Download Heart Glossary – 20 Words You Should Know

Kacher
DHSHP
Revised 7/09
Cardiovascular Words You Should Know
Abdominal aortic
aneurysm (AAA)
A bulge that weakens a part of the aorta, the main artery of the body. If
untreated, it can burst. This results in death in nearly 80% of cases.
Angina pectoris
Suffocating pain (angina) of the chest (pectoris). Angina is a result of the
oxygen demands of the heart not being met
Angioplasty
A tiny balloon is passed into a blocked area of an artery. When the balloon is
inflated, it presses the plaque that is causing the blockage against the blood
vessel wall, freeing blood flow.
Arrhythmia
Irregular heartbeats
Arteries
Blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to the different tissues of the body.
Asystole
Absence (a) contraction (systole). Asystole is when the heart has stopped
beating.
Atherosclerosis
A build-up of fat (cholesterol) within the artery wall. This build-up is
sometimes referred to as "plaque." Plaque can block the artery and reduce
blood flow.
AV node
Atrioventricular node; specialized conduction tissue found in the right atrium.
It is the electrical connection between the atria & ventricles.
Bradycardia
An abnormally slow heartbeat, usually less than 50 beats per minute.
Bundle of His
The part of the Purkinje system that connects directly to the AV node. It later
breaks into two separate tracks (right and left bundle branches).
CHF
Congestive heart failure
Coronary arteries
Arteries that supply oxygenated blood to the myocardium
Coronary artery bypass
graft (CABG)
An operation performed to get past blocked arteries of the heart and deliver
blood to areas that aren't receiving enough.
Coronary artery disease
(CAD)
A disease usually caused by atherosclerosis. CAD can cause less blood to be
supplied to the heart.
Defibrillation
When a high-energy electrical impulse is used to stop fast, abnormal
heartbeats. The shock restores the heart's normal rhythm.
Defibrillator
A device that gives out a high-energy electrical impulse to stop very fast and
abnormal heartbeats and returns the heart to a normal rhythm.
Diastole
The period of the cardiac cycle when the ventricles are relaxed
Ejection fraction
The volume of blood that is pushed into the aorta during systole (55 to 70%).
EKG (ECG)
Electrocardiogram; tracing over time of the electrical activity of the heart
muscle.
Fibrillation
Erratic, chaotic contractions of the heart muscle.
Atrial fib can be cardioverted.
Ventricular fibrillation is not compatible with life.
Flutter
An extremely fast coordinated heartbeat (200 – 350 bpm) usually occurring
Cardiovascular Glossary
2
only in the atria.
Implantable
cardioverter
defibrillator (ICD)
A device placed in the chest that monitors the heartbeat (also known as an
automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator—AICD). When the heart
beats too fast, the ICD delivers a high-energy electrical impulse to restore a
regular heart rhythm.
Ischemia
Reduced (isch) blood (emia). A condition of inadequate blood flow to a
tissue. Ischemia to the heart can cause angina and if present long enough,
infarction.
Leads
The wires that connect the pulse generator to the heart. They carry
information on how the heart is beating to the pulse generator and carry
electrical impulses from the generator to the heart.
Myocardial Infarction
(MI)
When a part of the heart muscle dies because blood flow is interrupted.
Symptoms may include nausea, shortness of breath, and pain in the chest,
arm, or neck. Also called " heart attack."
Pulse generator
The part of the pacemaker or defibrillator system where the electrical
impulses are created.
Purkinje fibers
Specialized conducting cells found in the ventricular septum of the heart.
They transmit the impulse from the AV node to the myocardium.
Sinoatrial (SA) node
Specialized myocardial tissue found in the upper wall of the right atrium. The
SA node is the pacemaker of the heart.
Sinus rhythm
Normal heart rate.
Stent
A tiny metal tube that is put into an artery during an angioplasty. The stent
holds the artery open and makes sure blood flows through the artery.
Stricture
Narrowing of passageway.
Sudden cardiac death
(SCD)
When untreated electrical problems in the heart cause death. Sudden cardiac
death is usually caused by heart rhythms that are too fast. This condition is
also called "cardiac arrest." Sudden cardiac death is different from a heart
attack, which is caused when blood flow is interrupted and the heart is
damaged.
Syncope
Temporary loss of consciousness due to reduced blood flow to the brain. A
common symptom of cardiac arrhythmias.
Systole
The part of the cardiac cycle when the ventricles are contracting.
Tachycardia
An abnormally fast heartbeat, usually more than 100 beats per minute.