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Cardiovascular Words & Reverse Defs

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Term
Definition
anastomosis   surgical attachment of one end of a hollow structure to another end  
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angina   intermittent chest pain, usually short duration  
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angiorraphy   suturing of a blood vessel  
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aorta   largest artery in the body which collets blood from the left ventricle and delivers it to all parts of the body via smaller arteries  
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artery   a vessel that carries oxygenated blood from the heart to body tissues and organs  
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arteriole   a small artery  
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bicuspid valve   a valve with two cusps through which blood passes from the left atrium to the left ventricle. Also called mitral valve  
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bradycardia   slow heart action  
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bundle of HIS   specialized muscle fibres in the walls of the heart, between he ventricle, that carry the electrical impulses to the ventricles  
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capillaries   microscopic blood vessels connecting arterioles and venules  
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cardiomegaly   enlargement of the heart  
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cardiovascular system   system composed of the heart, blood vessels and their function within the body  
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carditis   inflammation of the heart  
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conductive tissue   highly specialized cardiac tissue which initiates and continues contraction impulses  
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congenital septal defect   small holes within the atrial or ventricular septums, which are present at birth  
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congestive heart failure   failure of the heart to pump an adequate amount of blood to the tissues and organs  
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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 muscle  
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diaphoresis   profuse sweating  
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diastole   the relaxation phase of the heart  
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dyspnea   difficulty breathing  
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endocardium   innermost layer of the heart  
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epicardium   outermost layer o the heart  
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heart   a hollow muscular organ that pumps blood through the arteries, capillaries, and veins  
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inferior vena cava   large vein which collect and carries deoxygenated blood from the lower portion of the body and enters the right atrium  
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insufficiency   inability of valves to close properly  
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left atrium   chamber which receives oxygenated blood from the lungs  
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myocardial infarction   life threatening condition characterized by necrosis in the myocardium due to a lack of oxygen  
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necrosis   destruction (death) of tissue  
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pallor   paleness  
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pericardium   fibrous sac which enclose the heart  
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phlebitis   inflammation of a vein  
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pulmonary artery   carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs  
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pulmonary vein   carries oxygenated blood back to the heart from the lungs  
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pulmonic valve   prevents the backflow of blood into the right ventricle  
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Purkinje fibers   extended up the walls of the ventricles and transmit electrical impulses to both ventricles causing them to contract  
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right atrium   chamber which collects deoxygenated blood from the body  
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right ventricle   chamber which pumps deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs  
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septum   muscular wall which divides the right and left sides of the heart  
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shunt   a passage between two blood vessel between two sides of the heart  
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sphygmomanometer   instrument for measuring blood pressure  
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stenosis   narrowing  
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superior vena cava   large vein which collects and carries deoxygenated blood from the top portion of the body and enters the right atrium  
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systole   the contraction phase of the heart  
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tachycardia   rapid heart action  
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thrombophlebitis   abnormal condition of a blood clot in the blood vessel  
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tricuspid valve   a valve with 3 cusps located between the right atrium and right ventricle which allows blood to pass into the right ventricle  
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varicose vein   condition which develop when the valves of the veins are damaged, characterized by enlarged veins edema of the surrounding tissues  
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vein   a vessel that carries deoxygenated blood to the heart from the body organs and tissues  
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venule   a small vein  
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heart   a hollow muscular organ that pumps blood through the arteries, capillaries, and veins  
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fibrillation   arrhythmia in which there is an abnormally rapid, uncoordinated quivering of the myocardium that can affect the atria or the ventricles  
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arteriole   a small artery  
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venule   a small vein  
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thrombosis   abnormal condition of a blood clot in the blood vessel which constructs it at the site of its formation  
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diuretics   act on kidneys to increase excretion of water and sodium  
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aortography   angiography of the aorta and its branches after injection of a contrast medium  
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coronary   angiography that is used to determine the degree of stenosis or obstruction of the arteries that supply the blood to the heart  
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(PTCA) percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty   angioplasty of the coronary arteries in which a balloon catheter is inserted through skin into the right femoral artery and threaded to the site of the stenosis  
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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 muscle  
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angioplasty   any endovascular procedure that reopens narrowed blood vessels and restores forward flow  
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heart block   arrhythmia in which there is interference with the normal transmission of electric impulse from the SA node to the Purkinje fibres  
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regurgitation   back flow or ejecting of contents through an opening  
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calcium blockers   block movement of calcium into myocardial cells and arterial walls, causing heart rate and blood pressure to decrease  
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beta blockers   block the effects of adrenaline on beta receptors, which slow nerve pulses that pass through the heart, thereby causing a decrease heart rate  
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(DVT) deep vein thrombosis   blood clot that forms in the deep veins of the body, especially those in the legs or thighs; also deep venous thrombosis  
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cardiac enzyme studies   blood test that measures the presence and amount of cardiac enzyme in the blood including troponin T, troponin I and creatine kinase  
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left ventricle   chamber which pumps oxygenated blood from the lungs  
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sphincter   circular muscle found in a tubular structure or hollow organ that constricts or dilates to regulate passage of substances through its opening.  
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embolism   condition which a mass (blood clot) becomes lodged in a blood vessel, obstructing blood flow  
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varicose vein   condition which develops when the valves of the veins are damaged. Characterized by enlarged veins and edema of the surrounding tissues  
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cardioversion   defibrillation technique using low energy shocks to treat an arrhythmia and is usually synchronized with the large R waves of the ECG complex to restore normal heart rhythm  
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thrombolysis   destruction of a blood clot using anticlotting agents called clot-busters, such as tissue plasminogen activator  
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nitrates   dilate blood vessels of the heart, causing an increase in the amount of oxygen delivered to the myocardium, and decrease venous return and arterial resistance, which decreases myocardial oxygen demand and relieves angina  
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cardio myopathy   disease or weakening of heart muscle tat diminishes cardiac function  
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stress test   ECG taken under controlled exercise stress conditions  
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halter monitor test   ECG taken with a small, portable recording system capable of storing up to 48 hours of ECG tracings. AKA Event Monitor Test  
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defibrillation   electrical shock delivered randomly during the cardiac cycle to treat emergency life threatening arrhythmias  
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(HTN)hypertension   elevated blood pressure persistently higher than 140/90 mm Hg  
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cardiomegaly   enlarged heart  
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hyperlipidema   excessive amounts of lipids in the blood  
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(CHF)congestive heart failure   failure of the heart to pump adequate amount of blood to the tissues and organ  
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pericardium   fibrous sac which encloses the heart  
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leaflet   flat, leaf shaped structure that comprise the valves of the heart and prevents backflow of blood  
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atherosclerosis   form of arteriosclerosis characterized by depots of plaque containing cholesterol and lipids that narrows the lumen in the arteries  
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arteriosclerosis   hardening and narrowing of any artery along with loss of elasticity  
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Ultrasound   high-frequency sound waves are directed at soft tissue and reflected as echoes to produce an image of an internal structure. AKA sonogram or echo  
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conductive tissue   highly specialized cardiac tissue which initiates and continues contraction impulses  
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(AICD) automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrilator   implantation of a battery powered device that monitors and automatically corrects ventricular tachycardia of fibrillation via electrical impulses to the heart  
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ischemia   local temporary deficiency of blood supply t an organ or tissue due to circulatory obstruction  
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valvotomy   incision of the valve to increase the size of the opening-treat mitral stenosis  
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thrombophlebitis   inflammation of the vein wall which may cause clots to form  
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hypotension   low blood pressure, persistently lower than 90/60 mm Hg  
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ACE inhibitors aka angiotensin-converting enzyme   lower blood pressure by inhibiting the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II  
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statins   lowers cholesterol in blood and reduces its production in the liver by blocking enzyme it produces  
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SPECT single-photon emission computed tomography   MUGA scan of the heart in which the gamma camera moves in a circle around patient to create individual images slices of the heart  
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myocardium   muscular layer of the heart  
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coarctation   narrowing of a vessel, especially the aorta  
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carotid artery disease   narrowing of the carotid arteries, usually caused by atherosclerosis-may eventually lead to thrombus formation or stroke  
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vasoconstriction   narrowing of the lumen of a blood vessel that limits blood flow, usually result disease, medications or physiological process  
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(MRI)magnetic resonance imaging   noninvasive technique that uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field, rather than a xray beam to produce detailed multiplaner cross sectional views of soft tissues  
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(MUGA)multiple-gated acquisition scan   nuclear procedure that uses radioactive tracers to detect how well the heart walls move as they contract and calculates the ejection fraction rate  
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syncope   partial or complete loss of consciousness aka fainting  
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(CC) cardiac catheterization   passage of catheter into the heart through vein or artery  
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stent placement   placement of mesh tube inserted into a natural passage or conduit in the body to prevent or counteract a disease-induced localized flow constriction  
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(CABG)coronary artery bypass graft   placement of a vessel graft from another part of the body to bypass blocked part of a coronary artery and restore blood supply to the heart muscle  
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antiarrhythmics   prevent, alleviate or correct cardiac arrhythmias by stabilizing the electrical conduction of the heart  
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pulmonic valve   prevents backflow of blood into the right ventricle  
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(ECG,EEG) electrocardiogram   procedure that graphically records the spread of electrical excitation to different parts of the heart using small metal electrodes applied to arms, legs and chest  
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(EPS) electrophysiology studies   procedure used to determine the cause of life threatening cardiac arrhythmias by mapping the heart's conduction system  
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laser ablation   procedure used to remove or treat varicose veins  
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angiography   radiographic image of the inside of a blood vessel after injection of a contrast medium aka arteriography  
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venography   radiography of vein after injection of a contrast medium  
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vasodilators   reduce blood pressure by relaxing the smooth muscle in the blood vessels, particularly in large arteries, arterioles, and large veins  
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arterial biopsy   removal of segment of an arterial vessel wall to confirm inflammation of the wall or arteritis ( a type of vasculitis)  
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(BX) biopsy   removal of tissue for examination  
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embolectomy   removal of an embolus  
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endarterectomy   removal of fatty plaque from interior of an occuled vessel using specially designed catheter fitted with a cutting or grinding device  
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palpitation   sensation of an irregular heartbeat, commonly described as pounding, racing, skipping a beat or flutter  
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lipid panel   series of blood tests to assess risk of ischemic heart disease  
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congenital septal defect   small hole(s) within the atrial or ventricular septums, which are present at birth  
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bruite   soft blowing sound heard on auscultation associated valvular action or with movement of blood as it passes an obstruction  
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cardiac MRI   specialized MRI that provides information on both static and moving mages of the heart including flow velocity  
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bundle of His   specialized muscle fibers in the wall of the heart between ventricles. That carry the electric impulses to ventricles  
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viscosity   state of being stick or gummy. Can also apply to thickness.  
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(MVP) mitral valve prolapse   structural defect in which the mitral valve leaflets prolapse into the left atrium during ventricular contraction, resulting in incomplete closer of valve and backflow of blood  
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open heart surgery   surgical procedure performed on or within the exposed heart usually with the assistance of a heart lung machine  
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commissurotomy   surgical separation of the leaflets of the mitral valve, which have fused together at their points of contact  
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(CV) cardiovascular system   system composed of the heart, blood vessels and their functions within they body  
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nuclear perfusion study   test used in conjunction with a stress test to detect the presence of coronary artery disease  
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cardiac ablation   treatment for cardiac arrhythmias usually performed under fluoroscopic guidance  
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lumen   tubular space or channel within any artery, vein, intestine or tube  
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Doppler   ultrasonography used to access blood flow through blood vessels and the heart  
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vasodilation   widening of the lumen of a blood vessel caused by the relaxing of the muscles of the vascular wall.  
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(MRA) magnetic resonance agniogram   type of MRI scan that uses magnet field and radio waves to provide detailed images of blood vessels  
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ECHO   ultrasound that is used to visualize internal cardiac structure of the heart and access cardio output  
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