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.