Question | Answer |
anastomosis | Surgical attachment of one end of a hollow structure to another end |
angina | Intermittent chest pain, usually of short duration |
angiorrhaphy | Suturing of a blood vessel |
aorta | Largest artery in the body which collects blood from the left ventricle, and delivers it to all parts of the body via smaller arteries |
artery | A vessel that carries oxygenated blood from the heart to body tissues and organs |
arteriole | A small artery |
bicuspid valve | A valve with two cusps, through which blood passes from the left atrium to the left ventricle. Also known as the mitral valve |
bradycardia | Slow heart action |
bundle of His | Specialized muscle fibers in the walls of the heart, between the ventricles, that carry the electrical impulses to the ventricles |
capillaries | Microscopic blood vessels connecting arterioles and venules |
cardiomegaly | Enlargement of the heart |
cardiovascular system | System composed of the heart, blood vessels and their function within the body |
carditis | Inflammation of the heart |
conductive tissue | Highly specialized cardiac tissue which initiates and continues contraction impulses |
congenital septal defect | Small hole(s) within the atrial or ventricular septums, which are present at birth |
congestive heart failure | Failure of the heart to pump an adequate amount of blood to the tissues and organs |
coronary artery disease | Any disease which alters the ability of the coronary artery to deliver the amount of blood that is required by the heart muscles |
diaphoresis | Profuse sweating |
diastole | The relaxation phase of the heart |
dyspnea | Difficult breathing |
endocardium | Innermost layer of the heart |
epicardium | Outermost layer of the heart |
heart | A hollow, muscular organ that pumps blood through the arteries, capillaries, and veins |
inferior vena cava | Large vein which collects and carries deoxygenated blood from the lower portion of the body and enters the right atrium |
insufficiency | Inability of valves to close properly |
left atrium | Chamber which receives oxygenated blood from the lungs |
left ventricle | Chamber which pumps oxygenated blood to the body via the aorta |
myocardial infarction | Life-threatening condition characterized by necrosis in the myocardium due to a lack of oxygen |
myocardium | Muscular layer of the heart |
necrosis | Destruction (death) of tissue |
pallor | Paleness |
pericardium | Fibrous sac which encloses the heart |
phlebitis | Inflammation of a vein |
pulmonary artery | Carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs |
pulmonary vein | Carries oxygenated blood back to the heart from the lungs |
pulmonic valve | Prevents the backflow of blood into the right ventricle |
Purkinje fibers | Extend up the walls of the ventricles and transmit electrical impulses to both ventricles, causing them to contract |
right atrium | Chamber which collects deoxygenated blood from the body |
right ventricle | Chamber which pumps deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs |
septum | Muscular wall which divides the right and left sides of the heart |
shunt | A passage between two blood vessels or between tow sides of the heart |
sphygmomanometer | Instrument for measuring blood pressure |
stenosis | Narrowing |
superior vena cava | Large vein which collects and carries deoxygenated blood from the top portion of the body and enters the right atrium |
systole | The contraction phase of the heart |
tachycardia | Rapid heart action |
thrombophlebitis | Inflammation of a vein which collects and carries deoxygenated blood from the top portion of the body and enters the right atrium |
thrombosis | Abnormal condition of a blood clot in the blood vessel |
tricuspid valve | A valve with three cusps, located between the right atrium and right ventricle, which allows blood to pass into the right ventricle |
varicose veins | Condition which develops when the valves of the veins are damaged. Characterized by enlarged veins and edema of the surrounding tissues |
vein | A vessel that carries deoxygenated blood to the heart from the body organs and tissues |
venule | A small vein |