Ch. 15 Key Terms Flashcards

Front

systole

Back

the phase where the heart is at work, contracting and pushing blood out of the left ventricle.

Front

diastole

Back

phase when the heart relaxes or rests.

Front

cardiac conduction system

Back

the pathway of electrical impulses that controls the heart’s pumping action.

Front

atherosclerosis

Back

a hardening and narrowing of the blood vessels.

Front

angina

Back

chest pain, pressure, or discomfort.

Front

nitroglycerin

Back

a medication that helps to relax the walls of the coronary arteries, allowing them to open and get more blood to the heart; comes in tablet, patch, or spray form.

Front

congestive heart failure (CHF)

Back

a condition in which the heart muscle is damaged and is no longer able to pump effectively; causes blood to back up in various parts of the body.

Front

dysrhythmia

Back

abnormal heart rhythm; also called arrhythmia.

Front

peripheral vascular disease (PVD)

Back

a disease in which the legs, feet, arms, or hands do not have enough blood circulation due to injury or to fatty deposits in the blood vessels that harden over time; causes cold legs, feet, arms, and hands, as well as pain, swelling, and ulcers of the legs and feet.

Front

deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

Back

a condition in which a blood clot forms deep under the skin, usually in the legs.