Heart Structures
Cardiac Diseases
In the Clinic
Laboratory Values
Potpourri
100
The first chamber of the heart that receives deoxygenated blood.
What is the right atrium?
100
An abnormality in the heart that develops before birth.
What is a congenital heart defect?
100
This is the first thing you should do after entering the exam room to see a patient.
What is wash your hands?
100
This is used to track the electrical impulses of the heart; it is done to every patient presenting to the ER with chest pain.
What is an EKG?
100
This is a document that showcases your past experiences and skill-set.
What is a resume?
200
Carries deoxygenated blood from the head, arms, and upper body.
What is the superior vena cava?
200
The term used to describe a blockage of blood to the heart.
What is a myocardial infarction/heart attack?
200
The seven main components of the history of present illness (HPI) when assessing a complaint of pain.
What are location, quality, quantity, timing, setting, modifiers, associated symptoms?
200
This is an ultrasound used to visualize the heart.
What is an echocardiogram?
200
A blood pressure of this reading is typically considered the upper threshold of "normal."
What is 120/80?
300
The number of pulmonary veins.
What is four?
300
The term used to describe an interruption of the blood supply to the brain.
What is a stroke?
300
This drug is used under the tongue (sublingually) to treat episodes of acute chest pain.
What is nitroglycerin?
300
This blood biomarker is often elevated during a heart attack (myocardial infarction) and is the most specific marker of cardiac injury.
What is troponin?
300
This is the only medication proven to reduce mortality in a MI; it works by preventing a blood clot from getting larger.
What is aspirin?
400
Controls the transport of blood between the left atrium and left ventricle.
What is the bicuspid/mitral valve?
400
The term used to describe hardening and narrowing of the arteries.
What is atherosclerosis?
400
This heart valve is traditionally auscultated at the left 2nd intercostal space.
What is the pulmonic valve?
400
In this procedure, a vein is harvested from the patient's leg to bypass a blocked artery in the heart.
What is coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)?
400
X-ray imaging of blood vessels following injection of contrast/dye.
What is angiography?
500
This is considered the "pacemaker" of the heart.
What is the SA node?
500
The term used to describe dilation (and threatened rupture) of the main artery in the abdomen.
What is an aortic aneurysm?
500
This component of the Physical Exam is traditionally conducted with the patient in the left lateral decubitus position.
What is palpation of the point of maximal impulse (PMI)?
500
This isoform of creatine kinase (CK) is specific to the heart.
What is muscle-brain (MB)?
500
VCU School of Medicine looks for these two traits especially in its prospective students.
What are smart and nice!
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