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A
Aorta:
The aorta carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the body,
dividing into smaller arteries. The thoracic aorta (including the
ascending aorta, aortic arch and descending aorta) supplies the
upper body. The abdominal aorta supplies the lower body.
Artery:
Carries oxygen-rich blood away from the heart and toward other
tissues throughout the body, with the exception of the pulmonary
artery, which carries oxygen-poor blood to the lungs, all arteries.
Atrium:
One of two upper chambers of the heart. Oxygen-poor blood travels
from the right atrium to the right ventricle and out to the lungs.
Oxygen-rich blood travels from the left atrium to the left ventricle
and out to the body.
AV Node:
A small mass of tissue located in the upper right chamber of the
heart (right atrium). It is part of the heart's conduction system.
It passes impulses from the sinus node to the lower chambers of the
heart through the bundle of His.
B
Bacterial Endocarditis:
A bacterial infection of the inner layer of the heart.
Bundle Branches:
Part of the heart's conduction system, through which electrical
impulses travel from the atria to the ventricles to pace the
heartbeat.
Bradycardia:
An unusually slow heart rate.
Bundle of His: Named after Wilhelm His, an AV bundle of small mass fibers. It is the
only known connection between the ventricles and the atria that
conducts impulses to the ventricular heart muscle.
C
Cardiomyopathy:
a type of heart disease in which the heart muscle is abnormally enlarged,
thickened and or stiffened. As a result, the heart’s ability to pump
is usually compromised.
Carotid Artery:
One of two arteries in the neck that are the main suppliers of blood
to the head and neck. A buildup of plaque within the carotid
arteries (carotid artery disease) significantly increases the risk
of stroke.
Cerebral Artery:
The arteries responsible for supplying the brain with oxygen-rich
blood. Reduced blood flow in these arteries can cause cerebral
ischemia, which may lead to strokes or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs).
Coronary Artery:
The arteries responsible for supplying the heart with oxygen-rich
blood. Reduced blood flow in these arteries can cause angina.
Coronary Sinus:
A passageway through which oxygen-poor blood flows from the cardiac
veins to the upper right chamber of the heart.
Congestive Heart Failure:
A condition in which the heart can't pump enough blood to the body's
other organs. The "failing" heart keeps working but not as
efficiently as it should. People with heart failure can't exert
themselves because they become short of breath and tired.
D
Defibrillator:
A device implanted under the skin of the chest that helps to regulate
heart beat.
Ductus Arteriosus:
A prenatal blood vessel that connects the aorta and pulmonary
arteries. It should close at birth, as the baby begins to breathe.
E
Endocardium:
The inner lining of the wall of the heart.
Extrasystole: A form of arrhythmia often referred to as an extra heartbeat.
Ejection Fraction:
The percentage of blood in the ventricle that is pumped out during each
heartbeat. Between 55% and 75% is normal-below 40% is indicative of
some type of heart failure.
Enlarged Heart:
A type of cardiomyopathy-a sign that the heart is overworked.
F
Fibrillation:
Ineffective pumping of
the heart due to the contraction of individual heart muscle fibers.
H
Heart Attack:
Death of the heart muscle caused by sudden blockage of a coronary
artery by a clot.
Heart Block:
Delayed or complete of lack of electrical communication between the
heart’s upper and lower chambers, causing abnormally slow heart
rhythms.
Heart Failure:
A chronic condition where at least one of the heart’s chambers is not
pumping well enough to meet the body’s needs. This can lead to
congestion in the lungs or pulmonary blood vessels and may cause
fluid backup or retention in the lungs, legs and ankles.
Heart Murmur:
An abnormal heart sound which may stem from a valve problem.
Hypertension:
Higher than normal blood pressure. This stresses the heart and can cause
coronary artery disease, heart attack or stroke.
Hypotension:
Lower than normal blood pressure, which may or may not require treatment.
I
Ischemic Cardiomyopathy:
A chronic disorder which is
caused by coronary artery disease in which there is hardening of the
arteries on the heart.
L
Left Ventricular Hypertrophy:
An increase in size of
the left ventricle from thickening or stretching of the muscle.
Long QT Syndrome:
A rare, usually inherited and sometimes fatal disorder of the heart’s
electrical conduction system.
M
Marfan Syndrome:
A rare, genetic connective tissue disorder that affects the formation and
functioning of the heart, blood vessels, lungs, kidneys, eyes and
skeleton.
Mitral Valve:
A valve between the left ventricle and left atrium that has 2 cusps which
prevent backflow.
Myocardium:
The muscular wall of the heart which
contracts to push blood out and relaxes as the heart fills with
returning blood.
O
Oximetry:
A method of measuring the oxygen content of the blood.
P
Palpitations:
Irregular heartbeats felt as a skip or momentary cessation of the heart.
Pericardium:
A thin membrane sac surrounding the heart and the vessels which stem from
it.
Premature Ventricular
Contractions: An abnormal
heartbeat that arises from the heart’s lower pumping chambers. They
interrupt the normal rhythm and cause an irregular beat.
Pulmonary Hypertension:
High blood pressure in the blood
vessels of the lungs.
R
Renal Artery Stenosis:
A condition in which the blood vessels that feed oxygen-rich blood
to the kidneys become obstructed.
Restrictive Cardiomyopathy:
A condition in which the
hearts ability to pump blood is reduced due to an enlarged or
thickened ventricle.
S
Septum:
The wall dividing the chambers of
the heart.
Stenosis:
A narrowing or obstruction of an opening or valve.
Stroke: Ischemic-Caused by a blockage in an artery that supplies blood to the
brain, resulting in a deficiency in blood flow.
Hemorrhagic
- Caused by the bleeding of ruptured blood vessels in the brain.
Syncope:
A brief, sudden
loss of consciousness, usually followed by a rapid return to
consciousness. It can be caused by something harmless, or a more
serious underlying
cardiovascular
or neurological condition.
T
Tachycardia:
A general term for conditions that cause the heart to beat over 100 times
a minute.
Tetralogy of Fallot:
A complex heart defect present at
birth where the right ventricle connects to the
pulmonary artery causing pulmonary stenosis with a large ventricular
septal defect.
Thrombophlebitis:
A condition in which a
blood clot
has formed inside a vein, causing the surrounding
veins
to become inflamed.
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA):
Also called mini-strokes,
a TIA is the result of a temporary interruption of blood flow to the
brain.
V
Valvular Heart Disease:
Any dysfunction or abnormality of one or more
of the heart’s four
valves.
Valvular Stenosis:
A narrowing, stiffening or blockage of one of the coronary arteries.
Ventricle:
One of the lower pumping chambers of
the heart.
Ventricular Tachycardia:
A type of rapid heartbeat that
originates in the ventricles. |
