Term | Definition |
aneurysm | an excessive localized enlargement of an artery caused by a weakening of the artery wall. |
angioplasty | surgical repair or unblocking of a blood vessel, especially a coronary artery. |
angioscopy | visualizing the interior of blood vessels. |
anomaly | something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected. |
aortic valve | the human heart between the left ventricle and the aorta. |
arteries | any of the muscular-walled tubes forming part of the circulation system by which blood is conveyed from the heart to all parts of the body. |
atria | an irregular and often very fast heart rate. |
atrioventricular node (AV node) | which controls the heart rate, is one of the major elements in the cardiac conduction system. |
bundle of His | cardiac muscle fibers that conducts the electrical impulses that regulate the heartbeat. |
cardiac pacemaker | a small device that's placed in the chest or abdomen to help control abnormal heart rhythms. |
cardiovascular system | another term for circulatory system. |
central venous access device (CVA device) | broad term that includes many types of catheters (thin, flexible hollow tubes) that are inserted into and positioned within a vein in the body |
complete replacement | Based on the origins of modern humans in africa, and later replacement of populations in europe and asia |
coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG) | a type of surgery that improves blood flow to the heart. |
dual-chamber system | pacemaker with pacing electrodes in both the right atrium and the right ventricle, which helps maintain the physiological relationship between atrial and ventricular |
electrodes | a conductor through which electricity enters or leaves an object, substance, or region. |
endarterectomy | surgical removal of the inner layer of an artery when thickened and atheromatous or occluded (as by intimal plaques) |
endocardium | the thin, smooth membrane that lines the inside of the chambers of the heart and forms the surface of the valves. |
epicardium | a serous membrane that forms the innermost layer of the pericardium and the outer surface of the heart. |
heart | a hollow muscular organ that pumps the blood through the circulatory system by rhythmic contraction and dilation. In vertebrates there may be up to four chambers |
insertion | the action of inserting something. |
ligation | the surgical procedure of closing off a blood vessel or other duct or tube in the body by means of a ligature or clip. |
mitral valve | the valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle of the heart, consisting of two tapered cusps. |
myocardium | the muscular tissue of the heart. |
non selective placement | to a catheter that remains in the accessed vessel or that has made it into the aorta |
pacing cardioverter-defibrillator | automated implantable cardioverter defibrillator (AICD) is a device implantable inside the body |
parietal pericardium | the tough thickened membranous outer layer of the pericardium that is attached to the central part of the diaphragm and the posterior part of the sternum |
partial replacement | partial knee replacement is surgery to replace only one part of a damaged knee |
percutaneous ventricular assist device (pVAD) | a small mechanical pump that gives short-term support for the heart from a few hours up to 15 days |
pericardial fluid | consists of two layers, an outer fibrous layer and the inner serous layer. |
pericardial sac | conical sac of fibrous tissue which surrounds the heart and the roots of the great blood vessels |
pericardiocentesis | the removal by needle of pericardial fluid from the sac surrounding the heart for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. |
pericardium | the membrane enclosing the heart, consisting of an outer fibrous layer and an inner double layer of serous membrane. |
pulmonary valve | allow blood to leave the heart via the arteries. It is a one-way valve, meaning that blood cannot flow back into the heart through it. |
pulse generator | is either an electronic circuit or a piece of electronic test equipment used to generate rectangular pulses. |
removal | the action of taking away or abolishing something unwanted. |
repair | to fix |
selective placement | ho helps management recruit, hire and accommodate people with disabilities. |
serous pericardium | which is intimately attached to the heart and roots of the great vessels. |
single-chamber system | the space between the layers is the pericardial cavity. |
sinoatrial node (SA node) | a small body of specialized muscle tissue in the wall of the right atrium of the heart that acts as a pacemaker by producing a contractile signal at regular intervals. |
thromboendarterectomy | an operation that removes organized clotted blood (thrombus) from the pulmonary arteries. |
tricuspid valve | a valve that is situated at the opening of the right atrium of the heart into the right ventricle and that resembles the mitral valve |
tube pericardiostomy | an operation in which the pericardium is opened and the fluid within drained via a tube |
veins | any of the tubes forming part of the blood circulation system of the body, carrying in most cases oxygen-depleted blood toward the heart. |
venous access device | small, flexible tubes placed in large veins for people who require frequent access to the bloodstream |
ventricles | a hollow part or cavity in an organ, in particular. |
vessels | a tube or canal |
visceral pericardium | ayers is the pericardial cavity. visceral pericardium the inner layer of the serous pericardium, which is in contact with the heart and roots |
Abbreviations | Definitions |
AED | automated external defibrillator |
A-fib | atrial fibrillation |
AICD | automated implantable cardioverter-defibrillator |
AS | aortic stenosis |
ASD | atrial septal defect |
ASHD | arteriosclerotic heart disease |
BBB | bundle-branch block |
CABG | coronary artery bypass graft |
CAD | coronary artery disease |
CC | cardiac catheterization |
CCU | coronary care unit |
CHD | coronary heart disease |
CHF | congestive heart failure |
DVT | deep vein thrombosis |
EKG | electrocardiogram |
HTN | hypertension |
MI | myocardial infarction |
MVP | mitral valve prolapse |
PAD | peripheral artery disease |
pVAD | percutaneous ventricular assist device |
PVD | peripheral vascular disease |