Glossary for Cardiac Care
The more you know about your heart, the better you can communicate with your doctor - and understand what to expect in treatment. Here are some useful terms related to heart disease:
Angina
Angina (or myocardial ischemia) is chest pain or pressure that results from a spasm or partial narrowing of the coronary arteries.
Angiography
An angiography (also called arteriography) is a testing procedure that allows the cardiologist or cardiac surgeon to see any narrowings in the coronary arteries and peripheral vessels through the use of X rays and a contrast medium injected into the bloodstream.
Aorta
The aorta is the heart's major blood vessel. It sends re-oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
Aortic valve
Valves allow the blood to flow through the heart in only one direction. The aortic valve, located between the left ventricle and the aorta, controls the flow of blood as it is pumped by the ventricles.
Arrhythmia
Arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat caused by changes in the flow of the heart's electrical current.
Artery
Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood containing fresh supplies of oxygen and other nutrients away from the heart to the rest of the body.
Atherectomy
Atherectomy is a procedure in which the plaque narrowing an artery is cut away or pulverized, rather than being pushed into the arterial wall, as is done in balloon angioplasty.
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis refers to the clogging of arteries - especially the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle - with fatty deposits, cholesterol, and other materials. Over time, blood circulation becomes restricted, which increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other serious diseases. Atherosclerosis is sometimes referred to as hardening of the arteries or arteriosclerosis.
Atrium
The heart contains four chambers. The two upper chambers are called atria: the left atrium and the right atrium. The right atrium collects oxygen-depleted blood that is returning from the body through veins. The left atrium collects blood coming back from the lungs with fresh supplies of oxygen.
Blood Pressure
Blood pressure refers to the force or pressure exerted by the heart while pumping blood, including the amount of blood pumped out of the heart, as well as the amount of tension pushing against the walls of the arteries. Each blood pressure measurement has two readings: Systolic blood pressure (the top number) measures the highest pressure within the arteries while the heart is pumping out blood. A normal, healthy systolic reading is 120 or below. Diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) measures the lowest pressure within the arteries, while the heart is between beats and filling with blood. A normal, healthy diastolic reading is 80 or below.
Bradycardia
Bradycardia is the term used to describe a slow heartbeat of 50 beats per minute or slower. A normal heartbeat is from 60 to 100 beats per minute.
Cardiac
The word cardiac means "pertaining to the heart."
Cardiac catheterization
Cardiac catheterization is a procedure in which a catheter is inserted into the heart or blood vessels to assess, through the use of a contrast medium and X rays, the condition of the coronary arteries, heart valves, and heart muscle. Cardiac catheterization can also be used to open blocked arteries and to reshape heart valves.
Cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease refers to any disease that affects the heart or blood vessels.
Catheter
A catheter is a long, thin, flexible, hollow tube that is inserted into the body.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a white, waxy substance that helps your body metabolize fats, insulates your nerve and brain tissues, waterproofs your skin, and helps make hormones. Your body makes the cholesterol that it needs. When you take in more cholesterol by eating certain foods, the excess cholesterol is stored along the lining of your blood vessels. Too much cholesterol can clog your blood vessels, leading to coronary artery disease, angina, heart attack, and stroke.
Contrast medium
Contrast medium is any material that appears white, or relatively opaque, on X rays, such as a barium suspension, to highlight an organ or blood vessel.
Coronary arteries
Coronary arteries supply blood to the heart muscle. They serve as the heart's own circulatory system.
Coronary artery disease
Coronary artery disease refers to a narrowing in the coronary arteries that restricts the flow of blood to the heart muscle.
Coronary balloon angioplasty
Angioplasty opens narrowed arteries by compressing fatty build-up or plaque against the artery wall. Coronary balloon angioplasty refers to angioplasty performed on the coronary arteries.
Diastolic blood pressure
Diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number in a blood pressure reading) measures the lowest blood pressure in the arteries. It measures the force of the heart at rest or between the beats. A normal diastolic pressure is 80 or below.
Drug Eluting Stents
A device used in angioplasty procedures to open clogged coronary arteries ad allow blood flow to the heart. The stent slowly releases a drug and has been shown in clinical studies to significantly reduce the rate of re-blockage that occurs with existing stents.
Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram ("echo") is a test that uses harmless and painless sound waves to show how well your heart muscle and valves are working, as well as reveal the size of your heart.
Electrocardiogram
Electrocardiogram (ECG, EKG) is a graphic recording of the electrical impulses of your heart and your heart rhythm.
Endarterectomy
An endarterectomy is a common surgical procedure that is performed to remove a piece of plaque from an artery.
Endocardium
The endocardium is a smooth inner lining that covers both the heart and its valves.
Epicardium
The epicardium is the outer layer of the heart.
Heart failure
Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to pump out all of the blood that returns to it so the body's needs can be met. Heart failure is also characterized by fluid retention in various parts of the body, such as the legs and lungs.
High-density lipoproteins
High-density lipoproteins (HDL) refer to a substance in your blood that helps to clear your blood vessels of cholesterol build-up. HDLs, sometimes called "good" cholesterol, are often measured as part of a cholesterol (blood) test. A reading of more than 35 is considered healthy.
Hypertension
Hypertension is another name for high blood pressure. Ischemia Ischemia is a condition that occurs when an insufficient amount of blood and oxygen reaches the tissues due mainly to narrowed (blocked) arteries.
Low-density lipoproteins (LDLs)
Low-density lipoproteins refer to a substance in your blood that causes cholesterol to stick to the walls of your blood vessels, leading to clogging in your blood vessels. LDLs, sometimes called the "bad" cholesterol, are often measured as part of a cholesterol test. A reading of less than 200 is desirable.
Mitral valve
Valves allow the blood to flow through the heart in only one direction. The mitral valve on the left side of the heart controls the flow of blood from the left atrium to the left ventricle.
Mitral valve prolapse
Mitral valve prolapse, a faint heart murmur, is a common condition that rarely causes more serious heart problems. It affects as much as seven percent of the population and is more common among women than men. It is believed to be hereditary.
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction (MI) is a heart attack. It is actually a myocardial ischemia (a spasm or narrowing of the coronary arteries) that lasts long enough to cause some of the heart muscle to die from lack of oxygen.
Myocardial ischemia
Myocardial ischemia refers to chest pain or pressure that results from a spasm or partial narrowing of the coronary arteries. Silent ischemia is a myocardial ischemia that causes no symptoms.
Myocardium
The myocardium forms the muscular wall of the heart ("myo" means muscle, "cardia" refers to the heart). The myocardium beats in response to the electrical signals it receives from the body's own natural pacemaker, the sinoatrial node. When the myocardium receives an electrical impulse, it contracts, which pumps the blood out of the ventricle.
Percutaneous
Percutaneous refers to a procedure that is done through the skin.
Percutaneous coronary intervention
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is an all-inclusive term used to describe procedures that are performed in catheterization laboratories to reduce the amount of constriction, or narrowing, in a coronary artery due to plaque formation.
Pericardium
The pericardium is a sac around the outside of the heart.
Plaque
Plaque is a combination of fatty material and other deposits that build up inside an artery and can reduce or block blood flow.
Port
Ports are the small incisions that are made between the ribs or in the chest during minimally-invasive heart surgery.
Pulmonary artery
When "used" blood returns from a trip throughout the body, it is pumped through the pulmonary artery to the lungs, where the blood picks up a fresh supply of oxygen.
Pulmonary valve
Valves allow the blood to flow through the heart in only one direction. The pulmonary valve, located between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery, controls the flow of blood as it is pumped by the ventricle.
Systolic blood pressure
Systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) refers to the highest blood pressure measured in the arteries. It occurs when the heart contracts during a heartbeat. A normal systolic reading is 120 or below.
Tachycardia
Tachycardia is a fast heartbeat, usually ranging from 160 to 200 beats per minute. A normal heartbeat is from 60 to 100 beats per minute.
Thrombosis
Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot (thrombus) within the heart or blood vessels.
Tricuspid valve
Valves allow the blood to flow through the heart in only one direction. The tricuspid valve controls the flow of blood from the right atrium to the right ventricle.
Triglyceride
Triglyceride refers to a type of fat your body uses to store sugar until it is needed. Too much triglyceride may cause clogging of your blood vessels. Triglyceride is often measured as part of a cholesterol (blood) test. A reading of less than 250 is considered healthy.
Valve
Valves allow the blood to flow through the heart in only one direction.
Vein
Veins are blood vessels that carry blood to the heart.
Ventricle
The larger, lower chambers of the heart are called ventricles - the left ventricle and the right ventricle. The ventricles are strong muscles that pump blood throughout the body.
Ventricular septum
The ventricular septum is a band of thick muscle that separates the left and right ventricles.
