Procedures
An imaging test that uses X-rays to take pictures of blood vessels after a contrast dye is injected
What is an angiogram?
A clinical examination technique where a healthcare provider listens to the sounds made by the heart, lungs, or other organs, typically using a stethoscope
What is auscultation?
The smallest type of blood vessel, where the exchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and waste occurs between blood and tissues
What is a capillary?
A condition in which blood flow (and thus oxygen) is restricted to a part of the body, often leading to tissue damage
What is ischemia?
An abnormally fast heart rate, typically defined as over 100 beats per minute at rest
What is tachycardia?
A medical procedure used to widen narrowed or obstructed blood vessels, often performed using a balloon catheter.
What is an angioplasty?
Small, pinpoint-sized red or purple spots on the skin caused by bleeding underneath the skin.
What are petechiae?
The wall dividing the left and right sides of the heart (interatrial septum for the atria, interventricular septum for the ventricles)
What is the septum?
An enlargement of the heart, which can indicate underlying health problems, such as high blood pressure or heart disease
What is cardiomegaly?
The phase of the heart cycle when the heart muscle relaxes and the chambers fill with blood
What is diastole?
An instrument used to measure blood pressure, typically consisting of a cuff that is inflated around the arm and a gauge.
What is a sphygmomanometer?
A bluish discoloration of the skin or mucous membranes due to insufficient oxygen in the blood.
What is cyanosis?
The artery that carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs for oxygenation
What is the pulmonary artery?
An infection or inflammation of the inner lining of the heart (endocardium), often affecting heart valves
What is endocarditis?
The blood vessels that supply blood to the heart muscle itself
What are the coronary arteries?
A test that measures the electrical activity of the heart and can help detect heart conditions.
What is Electrocardiography (ECG or EKG)?
An abnormal sound heard during a heartbeat, often indicative of turbulent blood flow, which can be benign or indicate a heart problem
What is a murmur?
The muscular layer of the heart that is responsible for contracting and pumping blood
What is the myocardium?
A deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues, which can lead to cellular damage
What is hypoxia?
The normal rhythm of the heart, characterized by a rate between 60 and 100 beats per minute, originating from the sinoatrial node
What is Sinus Rhythm?
An imaging technique that uses ultrasound waves to create pictures of the heart's structure and function.
What is Echocardiography?
The sensation of feeling the heartbeat, which may feel rapid, fluttering, or pounding
What are palpitations?
A large vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the upper body to the right atrium of the heart.
What is Superior Vena Cava?
Abnormal growths on heart valves or endocardium, often associated with infection or inflammation, such as in endocarditis
What are vegetations?
Commonly known as a heart attack, it occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, causing damage to the heart muscle.
What is a myocardial infarction?