Word | Definition |
aneurysm | a localized dilation out of a wall of a blood vessel |
angioplasty | surgical repair of a blood vessel |
aorta | the main trunk from which the blood flows |
arrhythmia | any variation from the normal heartbeat |
arteries | the vessels that carry blood from the heart |
arterioles | arterial branch |
arteriosclerosis | disease thickening and loss of the elasticity of the arterial walls |
atheroma | swelling of the artery walls |
atherosclerosis | yellowish plaques formed in the arteries |
atrioventricular | pertaining to the atrium and ventricle |
bicuspid | the mitral valve: 2 cusps of the heart |
bradycardia | slow heartbeat |
capillaries | vessels connecting the arterioles and venules |
cardiologist | a heart doctor |
cardiomyopathy | disease of the heart muscle |
chordae tendineae | heart strings; connects heart tissue |
coronary | pertaining to the heart |
embolus | sudden blockage of the blood vessels |
endocardium | the membrane lining the inner surface of the heart |
epicardium | the layer of serous pericardium on the surface of the heart |
infarction | necrosis caused by insufficient blood supply |
ischemia | deficency of blood from constricted of obstructed blood vessel |
myocardium | the thickest layer of the heart wall |
sphygmomanometer | an instrument to measure the blood pressure |
tachycardia | fast heartbeat |
thrombophlebitis | inflammation of the vein caused by a clot |
thrombus | an aggregation of blood factors |
tricuspid | 3 cusps of the heart |
vasoconstriction | constriction of a vessel |
vasodilation | dilation of a vessel |
veins | a vessel that carries blood from the heart |
vena cava | 2 large veins that carry blood to the right side of the heart |
ventricle | a small cavity in the heart |
venules | small vessels that collect blood from the capillaries and join to form veins |