Front 61

purulent

Back 61

pus

Front 62

Ampicillin or amoxicillin + EBV

Back 62

rash (90%) reaction - but this is not usually a true allergic reaction and should not prevent future use of this antibiotic

Front 63

Toll-like receptors

Back 63

recognise non-self (PAMP), stimulate innate cells

Front 64

cholecystectomy

Back 64

removal of gallbladder

Front 65

heaves

Back 65

Right ventricular hypertrophy

Front 66

rhinorrhoea

Back 66

runny nose

Front 67

glue ear

Back 67

secretory otitis media

Front 68

Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW)

Back 68

Some individuals are born with an extra electrical pathway in the heart, one that creates an abnormal electrical connection between atria and the ventricles. This extra electrical pathway can create a characteristic pattern on the electrocardiogram, and often produces the conditions necessary for developing supraventricular tachycardia.

Front 69

Cardioversion

Back 69

Termination of an atrial or ventricular tachyarrhythmia (other than ventricular fibrillation) by a delivery of a direct low energy electrical current which is synchronised to a specific instant during the heart beat (during to the ventricular depolarisation). Synchronisation of the shock prevents shocking during periods which could cause ventricular fibrillation.

Front 70

Defibrillation

Back 70

Termination of an erratic, life-threatening arrhythmia of the ventricles by a high energy, direct current delivered asynchronously to the cardiac tissue. The defibrillation discharge will often restore the heart’s normal rhythm.

Front 71

atherosclerosis

Back 71

the condition in which an artery wall thickens as the result of an atheromatous plaque. Atherosclerosis is a form of arteriosclerosis.

Front 72

atherogenesis

Back 72

the developmental process of atheromatous plaques. It is characterised by a remodeling of arteries involving the concomitant accumulation of fatty substances called plaques.

Front 73

actin

Back 73

thin filaments of contractile cells

Front 74

celestone cream

Back 74

topical corticosteroid (eczema)

Front 75

coloxyl with senna

Back 75

treatment for constipation

Front 76

dysphagia

Back 76

trouble swallowing

Front 77

acute coronary syndromes

Back 77

unstable angina, myocardial infarction (STEMI or non-STEMI)

Front 78

ADH

Back 78

vasopressin / antidiuretic hormone

Front 79

Ventricular Fibrillation (VF)

Back 79

Very fast, chaotic, quivering heart contractions that start in the ventricles. During VF, the heart does not beat properly. This often results in fainting. If left untreated, it may result in cardiac arrest. Blood is not pumped from the heart to the rest of the body. Death will occur if defibrillation is not initiated within 6 minutes from the onset of VF.

Front 80

Atrial fibrillation (AF)

Back 80

Very fast, disorganised heart rhythm that starts in the atria.

Front 81

haematemesis

Back 81

vomiting up blood

Front 82

Pertussis

Back 82

Whooping cough, caused by the bacterium Bordatella pertussis

Front 83

Atrial natriuretic peptide

Back 83

is released by muscle cells in the atria of the heart in response to high blood pressure. It acts to reduce the water, sodium and adipose loads on the circulatory system, thereby reducing blood pressure. It is also a powerful vasodilator.