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194 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
abnormal
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aberrant
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corresponds with the onset of the QRS complex to approximately the peak of the T wave; cardiac cells cannot be stimulated to conduct an electrical impulse, no matter how strong the stimulus.
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absolute refractory period
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an extra bundle of working myocardial tissue that forms a connection between the atria and ventricles outside the normal conduction system
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accessory pathway
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a five-phase cycle that reflects the difference in the concentration of these charged particles across the cell membrane at any given time
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action potential
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a sudden blockage of arterial blood flow that occurs because of a thrombus, embolus, tumor, direct trauma to an artery, or an unknown cause
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acute arterial occlusion
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a term used to describe ischemic chest discomfort. consists of three major syndromes; unstable angina, NSTEMI, and STEMI
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acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
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pressure or resistance against which the ventricles must pump to eject blood
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afterload
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height (voltage) of a waveform on the ECG
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amplitude
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massive generalized body edema
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anasarca
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localized dilation or bulging of a blood vessel wall or wall of a heart chamber
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aneurysm
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symptoms of myocardial ischemia other than chest pain or discomfort
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anginal equivalents
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chest discomfort or other related symptoms of sudden onset that may occur because the increased oxygen demand of the heart temporarily exceeds the blood supply
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angina pectoris
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medications used to correct irregular heart beats and slow hearts that beat too fast
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antiarrhythmic
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SL valve on the left of the heart; separates the left ventricle from the aorta
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aortic valve
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lower portion of the heart, tip of the ventricles (approx level of the 5th left intercostal space); points leftward, downward, and forward
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apex of the heart
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term often used interchangeably with dysrhythmia; any disturbance or abnormality in a normal rhythmic pattern; any cardiac rhythm other than a sinus rhythm
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arrhythmia
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a chronic disease of the arterial system characterized by abnormal thickening and hardening of the vessel walls
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arteriosclerosis
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a total absence of ventricular electrical activity
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asystole
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a form of arteriosclerosis in which the thickening and hardening of the vessel walls are caused by a buildup of fatty deposits in the inner lining of the large and middle-sized muscular arteries
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atherosclerosis
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distortion of an ECG tracing by electrical activity that is noncardiac in origin (e.g. electrical interference, poor electrical conduction, patient movement)
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artifact
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marked abdominal swelling from a buildup of fluid in the peritoneal cavity
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ascites
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fixed-rate pacemaker that continuously discharges at a rate regardless of a patient's intrinsic activity
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asynchronous pacemaker
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two upper chambers of the heart
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atria
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the AV node and the nonbranching portion of the bundle of His
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atrioventricular junction
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a group of cells that conduct an electrical impulse through the heart; located in the floor of the right atrium immediately behind the tricuspid valve and near the opening of the coronary sinus
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atrioventricular node
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type of dual-chamber pacemaker that stimulates first the atrium, then the ventricle, mimicking the normal cardiac physiology
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atrioventricular sequential pacemaker
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valve located between each atrium and ventricle, the tricuspid separates the right atrium from the right ventricle; the mitral separates the left atrium from the left ventricle
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atrioventricular valve
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leads aVR, aVL, and aVF; these leads record the difference in electrical potential at one location relative to zero potential rather than relative to the electrical potential of another extremity, as in the bipolar leads
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augmented limb lead
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ability of cardiac pacemaker cells to initiate an electrical impulse spontaneously without being stimulated from another source (such as a nerve)
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automaticity
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imaginary line joining the positive and negative electrodes of a lead
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axis
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straight line recorded on the ECG graph paper when no electrical activity is detected
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baseline
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top of the heart; located at approx the level of the 2nd intercostal space
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base of the heart
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waveform that is partly positive and partly negative
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biphasic
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ECG lead consisting of a positive and negative electrode; a pacing lead with two electrical poles that are external from the pulse generator; the negative pole is located at the extreme distal tip of the pacing lead, and the positive pole is located several millimeters proximal to the negative electrode. the stimulating pulse is delivered through the negative electrode
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bipolar limb lead
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PAC not followed by a QRS complex
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blocked premature atrial complex
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force exerted by the blood against the walls of the arteries as the ventricles of the heart contract and relax
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blood pressure
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heart rate slower than 60 beats/min
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bradycardia
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blowing or swishing sound created by the turbulence within a blood vessel
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bruit
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abnormal conduction of an electrical impulse through either the right or left bundle branches
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bundle branch block (BBB)
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fibers located in the upper portion of the interventricular septum that conduct an electrical impulse through the heart
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bundle of His
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three or more sequential ectopic beats; also referred to as a salvo or run
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burst
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regulation of an ECG machine's stylus sensitivity so that a 1 mV electrical signal will produce a deflection measuring exactly 10 mm
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calibration
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ability of a pacing stimulus to depolarize successfully the cardiac chamber being paced; with one-to-one capture, each pacing stimulus results in depolarization of the appropriate chamber
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capture
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absence of cardiac mechanical activity, confirmed by the absence of a detectable pulse, unresponsiveness, and apnea or agonal, gasping respirations
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cardiac arrest
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period from the beginning of one heart-beat to the beginning of the next; normally consisting of PQRST wave, complexes, and intervals
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cardiac cycle
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amount of blood pumped into the aorta each minute by the heart
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cardiac output (CO)
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a condition in which heart muscle function is severely impaired, leading to decreased cardiac output and inadequate tissue perfusion
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cardiogenic shock
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a disease of the heart muscle
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cardiomyopathy
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a collection of diseases and conditions that involve the heart and blood vessels
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cardiovascular disorders
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having the characteristics of the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system
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cholinergic
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thin strands of fibrous connective tissue that extend from the AV valves to the papillary muscles that prevent the AV valves from bulging back into the atria during ventricular systole (contraction)
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chordae tendineae
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a change in the heart rate
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chronotropism
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division of the left coronary artery
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circumflex artery
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pause for which the normal beat after a premature complex occurs when expected; also called a complete pause
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compensatory pause
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several waveforms
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complex
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a system of pathways in the heart composed of specialized electrical (pacemaker) cells
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conduction system
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ability of a cardiac cell to receive an electrical stimulus and conduct that impulse to an adjacent cardiac cell
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conductivity
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ability of a cardiac cell to shorten, causing cardiac muscle contraction in response to an electrical stimulus
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contractility
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disease of the arteries that supply the heart muscle with blood
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coronary artery disease
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disease of the coronary arteries and their resulting complications, such as angina pectoris or acute myocardial infarction
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coronary heart disease
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venous drain for the coronary circulation into the right atrium
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coronary sinus
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right-sided heart failure caused by pulmonary disease
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cor pulmonale
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two consecutive premature complexes
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couplet
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flow of electrical charge from one point to another
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current
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a connective tissue disease in which the elastic tissue and smooth muscle fibers of the middle arterial layer degenerate
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cystic medial degeneration
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protein molecules produced by white blood cells that act as chemical messengers between cells
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cytokines
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presence of a clot in the deep veins of the extremities
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deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
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therapeutic use of electric current to terminate lethal cardiac dysrhythmias
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defibrillation
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slurring of the beginning portion of the QRS complex caused by preexcitation
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delta wave
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synchronous pacemaker that discharges only when the patient's heart rate drops below the preset rate for the pacemaker
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demand pacemaker
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movement of ions across a cell membrane, causing the inside of the cell to become more positive; an electrical event expected to result in contraction
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depolarization
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phase of the cardiac cycle in which the atria and ventricles relax between contractions and blood enters these chambers; when the term used without reference to a specific chamber of the heart, the term implies ventricular __________
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diastole
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pressure exerted against the walls of the large arteries during ventricular relaxation
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diastolic blood pressure
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the speed of conduction through the AV junction
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dromotropism
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pacemaker that stimulates the atrium and ventricle
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dual-chamber pacemaker
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an uncomfortable awareness of one's breathing; shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
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dyspnea
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any disturbance or abnormality in a normal rhythmic pattern; any cardiac rhythm other than a sinus rhythm
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dysrhythmia
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impulse(s) originating from a source other than the SA node
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ectopic
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a beat-to-beat change in waveform amplitude on the ECG
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electrical alternans
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adhesive pads that contain a conductive gel and are applied at specific locations on the patient's chest wall and extremities and connected by cables to an ECG machine
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electrodes
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elements or compounds that break into charged particles (ions) when melted or dissolved in water or another solvent
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electrolytes
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innermost layer of the heart that lines the inside of the myocardium and covers the heart valves
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endocardium
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implies the presence of dilatation or hypertrophy or both
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enlargement
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also known as the visceral pericardium; the external layer of the heart wall that covers the heart muscle
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epicardium
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term used when the sinus node slows or fails to initiate depolarization and a lower pacemaker site spontaneously produces electrical impulses, assuming responsibility for pacing the heart
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escape
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high blood pressure for which there is no cause identifiable; also called primary hypertension
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essential hypertension
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ability of cardiac muscle cells to respond to an outside stimulus
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excitability
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a brief loss of consciousness caused by a temporary decrease in blood flow to the brain
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fainting
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small bundle of nerve fibers
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fascicle
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the breakdown of fibrin, the main component of blood clots
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fibrinolysis
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VF with fibrillatory waves less than 3mm in height
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fine ventricular fibrillation
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asynchronous pacemaker that continuously discharges at a preset rate regardless of the patient's heart rate
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fixed-rate pacemaker
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AT that bigins in a small area (focus) within the heart
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focal atrial tachycardia
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large vessels that carry blood to and from the heart; superior and inferior venae cavae, pulmonary veins, aorta, and pulmonary trunk
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great vessels
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third ECG electrode (the first and second are the positive and negative electrodes), which minimizes electrical activity from other sources
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ground electrode
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a broad term referring to conditions affecting the heart
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heart disease
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a condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the metabolic needs of the body
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heart failure
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portion of the conduction system consisting of the bundle of His, bundle branches, and Purkinje fibers
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His-Purkinje system
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pain and tenderness in the calve muscle on dorsiflexion of the foot
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Homan's sign
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situations that require rapid (within 1 hr) lowering of blood pressure to prevent or limit organ damage
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hypertensive emergencies
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significant elevations in blood pressure with nonspecific symptoms that should be corrected within 24 hrs
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hypertensive urgencies
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increase in the thickness of a heart chamber because of chronic pressure overload
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hypertrophy
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inadequate tissue perfusion caused by inadequate vascular volume
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hypovolemic shock
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ECG changes seen in leads looking directly at the wall of the heart in an infarction
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indicative change
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death of tissue because of an inadequate blood supply
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infarction
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a change in myocardial contractility
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inotropism
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pain, cramping, muscle tightness, fatigue, or weakness of the legs when walking or during exercise
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intermittent claudication
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waveform and a segment; in pacing, the period measured in milliseconds, between any two designated cardiac events
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interval
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rate at which a pacemaker of the heart normally generates impulses
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intrinsic rate
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electrically charged particle
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ion
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decreased supply of oxygenated blood to a body part or organ
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ischemia
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absence of electrical activity; observed on the ECG as a straight line
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isoelectric line
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point where the QRS complex and ST segment meet
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J-piont
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a rhythm that begins in the AV junction with a rate of less than 40 beats/min
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junctional bradycardia
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electrical connection attached to the body to record electrical activity
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lead
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severe hypertension with signs of acute and progressive damage to end organs such as the heart, brain, and kidneys
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malignant hypertension
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located in the middle of the thoracic cavity; contains the heart, great vessels, trachea, and esophagus, among other structures; extends from the sternum to the vertebral column
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mediastinum
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difference in electrical charge across the cell membrane
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membrane potential
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unit of measure of electrical current needed to elicit depolarization of the myocardium
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milliampere (mA)
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difference in electrical charge between two points in a circuit
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millivolt (mV)
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having the same shape
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monomorphic
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cardiac dysrhythmia that occurs because of impulses originating from various sites, including the SA node, the atria, and/or the AV junction; requires at least three different P waves, seen in the same lead, for proper diagnosis
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multiformed atrial rhythm
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working cells of the myocardium that contain contractile filaments and form the muscular layer of the atrial walls and the thicker muscular layer of the ventricular walls
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myocardial cells
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necrosis of some mass of the heart muscle caused by an inadequate blood supply
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myocardial infarction (MI)
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inflammation of the middle and thickest layer of the heart, myocardium
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myocarditis
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middle and thickest layer of the heart; contains the cardiac muscle fibers that cause contraction of the heart as well as the conduction system and blood supply
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myocardium
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a chemical released from one nerve that crosses the synaptic cleft to reach a receptor
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neurotransmitter
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dyspnea relieved by a change in position
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orthopnea
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a normal chemical process in the body caused by the release of oxygen atoms created during normal cell metabolism
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oxidation
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artificial pulse generator that delivers an electrical current to the heart to stimulate depolarization
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pacemaker
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specialized cells of the heart's electrical conduction system capable of spontaneously generating and conduction electrical impulses
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pacemaker cells
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an unpleasant awareness of one's heartbeat
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palpitations
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muscles attached to the chordae tendineae of the heart valves and the ventricular muscle of the heart
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papillary muscles
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AT that starts or ends suddenly
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paroxysmal atrial tachycardia
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a sudden onset of difficulty breathing that awakens the patient from sleep
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paroxysmal nocturnal dsypnea (PND)
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a regular, narrow-QRS tachycardia that starts or ends suddenly
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paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT)
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an increase in the volume and/or character of pericardial fluid that surrounds the heart
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pericardial effusion
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a procedure in which a needle is inserted into the pericardial space and the excess fluid is drawn out (aspirated) through the needle
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pericardiocentesis
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inflammation of the double-walled sac that enclosed the heart
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pericarditis
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protective sac that surrounds the heart
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pericardium
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ability of a membrane channel to allow passage of electrolytes once it is open
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permeability
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apical impulse; the site where the heartbeat is most strongly felt
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point of maximal impulse (PMI)
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period after repolarization of a myocardial cell when outside of the cell is positive and the interior of the cell is negative
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polarized state
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varying in shape
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polymorphic
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difference in electrical charge between two points in a circuit; expressed in volts or millivolts
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potential difference
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term used to described rhythms that originate from above the ventricles but in which the impulse travels by a pathway other than the AV node and bundle of His; thus the supraventricular impulse excites the ventricles earlier than normal
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preexcitation
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force exerted by the blood on the walls of the ventricles at the end of diastole
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preload
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early beat occurring before the next expected beat; can be atrial, junctional, or ventricular
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premature complex
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high blood pressure for which no cause is identifiable; also called essential hypertention
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primary hypertension
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blood from the right ventricle is pumped directly to the lungs for oxygenation
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pulmonary circulation
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a buildup of fluid in the lungs, usually a complication of LVF
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pulmonary edema
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a difference between the apical pulse and the peripheral pulse rates
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pulse deficit
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power source that houses the battery and controls for regulating a pacemaker
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pulse generator
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organized electrical activity observed on a cardiac monitor (other than VT) without the patient having a palpable pulse
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pulseless electrical activity (PEA)
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difference between the systolic and diastolic blood pressures
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pulse pressure
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a beat-to-beat difference in the strength of a pulse (also called mechanical alternans)
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pulsus alternans
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a fall in systolic blood pressure of more than 10mm Hg during inspiration (also called paradoxical pulse)
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pulsus paradoxus
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fibers found in both ventricles that conduct an electrical impulse through the heart
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Purkinje fibers
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first wave in the cardiac cycle; represents atrial depolarization
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p wave
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several waveforms that represent the spread of an electrical impulse through the ventricles
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QRS complex
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mirror image ECG changes seen in the wall of the heart opposite the location of an infarction
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reciprocal change
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spread of an impulse through tissue already stimulated by the same impulse
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reentry
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period of recovery that cells need after being discharged before they are able to respond to a stimulus
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refractoriness
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corresponds with the downslope of the T wave; cardiac cells can be stimulated to depolarize if the stimulus is strong enough
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relative refractory period
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movement of ions across a cell membrane in which the inside of the cell is restored to its negative charge
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repolarization
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moving backward or moving in the opposite direction to that which is considered normal
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retrograde
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traits and lifestyle habits that may increase a person's chance of developing a disease
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risk factors
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on an ECG, the first positive deflection in the QRS complex, representing ventricular depolarization
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R wave
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high blood pressure that has an identifiable cause, such as medications or an underlying disease or condition
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secondary hypertension
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line between waveforms; named by the waveform that precedes and follow it
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segment
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valves shaped like half moons that separate the ventricles from the aorta and pulmonary artery
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semilunar valves (SL)
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ability of a pacemaker to recognize and respond to intrinsic electrical activity
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sensing
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partition
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septum
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inadequate tissue perfusion that results from the failure of the cardiovascular system to deliver sufficient oxygen and nutrients to sustain vial organ function
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shock
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a normal heart rhythm
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sinus rhythm
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amount of blood ejected by either ventricle during one contraction; can be calculated as cardiac output divided by heart rate
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stroke volume
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an unexpected death from a cardiac cause that either occurs immediately or within 1 hr of the onset of symptoms
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sudden cardiac death (SCD)
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period during the cardiac cycle when a weaker than normal stimulus can cause cardiac cells to depolarize; extends from the end of phase 3 to the beginning of phase 4 of the cardiac action potential
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supernormal period
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originating from a site above the bifurcation of the bundle of His, such as the SA node, atria, or AV junction
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supraventricular
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rhythms that begin in the SA node, atrial tissue, or the AV junction
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supraventricular dysrhythmias
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a brief loss of consciousness caused by a temporary decrease in blood flow to the brain
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syncope
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contraction of the heart during which blood is propelled into the pulmonary artery and aorta; when the term is used without reference to a specific chamber of the heart, it implies ventricular ___________
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systole
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pressure exerted against the wall of the large arteries at the peak of ventricular contraction
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systolic blood pressure
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development of a clot in a vein in which inflammation is present
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thrombophlebitis
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blood clot
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thrombus
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interval between two successive PQRST complexes during which electrical activity of the heart is absent;
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TP segment
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a pacing lead with a single electrical pole at the distal tip of the pacing lead (negative pole) through which the stimulation pulse is delivered. in a permanent pacemaker with a __________ lead, the positive pole is the pulse generator case
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unipolar lead
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amount of opposition that the blood vessels give to the flow of blood
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vascular resistance
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amount of blood flowing into the right atrium each minute from the systemic circulation
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venous return
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either of the two lower chambers of the heart
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ventricle
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difference in electrical charge between two points
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voltage
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movement away from the baseline in either a positive or negative direction
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waveform
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type of preexcitation syndrome characterized by a slurred upstroke of the QRS complex (delta wave) and wide QRS
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Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
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metabolic syndrome
(syndrome X) |
1. high BP
2. elevated insulin levels 3. excess body weight 4. one or more abnormal cholesterol levels |