Term | Definition |
Arrhythmia | Abnormal heart rhythm |
Arteriosclerosis | Hardening, thickening and loss of elasticity (narrowing) of the arterial wall |
Atherosclerosis | Narrowing of the arterial lumen caused by deposits of fatty plaques along the internal wall of the artery |
Blood Pressure | Force exerted by the blood against the vessel wall |
Blood Volume | Total amount of circulating blood |
Cardiac Output | Amount of blood ejected from the heart per minute |
Diastolic Pressure | Lowest pressure against wall of the artery, during relaxation of the ventricle of the heart |
Essential Hypertension | Elevated blood pressure (in hypertensive range) without known cause |
Hypertension | Diastolic measurement over 90 mm |
Hypotension | Blood pressure lower than normal range - 80 mm systolic is necessary for renal perfusion |
Korotkoff Sounds | Sounds or beats heard through the stethoscope while cuff is being deflated. First sound heard represents systolic, last sound heard represents diastolic. |
Intermittent Hypertension | Blood pressure elevates a small amount over the normal range, from time to time, without cause. Patient should be watched for development of hypertensive symptoms. |
Malignant Hypertension | Progressive hypertension which produces sever symptoms and has a poor prognosis if left untreated |
Meniscus | Curved surface at the top of a column of liquid in a tube |
Palpatory Blood Pressure | Method of obtaining BP whereby brachial or radial artery is palpated while deflating the BP cuff. |
Peripheral Resistance | Opposing force of the vessel against the blood; pertaining to the health and elasticity of the vessel. |
Sphygmomanometer | Instrument used for measurement of arterial blood pressure. |
Stethoscope | Instrument used for auscultation of Korotkoff sounds |
Stroke Volume | Amount of blood ejected from heart per contraction |
Systolic | Represents pressure exerted on arteries during heart contraction (when at it's highest). |
Viscosity | Thickness of blood; ease with which blood flows through the vessel. |