Cardiovascular Disorders
Glossary
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N
O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
A
ablation - elimination or removal. Ablation also refers to a procedure that eliminates extra electrical pathways within the heart that cause fast or irregular heart rhythms.
ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitor - a medication that opens up blood vessels, making it easier for the heart to pump blood forward to the body; also used to lower blood pressure.
acyanotic - refers to a group of congenital heart defects in which there is a normal amount of oxygen in the bloodstream, giving a pink color to the lips and nailbeds.
analgesic - any medication intended to alleviate pain.
anastomosis - a surgical connection, often between two blood vessels.
anesthesia - medication administered for the relief of pain and sensation during surgery.
anesthesiologist - a physician who specializes in administering medications or other agents that prevent or relieve pain, especially during surgery.
aneurysm - a thin, weakened area in a blood vessel or area of the heart.
angiography - an x-ray study that uses dye injected into arteries to study blood circulation.
angioplasty - a non-surgical procedure for treating narrowed arteries.
antibiotic - medication used to treat infection.
anticoagulant - a medication that keeps blood from clotting.
antihypertensive - a medication that lowers blood pressure.
aorta - the largest artery in the body and the primary blood vessel which carries oxygenated blood out of the heart to the rest of the body.
aortic arch - the curved portion of the aorta (the large blood vessel that carries oxygen-rich blood away from the heart to the body).
aortic regurgitation - backwards leakage of blood from the aorta, through a weakened aortic valve, and into the left ventricle, resulting in stress in the left heart and inadequate blood flow to the body.
aortic stenosis - narrowing of the opening of the aortic valve (the valve that regulates blood flow from the left ventricle into the aorta).
aortic valve - the valve that regulates blood flow from the heart into the aorta.
arrhythmia (Also called dysrhythmia.) - a fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat.
arterioles - small branches of arteries.
arteriosclerosis - commonly called "hardening of the arteries;" a variety of conditions caused by fatty or calcium deposits in the artery walls causing them to thicken.
artery - a blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body.
asplenia - absence of the spleen, either from improper development before birth, or due to the surgical removal of the spleen resulting from injury or disease.
asymmetry - lacking symmetry; parts of the body are unequal in shape or size.
atresia - inadequate development of an organ or part of an organ during pregnancy.
atrial fibrillation - a very fast and irregular beating of the atria (the upper two chambers of the heart).
atrial flutter - a very fast beating of the atria (the upper two chambers of the heart).
atrial septal defect (ASD) - a hole in the wall between the right and left atria (the two upper chambers of the heart).
atrial septum - the wall between the right and left atria (the two upper chambers of the heart).
atrioventricular block - an interruption of the electrical signal between the atria and the ventricles.
atrioventricular canal - refers to a congenital heart defect involving an opening low in the atrial septum, an opening high in the ventricular septum, and abnormal development of the mitral and/or tricuspid valves.
atrioventricular (AV) node - a cluster of cells between the atria and ventricles that regulate the electrical current.
atrium (atria pl.) - one of two upper chambers in the heart.
B
bacterial endocarditis - a bacterial infection of the valves and interior surfaces of the heart.
balloon angioplasty - a procedure usually done in the cardiac catheterization laboratory that uses a catheter (tube) with a balloon in the tip to open up a narrowed valve or blood vessel.
beta blocker - a medication that limits the activity of epinephrine (a hormone that increases blood pressure).
bicuspid - a valve that has two leaflets.
bilateral - affecting both sides.
biopsy - a procedure in which tissue samples are removed from the body for microscopic examination to establish a diagnosis.
blood clot - a thick, gelled mass of blood.
blood pressure - pressure of blood against the walls of a blood vessel or heart chamber.
blood pressure cuff - a device usually placed around the upper portion of the arm to measure blood pressure.
bone graft - a transplant of bone taken from one area to another area.
brachycephaly - disproportionate shortness of the head.
brady - suffix meaning slow.
bradycardia - abnormally slow heartbeat.
bundle-branch block - a condition in which the heart's electrical system is unable to normally conduct the electrical signal.
C
calcium channel blocker - a medication that lowers blood pressure.
capillaries - tiny blood vessels between arteries and veins that distribute oxygen-rich blood to the body.
cardiac - pertaining to the heart.
cardiac arrest - the stopping of heartbeat.
cardiac catheterization - a diagnostic procedure in which a tiny, hollow tube (catheter) is inserted into an artery or vein in order to evaluate the heart and blood vessels.
cardiac output - total amount of blood being pumped by the heart over a particular period of time.
cardiologist - a physician who specializes in the medical evaluation and treatment of heart diseases.
cardiology - the clinical study and practice of treating the heart.
cardiomyopathy - a disease of the heart muscle that causes it to lose its pumping strength.
cardiovascular (CV) - pertaining to the heart and blood vessel (circulatory) system.
cardioversion - the procedure of applying electrical shock to the chest to change an abnormal heartbeat into a normal one.
carotid artery - the major arteries in the neck that supply blood to the brain.
catheter - a small, thin tube; may refer to a tube used during a cardiac catheterization procedure to inject dye, obtain blood samples, and measure pressures inside the heart; may also refer to a flexible tube used to drain fluid from or inject into the body.
cholesterol - a substance normally made by the body, but also found in foods from animal sources, like beef, eggs, and butter. Too much cholesterol in the body can lead to narrowing and blockage of the arteries, especially those that feed the heart and keep it healthy. High cholesterol can also cause the formation of gallstones. Ideally, blood cholesterol levels should be less than 200mg/dL.
cineangiography - the procedure of taking moving pictures to show the passage of dye through blood vessels.
circulatory system - pertaining to the heart and blood vessels, and the circulation of blood.
closed heart surgery - an operation that repairs problems involving the blood vessels attached to the heart, and may not need the use of the heart-lung bypass machine.
coarctation of the aorta - a congenital heart defect that results in narrowing of the aorta.
collateral vessels - new blood vessels that are created by the body to provide extra blood flow to an area when the blood vessel(s) that are already there are too small, narrowed, or blocked.
computed tomography scan (Also called a CT or CAT scan.) - a diagnostic imaging procedure that uses a combination of x-rays and computer technology to produce cross-sectional images (often called slices), both horizontally and vertically, of the body. A CT scan shows detailed images of any part of the body, including the bones, muscles, fat, and organs. CT scans are more detailed than general x-rays.
conduction system - the electrical system inside the heart that stimulates the heart to beat.
congenital - present at birth.
congenital heart defect - a heart problem present at birth, caused by improper development of the heart during fetal development.
congenital heart disease - see congenital heart defect.
congestive heart failure - a condition in which the heart cannot pump out all of the blood that enters it, which leads to an accumulation of blood in the vessels leading to the heart and fluid in the body tissues. Excess blood in the pulmonary (lung) blood vessels can also occur, leading to fluid accumulation in the lungs.
coronal suture - the joining line (suture) between the frontal and parietal bones of the skull that crosses the top of the skull from temple to temple.
coronary arteries - two arteries that come from the aorta to provide blood to the heart muscle.
craniofacial - pertaining to the head and face.
cyanosis - insufficient oxygen in the blood.
cyanotic - appearing blue, due to insufficient oxygen in the blood.
D
defibrillator - an electronic device used to establish normal heartbeat.
dextrocardia - a heart that is "flipped over," so that the structures that are normally on the right side of the chest are on the left, and vice versa. The arteries and veins are connected correctly; occurs due to an abnormality in heart development during pregnancy.
diastole - the time during each heartbeat when the ventricles are at rest, filling with blood and not pumping.
diastolic blood pressure - the lowest blood pressure measure in the arteries, which occurs between heartbeats.
DiGeorge syndrome (Also known as Shprintzen, velo-cardio-facial, and 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.) - A genetic disease caused by a missing piece of chromosome material on chromosome #22 that results in many different health problems, and affects the normal fetal development of the heart, thymus, and parathyroid glands.
diuretic - a medication that helps the kidneys to remove excess fluids from the body, lowering blood pressure as well as decreasing edema (swelling).
Doppler ultrasound - A procedure that uses sound waves to evaluate heart, blood vessels, and valves.
double outlet right ventricle - a congenital heart defect in which both the aorta and the pulmonary artery are connected to the right ventricle.
Down syndrome (Also called Trisomy 21.) - A combination of birth defects caused by the presence of an extra #21 chromosome in each cell of the body. Many children with Down syndrome also have congenital heart disease - usually atrioventricular canal defect.
ductus arteriosus - a connection between the aorta and the pulmonary artery that is necessary in fetal life, but becomes unnecessary after birth.
dyspnea - shortness of breath.
dysrhythmia - an abnormal heart rhythm.
E
Ebstein's anomaly - Abnormal development of the tricuspid valve during pregnancy, causing an abnormally positioned valve that does not open easily (stenosis) and allows backflow of blood from the right ventricle into the right atrium (regurgitation).
echocardiogram (echo) - a procedure that evaluates the structure and function of the heart by using sound waves recorded on an electronic sensor which produce a moving picture of the heart and heart valves.
edema - swelling due to the buildup of fluid.
effusion - a collection of fluid in a closed cavity.
Eisenmenger’s syndrome - severe pulmonary vascular disease and pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs) due to prolonged left to right shunting of blood in the heart, now with a reversal of the shunt from right to left.
ejection fraction - the measurement of the amount of blood pumped out of the ventricles.
electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) - a test that records the electrical activity of the heart, shows abnormal rhythms (arrhythmias or dysrhythmias), and detects heart muscle damage.
electrophysiological study (EPS) - a cardiac catheterization to study electrical current in patients who have arrhythmias.
endocarditis - a bacterial infection of the valves and interior surfaces of the heart.
endocardium - the membrane that covers the inside surface of the heart.
end-to-end anastomosis - surgical connection of two segments of blood vessel by stitching the open end of one segment to the open end of another segment.
enlarged heart - a condition of the heart in which it is larger than normal.
epicardium - the membrane that covers the outside of the heart.
erythrocytosis - an abnormal increase in the number of red blood cells in the blood due to chronic lack of oxygen.
exercise electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) - a test to assess the cardiac rhythm and function by having the child exercise on a treadmill or bicycle.
F
failure to thrive - failure to grow and gain weight; often due to increased energy expenditure with congenital heart disease.
fibrillation - rapid contractions of the heart muscles.
fluoroscopy - an x-ray procedure that takes continuous pictures to evaluate moving structures within the body, such as the heart.
flutter - ineffective contractions of the heart muscles.
Fontan procedure - A surgical procedure performed to repair heart defects in which only one ventricle is functional. It connects the right atrium to the pulmonary artery, allowing oxygen-poor (blue) blood from the body to flow into the lungs.
foramen ovale - a hole between the right and left atria, present in all unborn children, that remains open after birth for variable periods of time.
G
Glenn shunt - A surgical connection between the perior vena cava and the right pulmonary artery, allowing oxygen-poor (blue) blood to flow into the lungs.
H
heart attack (Also called myocardial infarction.) - occurs when on