Med Term Chapter 10

edema

abnormal accumulation of fluid in interstital spaces of tissues.

murmur

abnormal heart sound heard during systole, diastole, or both, which may be described as gentle blowing, fluttering, or humming sound.

patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)

abnormal opening between the PA and the aorta caused by failure of the fetal ductus arteriosus to close after birth, most often in premature infants. Patent means open. Occluded means closed.

bruit

abnormal sound heard when an artery is auscultated. usually a blowing or swishing sound, higher pitched than a murmur

arrhythmia

abnormal variation from the normal heartbeat rhythm. also called Dysrhythmia.

coronary artery disease (CAD)

accumulation and hardening of plaque in the coronary arteries that eventually can deprive the heart muscle of oxygen, leading to Angina (heart pain).

varicose veins

elongated, dilated superficial veins (varices) with incompetent valves that permit reverse blood flow. these veins may appear in various parts of the anatomy, but the term varicose vein(s) has been reserved for those in the lower extremities.

venous distention

enlarged or swollen veins

cardiomegaly

enlargement of the heart

pulmonary congestion

excessive amount of blood in the pulmonary vessels. Usually associated with heart failure (HF).

fibrillation

extremely rapid and irregular contractions (300 to 600 bpm) occurring with or without an underlying cardiovascular disorder, such as coronary artery disease (CAD). Atrial: AF is the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia. Ventricular: rapid, irregular ventricular contractions; may be fatal unless reversed.

flutter

extremely rapid but regular heartbeat (250 to 350 bpm). Atrial Flutter is a rapid, regular atrial rhythm.

syncope

fainting, loss of consciousness

thrill

fine vibration felt by the examiner on palpation

emesis

forcible or involuntary emptying of the stomach through the mouth.

atherosclerosis

form of arteriosclerosis in which medium and large arteries have atheromas, which can reduce or obstruct blood flow. patients with peripheral atherosclerosis complain of intermittent claudication.

cardiodynia

heart pain that may be described as atypical or ishemic. Atypical pain: a stabbing or burning pain that is variable in location and intensity and unrelated to exertion. Ishemic Pain: a pressing, squeezing, or weight-like cardiac pain caused by decreased blood supply that usually lasts only minutes. Precordial Pain is pain in the area over the heart. also called Cardialgia.

ectopic beats

heartbeats that occur outside of a normal rhythm.

heart failure (HF)

inability of the heart muscle to pump blood efficiently so that it becomes overloaded. the heart enlarges with unpumped blood, and the lungs fill with fluid. previously referred to as congestive heart failure (CHF).

bundle branch block (BBB)

incomplete electrical conduction in the bundle branches, either left or right. heartbeats that occur outside of a normal rhythm.

esophageal varices

varicose veins that appear at the lower end of the esophagus as a result of portal hypertension; they are superficial and may cause ulceration and bleeding.

shortness of breath (SOB)

breathlessness, air hunger

myocardial infarction (MI)

cardiac tissue death that occurs when the coronary arteries are occluded (blocked) by an Atheroma, a mass of fat or lipids on the wall of an artery, or a blood clot caused by an atheroma; and thus are unable to carry enough oxygenated blood to the heart muscle. depending on the area affected, the patient may die if enough of the heart muscle is destroyed. also called a Heart Attack. when a person is in the process of having a heart attack, it is called an Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI).

cardiac tamponade

compression of the heart caused by fluid in the pericardial sac.

orthopnea

condition in which a person must sit or stand to breathe comfortably.

hypotension

condition of below normal BP. Orthostatic Hypotension occurs when patient experiences an episode of low BP upon rising to a standing position.

hypertension (HTN)

condition of high or elevated BP, also known as arterial hypertension; occurs in two forms- primary (or essential) hypertension, which has no identifiable cause; and secondary hypertension, which occurs in response to another disorder. Malignant Hypertension is very high BP that results in organ damage.

ventricular tachycardia

condition of ventricular contractions that are more than 100 bpm.

coarctation of the aorta

congenital cardiac anomaly characterized by a localized narrowing of the aorta. Coarctation is another term for a narrowing.

tetralogy of Fallot

congenital cardiac anomaly that consists of four defects: pulmonic stenosis; VSD; malposition of the aorta, so that it arises from the septal defect or the RV; and right ventricular hypertrophy.

claudication

cramplike pains in the calves caused by poor circulation in the leg muscles.

dyspnea; dyspnea on exertion (DOE)

difficult and/or painful breathing; if DOE, it is experienced when effort is expended.

arteriosclerosis

disease in which the arterial walls become thickened and lose their elasticity, without the presence of atheromas.

Raynaud disease

Idiopathic disease- that is, of unknown cause- of the peripheral vascular system that causes intermittent cyanosis/erythema of the distal ends of the fingers and toes, sometimes accompanies by numbness; occurs almost exclusively in young women. Presentation is bilateral. Raynaud Phenomenon is secondary to rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, or trauma. Presentation is unilateral.

cyanosis

a bluish or grayish discoloration of skin, nail beds, and/or lips caused by a lack of oxygen in the blood.

sick sinus syndrome (SSS)

any abnormality of the sinus node that may include the necessity of an implantable pacemaker.

septal defect

any congenital abnormality of the walls between the heart chambers. Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) is a whole in the wall between the upper chambers of the heart. Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) is a hole in the wall between the lower two chambers of the heart.

peripheral vascular disease (PVD)

any vascular disorder limited to the extremities; may affect not only the arteries and veins but also the lymphatics.

mitral regurgitation (MR)

backflow of blood from the LV into the LA in systole across a diseased valve. it may be the result of congenital valve abnormalities, rheumatic fever, or mitral valve prolapse (MVP).

atrial myxoma

benign growth usually occurring on the interatrial septum.

peripheral arterial occlusion

blockage of blood flow to the extremities. acute or chronic conditions may be present, but patients with both types of conditions are likely to have underlying atherosclerosis. Occlusion means blockage.

thrombophlebitis

inflammation of either deep veins (deep vein thrombosis, or DVT) or superficial veins (superficial vein thrombosis, or SVT) with the formation of one or more blood clots.

vasculitis

inflammation of the blood vessels. also called Angiitis

endocarditis

inflammation of the endocardium and heart valves, characterized by lesions and caused by a number of different microbes.

pericarditis

inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart with the possibility of pericardial effusion (the escape of blood into the pericardium).

valvulitis

inflammatory condition of a valve, especially a cardiac valve, caused most commonly by rheumatic fever and less frequently by bacterial endocarditis or syphilis. Results are stenoses and obstructed blood flow.

Atrial Ectopic Beats (AEBs)

irregular contractions of the atria. also called Premature Atrial Contractions (PACs).

Ventricular Ectopic Beats (VEBs)

irregular contractions of the ventricles. also called Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs). PVCs are not always considered pathologic.

ischemia

lack of blood in a body part due to a blockage or functional constriction.

aneurysm

localized dilation of an artery caused by a congenital or acquired weakness in the wall of the vessel. the acquired causes may be arteriosclerosis, trauma, infection, and/or inflammation.

aortic stenosis (AS)

narrowing of the aortic valve, which may be acquired or congenital

mitral stenosis (MS)

narrowing of the valve between the LA and LV caused by adhesions on the leaflets of the valve, usually the result of recurrent episodes of rheumatic endocarditis. Left atrial hypertrophy develops and may be followed by right-sided HF and pulmonary edema (cor pulmonale).

hemangioma

noncancerous tumor of the blood vessels. may be congenital ("stork bite") or may develop later in life.

pallor

paleness of skin and/or mucous membranes. On darker pigmented skin, it may be noted on the inner surfaces of the lower eyelids or the nail beds.

angina pectoris

paroxysmal chest pain that is often accompanied by SOB and a sensation of impending doom.

atrioventricular (AV) block

partial or complete heart block that is the result of a lack of electrical communication between the atria and the ventricles. also termed heart block.

palpitations

pounding or racing of the heart, such that the patient is aware of his/her heartbeat.

diaphoresis

profuse secretion of sweat

cardiomyopathy

progressive disorder of the ventricles of the heart

mitral valve prolapse (MVP)

protrusion of one or both cusps of the MV back into the LA during ventricular systole.

tachycardia

rapid heartbeat, more than 100 bpm

angiosarcoma

rare cancer of the cells that line the blood vessels. also called Hemangiosarcoma.

cardiac myxosarcoma

rare cancer of the heart usually originating in the LA

tricuspid stenosis (TS)

relatively uncommon narrowing of the tricuspid valve associated with lesions of other valves caused by rheumatic fever. symptoms include jugular vein distention and pulmonary congestion.

nausea

sensation that accompanies the urge to vomit but does not always lead to vomiting

bradycardia

slow heartbeat with ventricular contractions less than 60 bpm

hemorrhoid

varicose condition of the external or internal rectal veins that causes painful swellings at the anus.