Site updated Thursday, June 09, 2005
Congenital Heart Defect Statistics
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Medical Term Definitions
This page is an attempt to define some of the medical terms you might hear
when dealing with CHD patients. This list was compiled by searching the
internet, including sites like:
| Dr. Mani's site | The Texas Heart Institute |
| The American Heart Association | The Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Heart Center Encyclopedia |
| PediHeart.org | The Mining Co. Heart Disease/Cardiology |
| Multilingual Glossary of medical terms | CHD Online Handbook |
If you're looking for descriptions of the types of CHD and what they mean, please check out our Types of CHD page.
Search our site here:
| Ablation | (ah-BLAY-shun) | elimination or removal |
| Acidosis | (ass-i-DOH-sis) | build-up of acid in the blood |
| Adventitia | (ad-ven-TISH-ah) | outer layer in the wall of an artery |
| Alveoli | (al-VEE-o-li) | air sacs in the lungs where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged |
| Amyloidosis | (am-i-loy-DOE-sis) | rare condition in which certain blood cells produce excessive protein deposits in the tissues. If the deposits are in the heart, heart failure can result |
| Anastomosis | (an-ass-ti-MOE-sis) | connection of two vessels or conduits |
| Aneurysm | (AN-yu-riz-em) | a bulge in a blood vessel's wall, which can weaken the vessel to the point where it eventually tears, causing rapid, sometimes fatal blood loss |
| Angina pectoris | (an-JI-nah or AN-ji-nah pek-TOR-is) | chest pain or discomfort caused by too little blood flow in the coronary arteries to meet the oxygen needs of the heart muscle |
| Angiogram | (AN-jee-o-gram) | X-ray picture of any arteries or veins |
| Angiography | (an-jee-AHG-ra-fee) | a diagnostic test in which a catheter is inserted through a small incision in a blood vessel in the groin or wrist and guided up into a heart artery; a dye is then be injected through the catheter to trace the blood flow in the artery so blockages can be detected method for taking X-ray pictures of the coronary arteries |
| Angioplasty | (AN-jee-o-plas-tee) | a surgical procedure used to open a partly blocked blood vessel by passing a balloon catheter through a small incision in a blood vessel in the groin or wrist, and then up along the vessel to the site of the blockage, where the tip of the catheter is inflated to push aside the blockage; often done immediately after angiography using the same catheter |
| Annulus | (AN-yu-lus) | the ring around a heart valve where the valve leaflet merges with the heart muscle |
| Anterior | (an-TIR-e-er) | front |
| Anticoagulant | (an-ti-co-AG-u-lant) | medication that keeps blood from clotting; blood thinner |
| Aorta | (ay-OR-tah) | the artery carrying oxygen-containing blood from the heart itself out to the body |
| Aortic valve | (ay-OR-tik) valve | valve between the left ventricle and the aorta |
| APGAR | A score is given for each sign (Activity, Pulse, Grimace, Appearance, Respiration) at one minute and five minutes after the birth. If there are problems with the baby an additional score is given at 10 minutes. A score of 7-10 is considered normal, while 4-7 might require some resuscitative measures, and a baby with APGARs of 3 and below requires immediate resuscitation. See http://www.childbirth.org/articles/apgar.html for more information. | |
| Arrhythmia | (ah-RITH-mee-ah) | an abnormal rhythm of the heart (too slow, too fast, or uneven), which can cause the heart to pump less effectively |
| Arteriogram | (ar-TEER-e-o-gram) | angiogram (x-ray) of arteries; a coronary arteriogram is an angiogram of the coronary arteries |
| Arteriole | (ar-TEER-ee-ole) | smaller branch of an artery |
| arteriosclerosis | (ar-TEER-ee-o-skla-ROE-sis) | a chronic disease in which there is abnormal thickening and hardening of the artery walls, causing arteries to lose their ability to stretch and contract |
| Arteritis | (art-ah-WRITE-us) | inflammation of arteries |
| Artery | (ART-er-ee) | a blood vessel carrying blood away from the heart to the body or lungs |
| Ascending aorta | (ah-SEN-ding ay-OR-tah) | the first part of the aorta that emerges from the left ventricle |
| Ascites | (uh-SIGH-teez) | buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity |
| Aspiration | (ass-per-AY-shun) | removal of fluid by suction |
| asymptomatic | (ay-simp-to-MAT-ic) | showing no symptoms |
| Atherectomy | (a-ther-EK-toh-mee) | surgical removal of plaque deposits inside an artery done by threading a catheter with a rotating cutting blade through an artery to the point of the blockage and using the blade to shave away the plaque |
| Atherosclerosis | (ath-e-roe-skleh-ROE-sis) | a form of arteriosclerosis in which there are abnormal fatty deposits in the inner layer of an artery that can interfere with blood flow |
| Atresia | (ah-TREE-zhia) | absence or non-development of a valve (e.g. pulmonary atresia is absence of the pulmonary valve) |
| atrial fibrillation | (AY-tree-al fill-i-BRAY-shun) | very rapid uncoordinated contractions of the atria of the heart |
| Atrial Septectomy | (AY-tree-al sep-TEK-toe-me | surgical removal of the wall between the right and left atria |
| Atrioventricular | (ay-tree-o-ven-TRIK-yu-lar) | between the atria and ventricles |
| Atrioventricular block | block of the electrical signal between the atria and ventricles; can vary in severity from first, second, or third degree (complete heart block) | |
| Atrioventricular Valve | valve between atrium and ventricle. The mitral valve is on the left side of the heart and the tricuspid valve on the right | |
| Atrium | (AY-tree-um) Plural = atria | one of the two upper chamber of the heart that receive blood from the veins and pump it into a ventricle |
| autologous donation | (ah-TOL-oh-gus) | Giving one's own blood in advance of surgery to be used for transfusions if needed |
| AV node | Atrioventricular node | cluster of cells between the atria and ventricles that slows the electrical current of the heart rhythm as it passes through to the ventricles |
| Bacterial Endocarditis | (en-doe-car-DIE-tus) | An infection of the lining of the inside of the heart or the heart valves. Bacterial endocarditis occurs when bacteria in the bloodstream lodge on abnormal heart valves or most structural abnormalities of the heart. Certain bacteria normally live on parts of the body, such as the mouth and upper respiratory system, the intestinal and urinary tracts, and the skin. When someone is having one of the dental or surgical procedures that can cause these bacteria to enter the bloodstream, antibiotics are prescribed to prevent the bacteria from surviving in the bloodstream. |
| balloon angioplasty | SEE angioplasty | |
| balloon catheter | a catheter with a balloon at the tip, which can be used to open a blocked heart artery . Also used sometimes to open blocked valves. | |
| Betadine | (BAY-ta-dine) | an orange-colored skin disinfectant |
| Bicuspid | (by-CUS-pid) | Having two leaflets (or flaps). All of the heart valves except the aortic are bicuspid (having 2 leaflets (or flaps) that close the valve; the aorta has 3 cusps (3 leaflets to close the valve). See also bicuspid aortic valve |
| Biopsy | (BY-op-see) | method of taking a small sample of tissue for examination |
| Bradycardia | (bray-de-KAR-dee-ah) | slow heartbeat |
| Bundle-branch block | condition in which portions of the heart's conduction system become defective and are unable to conduct the electrical signal normally (can be right or left bundle-branch block) | |
| Bypass | see Cardiopulmonary bypass and Coronary artery bypass graft | |
| bypass machine | heart-lung machine | |
| CABG operation | Coronary artery bypass graft | an operation that reroutes the blood supply by bypassing blocked coronary arteries |
| CAD | coronary artery disease | |
| Cannulation | (can-u-LAY-shun) | inserting a tube into a duct, cavity, or vessel |
| Capillaries | (KAP-ih-ler-ees) | smallest blood vessels connecting arteries and veins where oxygen and nutrients are exchanged for waste products |
| Cardiac output | the amount of blood the heart pumps through the circulatory system in 1 minute (stroke volume multiplied by heart rate) | |
| Cardiomegaly | (car-dee-oh-MEG-a-lee) | abnormal enlargement of the heart |
| Cardiomyopathy | (kar-dee-oh-my-OP-ah-thee) | abnormal conditions of the heart muscle, including hypertrophy of cardiac muscle, enlargement of the heart, and/or rigidity and loss of flexibility of the heart walls, and which are not associated with other heart defects or caused by a birth defect, coronary atherosclerosis, valve problems, or high blood pressure |
| Cardiopulmonary | (car-dee-oh-PUL-muh-nar-ee) | having to do with the heart and lungs |
| Cardiopulmonary bypass | (car-dee-oh-PUL-mah-ner-ee BY-pass) | method by which a machine takes over the function of the heart and lungs so the heart can be stopped for surgery |
| Cardiopulmonary resuscitation | (car-dee-oh-PUL-mah-ner-ee ree-suss-ih-TAY-shun) | use of rescue breathing and chest compressions to supply oxygen and blood to a person whose heartbeat and breathing have stopped |
| cardiovascular disease | disease of the heart and blood vessels that nourish the heart | |
| Cardioversion | (car-dee-o-VER-zhun | An electrical shock is applied to the chest to convert an abnormal heartbeat to normal. In addition to that, the medical team will give the patient drugs to help him/her relax and forget about the procedure. |
| Carotid | (ka-RAH-tid) arteries | main arteries supplying blood to the head |
| Catheter | (KATH-et-er) | long, thin flexible, hollow tube inserted through an incision or needle prick into blood vessels, or through openings in the body |
| Catheterization | (kath-et-er-ih-ZA-shun) | Any procedure in which a catheter is inserted into the body; it can be used to assess the condition of coronary arteries, valves, and heart muscle and to open blocked arteries and reshape heart valves. Also, a diagnostic procedure which is a comprehensive examination of how the heart and its blood vessels function. |
| CCU | cardiac (or coronary, in some hospitals) care unit | |
| Cerebral embolism | (seh-REE-bral EM-boe-liz-em) | a clot that travels through blood vessels from the site where it formed and blocks blood flow in the brain |
| Cerebral hemorrhage | (seh-REE-bral HEH-mor-ij) | bleeding into the brain |
| CHF | Congestive Heart Failure | CHF is a condition in which the heart is unable to circulate enough oxygenated blood to the body because it's not pumping strongly. This inefficient pumping causes the blood to back up in the veins. The body then retains fluids. |
| Chordae tendineae | (KOR-dee ten-DIN-eeah) | strong chords that stretch from the tricuspid and mitral valve edges to the heart muscle and restrict how far the valve leaflets swing when they close |
| Claudication | (claw-dih-KAY-shun) | limb pain or tiredness due to inadequate oxygen supply to the muscles; caused by narrowed arteries |
| Coarctation | (co-ark-TAY-shun) | narrowing of a blood vessel; usually referring to the aorta |
| Coil | stainless steel device permanently placed in extra blood vessels going into the lungs, in order to block blood flow | |
| Collateral | (ko-LAT-er-al) vessels | extra, small, secondary (accessory) blood vessels that develop to bypass narrowed or blocked veins or arteries on the heart |
| Compensatory | (com-PEN-sah-tor-ee) Pause | after a premature contraction, the heart waits a little longer before it beats |
| Conduction system | special muscle fibers that conduct electrical impulses throughout the muscle of the heart | |
| Conduction velocity | the speed with which an electrical impulse transmits through the tissue in the heart | |
| Congestive heart failure | (also called heart failure, CHF) | condition caused when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the needs of the body; also characterized by fluid collecting in various parts of the body (such as legs, lungs, liver) |
| Coronary arteries | arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle itself | |
| Coronary sinus | the main coronary vein that drains blood into the right atrium from the smaller coronary veins | |
| Coronary veins | veins returning blood from the heart muscle to the coronary sinus | |
| Cusp | a heart valve leaflet | |
| CVD | cardiovascular disease | |
| Cyanosis | (sigh-ah-NO-sis) | bluish coloring of skin, nails, lips, or tongue due to lack of oxygen-rich blood |
| Defibrillation | (dee-fih-brih-LAY-shun) | electrical shock applied to the chest to stop fibrillation |
| Defibrillator | (dee-FIH-brih-lay-tor) | machine used to deliver an electrical shock to the chest to stop fibrillation; it may be internal (implanted) or external |
| Deoxygenated | (dee-OX-ee-jen-ay-ted) | without much oxygen |
| Dextrocardia | (dex-tro-CAR-dee-ah) | Dextrocardia litterally means "heart on the right". If the developing heart tube bends to the left instead of the right, then the heart is displaced to the right and develops in a mirror image of its normal state. Having dextrocardia does not mean the heart is defective, it just means that it is on the right instead of the left side of the body. Assuming there are no associated vascular abnormalities, then the heart functions normally. In cases where the heart is the only organ which is transposed, known as isolated dextrocardia, there are usually other severe cardiac abnormalities. |
| Diastole | (die-ASS-toe-lee) | relaxation phase of the heartbeat allowing heart chambers to refill |
| diastolic pressure | the lower of the two numbers used to measure blood pressure; indicates pressure as the heart relaxes | |
| Digoxin (aka Digitalis and Lanoxin) | a medicine used to strengthen contractions of the heart muscle | |
| dilate | open; widen | |
| Distal | farther from the heart | |
| Diuretic | (die-ur-EH-tik) | a medicine used to increase urine output |
| Dyspnea | (DISP-nee-a) | shortness of breath |
| Echocardiography (ECHO) | (eh-ko-kar-dee-OG-ra-fee) | use of ultrasound to "look" directly at the heart without penetrating the skin |
| Edema | (eh-DEEM-a) | a buildup of fluid in body tissues, causing swelling and other problems |
| Effusion | (eh-FEW-zhun) | the escape of a fluid from anatomical vessels by rupture or exudation |
| Ejection fraction | the portion of blood that is pumped out of a filled ventricle (normal is 50 percent or more) | |
| Electrocardiogram (EKG) | (ee-lek-troe-KAR-dee-o-gram) | recording of the electrical activity of the heart |
| Endocarditis | (en-doe-kard-EYE-tis) | inflammation of the membrane that lines the chambers and valves of the heart, usually caused by an infection of the valve |
| Endocardium | (en-doe-CARD-ee-um) | smooth membrane covering the inside surfaces of the heart |
| Endothelium | (en-doe-THEE-lee-um) | a layer of cells on the inner surface of the blood vessels |
| Endotracheal | (en-doe-TRAY-kee-al) tube | tube inserted into the trachea (windpipe) to allow assisted breathing with a ventilator |
| Epicardium | (eh-pih-KAR-dee-um) | thin membrane covering the outside surface of the heart muscle |
| Fenestration | (fen-iss-TRAY-shun) | an opening or window made in surgery |
| Fenestrated Fontan | a version of the Fontan procedure which utilizes a fenestration to serves as a pop-off valve in order to relieve pressure in the heart | |
| Fetal Arrhythmias | transient fetal cardiac rhythm disturbances are not uncommon during pregnancy. The rhythm problems which can occur in utero include, but are not limited to, bradycardia and tachycardia. Fetal arrhythmias can range from benign to causing in-utero death. See Irregular Fetal Heartbeat Indicates Serious Problem in Small Number of Cases for more information. | |
| Fetal Echocardiography | method for diagnosing some heart defects in utero | |
| fibrillation | (fih-brih-LAY-shun) | rapid, irregular, contractions of the muscle fibers of the heart resulting in a lack of coordination between atria and ventricles; causes an ineffective heartbeat |
| Fluoroscopy | (flur-OS-ko-pee) | use of X-rays to see motion, as opposed to still X-ray films |
| Flutter | rapid, ineffective beating of a heart chamber, but more coordinated than fibrillation | |
| Fontan Procedure | the final surgical step in a series of operations for patients with single ventricle, HLHS and some other CHDs which converts the heart from a 4-chamber pumping heart to a 2- chamber pumping heart | |
| Foramen Ovale | normal opening between the right and left atria of the fetal heart | |
| Heart Cath (catheterization) | a test in which a catheter (or thin tube) is passed through a blood vessel into the heart to study the heart anatomy and the function of the heart | |
| heart-lung machine | a machine that supplies blood with oxygen and pumps it throughout the body while the heart is stopped during open-heart surgery | |
| Hemochromatosis | (hee-mo-kro-mah-TOE-sis) | a defect in iron metabolism that permits iron to build up in the body |
| Hemodynamics | (hee-mo-die-NA-mics) | information about blood flow and pressures |
| Hepatic | (heh-PAT-ic) | having to do with the liver |
| Heterotaxy | (HET-er-oh-tax-ee) | Heterotaxy syndome involves abnormal organ placement in the body, including the heart. Oftentimes, the liver is in the midline, the stomach and heart may be on the right side, and the splenic tissue may be multiple (polysplenia syndrome) or absent (asplenia syndrome). The congenital heart disease associated with heterotaxy is usually severe and is associated with high infant and childhood mortality. ( From Grants Awarded by The Children's Heart Foundation ) |
| Holter monitor | (HOLE-ter) monitor | a portable device that continuously records the heart's electrical activity; can be worn at home during daily activities to detect fleeting episodes of faulty heart rhythms |
| homocysteine | (ho-mo-SIS-teen) | an amino acid of animal origin that, when present in excess, has been shown to cause blockages in the blood vessels that supply the heart |
| hypertension | (hi-per-TEN-shun) | high blood pressure |
| hypertensive | (hi-per-TEN-siv) | having high blood pressure |
| Hypertrophy | (HI-per-tro-fee) | abnormal enlargement. |
| Hypoperfusion | (hi-po-per-FEW-zhun) | poor blood flow to body tissues |
| Hypoplastic | (hi-po-PLA-stic) | underformed with lack of normal function |
| Hypotension | (hi-po-TEN-shun) | low blood pressure. |
| ICD (Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator) | a small defibrillator that can be permanently implanted under the skin to regulate heart rhythms that are too fast or uncoordinated | |
| ICU | intensive care unit | |
| Immunosuppressant | (im-yu-no-suh-PRESS-ant) | a medicine used to prevent transplant organ rejection which somewhat lowers the body’s ability to fight disease |
| infarct | an area of tissue death in an organ (such as the heart) caused by blockage of the blood vessel that supplies oxygen and nutrients | |
| Inferior | below | |
| Intubation | placement of a breathing tube in the windpipe | |
| Ischemia | (is-KEE-mee-a) | lack of oxygen in body tissue (usually the heart or brain) caused by blockage or damage to the artery carrying oxygen-rich blood to that part of the body |
| I.V. | Intravenous | within a vein; refers to catheters and tubing used to give fluid and medicine |
| IVC | inferior vena cava | the large vein that returns blue blood from the lower body to the right atrium in the normal heart |
| jugular veins | (JUG-yu-lar) | veins that carry blood back from the head to the heart |
| Korotkoff sounds | (ko-ROT-kof) | sounds made by the pulse that are heard when a blood pressure is taken |
| Lasix | a diuretic | |
| Left heart failure | blood flow to the body is decreased and fluid accumulates in the lungs | |
| Ligated | tied off | |
| Lumen | (LU-men) | the channel within blood vessels in which blood flows |
| Lung scanning | a test designed to assess the circulation and air flow through the lungs | |
| Mitral valve | (MY-tral) | valve between the left atrium and left ventricle |
| MRI | magnetic resonance imaging | uses magnetic fields and radio waves to construct images of internal body structures |
| Murmur | sounds made by turbulent blood moving through the chambers and valves of the heart or through the blood vessels near the heart usually signifying an abnormality of blood flow caused by a structural defect in the heart or valves | |
| Myocardial infarction | (myo-Kar-dee-al in-FARK-shun) | heart attack; an area of heart tissue dies because its blood supply is blocked |
| Myocarditis | (my-o-kard-EYE tis) | inflammation of the heart muscle |
| Myocardium | (my-o-KAR-dee um) | the middle, muscular layer of the heart wall |
| N.P.O. | these letters stand for ‘nothing by mouth’ (in Latin). When you are N.P.O., you cannot eat or drink for a certain amount of time | |
| Necrosis | (neh-KROE-sis) | dead areas of tissue |
| NG Tube | nasogastric tube | a tube placed through the nose and ending in the stomach, used for feedings |
| normal sinus rhythm | the rhythm of a healthy heartbeat, produced by electrical impulses that start in the sinoatrial node of the heart, measured by an electrocardiogram | |
| Nuclear heart scanning | (NU-klee-ar) | test used to show features o heart function and blood flow; it involves injection of radioactive material ("tracers") into the bloodstream |
| Occlusion | (oh-KLU-zhun) | total blockage of a blood vessel |
| Orthopnea | (or-THOP-nee-a) | difficulty breathing except in an upright position (ortho means "straight" or "upright") |
| Orthostatic hypotension | (or-thoe-STAT-ik hy-poe-TEN-shun) | low blood pressure upon standing that may lead to light-headedness or passing out |
| pacemaker | a small device implanted under the skin (usually in the shoulder area) to regulate the heartbeat | |
| Palliative | (PAL-e-at-iv) | treatment and/or an operation that does not cure a problem but makes adjustments to improve the situation |
| Palpitations | (pal-pi-TAY-shuns) | uncomfortable sensations of your heartbeat in your chest |
| Patent | (PAY-tent) | open |
| Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty |
per-kew-TAY-nee-us
trans-LUE-mih-nal KO-ro-nair-ee AN-jee-o-plas-tee; PTCA |
the use of catheters to reopen obstructed coronary arteries |
| Perfusion | (pur-FEW-zhun) | circulation of blood through organs or tissues |
| Perfusion scanning | (pur-FEW-zhun) scanning | This is a test that produces an image of the heart muscle with radioactive tracers. It can show areas of the heart muscle that do not receive adequate blood flow. |
| Pericardial Effusion | fluid buildup around the heart | |
| pericardiectomy | (pair-ih-kar-dee-EK-tah-mee) | removal of the pericardium |
| pericardiocentesis | (pair-ih-kar-dee-o-sen-TEE-sis) | withdrawing excess fluid (pericardial effusion) from the pericardium through a needle |
| pericarditis | (pair-ih-kard-EYE-tis) | This is an inflammation of the pericardium. It can be caused by an infection, by severe kidney disease, by a myocardial infarction (heart attack) or by several other disorders. Pericarditis typically produces a sound called a "pericardial friction rub," a characteristic grating "leathery" heart murmur. |
| Pericardium | (pair-ih-KAR-dee-um) | the sac or membrane surrounding the heart |
| Perioperative | (pair-ih-OP-er-a-tiv) | refers to time period before and after an operation |
| PFO | patent foramen ovale | an opening in the wall between the upper two chambers of the heart that is present at birth, but doesn't close completely. It is much smaller than an ASD |
| PGE1 | prostaglandin E1 | I.V. medicine used to keep the ductus arteriosus open |
| Pleural Effusion | fluid buildup around the lungs | |
| Positron Emission Tomagraphy |
(PA-zih-tron
ee-MIH-shun toh-MAH-gra-fee); PET scanning |
investigational imaging technique used for measuring blood flow and the metabolism of the tissues of the body, including the heart |
| Posterior | (post-EAR-i-or) | back or rear |
| PPH | primary pulmonary hypertension | The blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries is abnormally high, resulting in damage to the small arteries in the body, over-development of the heart, and often kidney damage |
| Premature contraction | a heartbeat that comes too soon | |
| Prophylaxis | (pro-fi-LAX-iss) | a preventive measure (e.g., to prevent infection or disease) |
| Prothrombin time test | (pro-THROM-bin) | test that measures the activity of certain clotting factors; it is often used to determine whether a person is receiving the correct dose of the anticoagulant warfarin (Coumadin) |
| Proximal | (PROX-i-mal) | closer to the heart |
| PTCA | SEE percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty | |
| Pulmonary | (PUL-mah-nair-ee) | having to do with the lungs |
| Pulmonary Arteries | (PUL-mah-nair-ee) | blood vessel that carries blue (deoxygenated) blood to the lungs from the right ventricle in the normal heart |
| Pulmonary edema | (PUL-mah-nair-ee eh-DEE-mah) | fluid buildup in the lungs |
| Pulmonary valve | (PUL-mah-nair-ee) valve | valve at the opening from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery |
| Pulmonary vein | (PUL-mah-nair-ee) vein | blood vessel that carries red (newly oxygenated) blood from the lungs back to the left atrium of the heart |
| pulmonic valve | (pul-MON-ic) | SEE pulmonary valve |
| Pulse Oximeter | (ock-SIM-i-ter) | a machine that uses light to measure the amount of oxygen the blood is carrying through your body |
| Radio frequency ablation | (RFA) | a technique utilizing radio energy (using a wire placed through a catheter in the heart) to kill off heart tissue to prevent or treat arrhythmias |
| Radionucleotide ventriculography |
(ray-dee-o-NU-klee-o-tide
ven-trik-u-LOG-ra-fee) |
a test used to determine the size and shape of the heart’s pumping chambers, the ventricles |
| Regurgitation | (re-gurge-i-TAY-shun) | a condition in which blood leaks backwards through heart valves that do not close fully; also called leakage |
| Rejection | the body’s refusal to tolerate a donor organ leading to the organ’s failure | |
| Renal | (REE-nal) | having to do with the kidneys |
| Reperfusion | (ree-per-FEW-zhun) | return of normal blood flow after a period of poor blood flow |
| Repolarization | (ree-pole-er-i-ZAY-shun) | the process by which the heart is restored to its electrical resting state between heart beats |
| Rheumatic Fever | (rue-MAT-ik) fever | inflammatory illness that sometimes follows strep throat and may damage the heart valves |
| Right heart failure | decreased blood flow resulting in swelling in the legs and abdominal organs, including the liver | |
| rotoblator | (RO-toe-blay-der) | a catheter with a hard tip which rotates at 2000 rpm to pulverize plaque deposits during atherectomy |
| Septal defect | (SEP-tal) | hole in the wall separating the atria or in the wall separating the ventricles |
| Septum | (SEP-tum) | wall separating the left and right atria and the left and right ventricles |
| Shunt | connection allowing abnormal blood flow between two locations | |
| Sick sinus syndrome | This is the failure of the sinus node to perform its normal function of regulating the heartbeat. It often results in periods of fast heartbeat and periods of slow heartbeat. | |
| Silent ischemia | (is-KEE-mee-a) | insufficient amounts of blood and oxygen reach portions of the heart muscle, but angina is not produced |
| sinoatrial node |
(si-no-AY-tree-al)
Sinus node |
a small mass of tissue that is embedded in the right atrium of the heart, and that originates the electrical impulses that stimulate the heartbeat |
| Stable angina | (an-JI-nah or AN-ji-nah) | chest pain caused by myocardial ischemia and with a predictable pattern |
| Stenosis | (steh-NO-sis) | a narrowing, usually refers to a valve or blood vessel other than the aorta (adjective = stenotic |
| stent | a stainless steel mesh tube placed inside an artery to hold it open after angioplasty has pushed aside a blockage | |
| Sternotomy | (ster-NAH-tah-mee) | incision down the breastbone |
| Strain gauge plethysmography | (ple-thiz-MOG-ra-fee) | a test used to evaluate how efficiently blood is flowing through a leg artery |
| stress test | a test of heart function measured before, during, and after a period of increasingly strenuous exercise such as walking on a treadmill | |
| Stroke | a brain injury that is caused by an inadequate supply of blood to the brain or by leak of blood inside the skull that compresses the brain | |
| Stroke volume | the actual amount of blood pumped by the left ventricle with one contraction | |
| Sudden cardiac death | cardiac arrest; usually caused by ventricular fibrillation | |
| Superior | (su-PEER-ee-or) | above |
| Superior vena cava (SVC) | (VEE-na CAY-va) | large vein returning blood from the upper body to the right atrium in the normal heart |
| Swan-Ganz catheter | a monitoring catheter; used to assess the cardiac output and pressures in the right heart chambers and pulmonary artery | |
| Systemic | (sis-TEM-ic) | having to do with the body |
| Systole | (SIS-toe-lee) | the contraction phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle squeezes |
| systolic pressure | (sis-TAHL-ic) | the higher of the two numbers used to measure the blood pressure; indicates pressure as the heart contracts |
| Tachycardia | (tack-eh-KAR-dee-ah) | rapid heartbeat |
| Tachypnea | (ta-KIP-nee-ah) | rapid breathing |
| Tamponade | (tam-pon-ODD) | excess fluid in the pericardium prevents the heart from expanding enough during diastole to fill sufficiently |
| Thrills | vibrations in the chest from abnormal blood flow | |
| Thrombolysis | (throm-bol-LIE-sis) | use medication to dissolve blood clots |
| Thrombolytic agents | (throm-boe-LIH-tik) agents | drugs that dissolve clots |
| Thrombophlebitis | (throm-boe-fle-BY-tis) | clotting of blood and inflammation in a vein, most commonly in a leg |
| Thrombosis | (throm-BOE-sis) | This is a blood clot that forms within a blood vessel. When the blockage occurs in a heart artery, it is called a coronary thrombosis. |
| Transcutaneous oximetry | (trans-kew-TAY-nee-us oks-IH-meh-tree) | measurement of the amount of oxygen in a region of skin with a special patch attached to the skin |
| transesophageal | (trans-eh-sof-ah-JEE-al) | across the esophagus |
| Transesophageal echocardiography | (trans-eh-sof-ah-JEE-al eck-oh-car-dee-OG-ra-fee) | echocardiography in which a transducer is placed in the esophagus to gain clearer images of the heart |
| transient ischemic attack |
TIA
(TRANS-ee-ant iss-KEY-mic) |
temporary lack of circulation to part of the brain causing stroke-like symptoms |
| transthoracic | (trans-thor-ASS-ic) | through the chest wall |
| Tricuspid valve | (try-KUS-pid) valve | valve between the right atrium and ventricle |
| Unstable angina | (an-JI-nah or AN-ji-nah) | new or increasing angina |
| valve | parts of the heart and veins that act like doors to keep blood from flowing backwards; see aortic valve, tricuspid valve, pulmonic valve, mitral valve | |
| Valvuloplasty | (VAL-vue-lo-plas-tee) | reshaping of a heart valve with surgical or catheter techniques |
| Variant angina | (VAIR-ee-ant an-JI-nah or AN-ji-nah) | chest pain caused by spasm of the muscle encircling the coronary arteries (a.k.a. Prinzmetal's angina) |
| Varicose veins | (VAIR-ih-cose) | abnormally dilated veins |
| varix | (VAIR-icks) | an abnormally widened and lengthened vein or artery; for example, a varicose vein |
| Vascular system | (VAS-cue-lar) | blood vessels; arteries and veins |
| Vasodilators | (vay-so-DIE-lay-tors) | medications that widen or dilate the arteries |
| Vasopressors | (vay-so-PRES-ors) | drugs that elevate blood pressure |
| Vein | a blood vessel that returns blood to the heart from the body or lungs | |
| Venogram | (VEN-oh-gram) | angiogram of veins |
| Ventricle | (VEN-trih-kel) | one of two large lower pumping chambers of the heart |
| Ventricle Inversion | congenital reversal of the right and left ventricles | |
| ventricular fibrillation | (ven-TRIK-u-lar fib-ri-LAY-shun) | very rapid, uncoordinated, fluttering contractions of the ventricles of the heart |
| Ventricular Septal Defect | (VSD) | a hole in the wall that separates the right and left ventricles of the heart allowing crossover of blood |
| ventricular tachycardia | (ven-TRIK-u-lar tack-i-CAR-dee-ah) | a very rapid, dangerous heartbeat that is stimulated by faulty electrical impulses within the ventricles, leaving them unable to pump blood to the rest of the body |
| Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome | condition in which an extra electrical pathway connects the atria and ventricles; it may cause a rapid heartbeat |