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weakened valves in large veins, especially in the lower legs, lead to enlarged, twisted, and bulging veins
varicose veins
high blood pressure higher than 120/80; often caused by smoking, obesity, and lack of exercise
hypertension
occurs when there is bleeding on the brain due to a broken blood vessel
hemorrhagic stroke
a hole in the wall between the right and left atria that allows mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood
atrial septal defect
tiny vessel that allows for diffusion of substances between the blood and cells
capillary
a narrowing of any arteries of the body due to an accumulation of plaque
atherosclerosis
thick-walled vessel that carries blood away from the heart
artery
slow heart rate; fewer than 60 bpm
bradycardia
the amount of blood pumped out by each ventricle in one minute; heart rate x stroke volume
cardiac output
rapid heart rate; over 100 bpm
tachycardia
thin-walled vessel that carries blood toward the heart; large veins have valves to prevent backflow
vein
carries nutrients and oxygen from the placenta to the fetus
umbilical vein
unusual heart sound produced by abnormal blood flow through the heart valves; often occurs in the mitral valve
heart murmur
circle of connecting blood vessels that protects the brain by providing more than one route for blood
Circle of Willis
a measure of heart rate by counting the pressure waves created by contraction of the ventricles; can be felt in arteries close to the body surface
pulse
occurs when heart valves do not close properly due to heart conditions, infections, or aging
heart valve disease
occurs when blood flow is blocked to an area of the heart muscle; also called a heart attack
myocardial infarction
carries blood from digestive organs and the spleen to the liver to be processed before entering systemic circulation
hepatic portal circulation
irregular heart rate or heart rhythm; may be corrected with a pacemaker
arrhythmia
carry wastes and carbon dioxide from the fetus to the placenta
umbilical arteries
when blood flow through coronary arteries is limited due to a build-up of plaque
coronary artery disease
an infection of the lining of the heart chambers or heart valves
endocarditis
occurs when blood flow is blocked in an area of the brain due to a blood clot
ischemic stroke
disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder to pump blood; the left ventricle wall or chamber may enlarge
cardiomyopathy
the pressure of blood pushing against the inner walls of blood vessels; expressed as a fraction with systolic pressure over diastolic pressure
blood pressure