EE Key Terms (40)

Question 1

Angiography

Answer 1

This is a diagnostic procedure that uses X-rays to take pictures of your blood vessels.

Question 2

Atherectomy

Answer 2

A procedure that utilizes a catheter with a sharp blade on the end to remove plaque from a blood vessel.

Question 3

Cardiac Catheterization

Answer 3

This is a procedure to examine how well your heart is working, by inserting a thin, hollow tube called a catheter into a large blood vessel that leads to your heart.

Question 4

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

Answer 4

A test that measures the electrical activity of the heartbeat.

Question 5

Echocardiogram

Answer 5

An ultrasound of the heart that uses standard two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and Doppler ultrasound to create images of the heart.

Question 6

Hemodynamics

Answer 6

The study of the blood flow or the circulation.

Question 7

Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS)

Answer 7

A medical imaging methodology using a specially designed catheter with a miniaturized ultrasound probe attached to examine the inside of arteries.

Question 8

Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA)

Answer 8

It is a minimally invasive procedure to open up blocked coronary arteries, allowing blood to circulate unobstructed to the heart muscle.

Question 8

Stent Placement

Answer 8

A procedure where a small, mesh tube (stent) is used to treat narrow or weak arteries.

Question 9

Thrombolysis

Answer 9

The breakdown (lysis) of blood clots by pharmacological means, and is part of the treatment of some forms of stroke and myocardial infarction

Question 10

Vasodilator

Answer 10

A type of medication that dilates (widens) blood vessels to improve blood flow.

Question 11

Arrhythmia

Answer 11

An irregular heartbeat - the heart may beat too fast, too slow, too early, or irregularly.

Question 12

Bradycardia

Answer 12

A slower than normal heart rate, typically fewer than 60 beats per minute.

Question 13

Tachycardia

Answer 13

An abnormally fast resting heart rate, usually over 100 beats per minute.

Question 14

Pacemaker

Answer 14

An electrical device implanted in the chest or abdomen to control abnormal heart rhythms.

Question 15

Defibrillator

Answer 15

A device that delivers an electrical shock to the heart to restore its normal rhythm.

Question 16

Myocardial Infarction

Answer 16

Another term for a heart attack. It occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to a part of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle.

Question 17

Angina

Answer 17

Chest pain or discomfort caused when your heart muscle doesn’t get enough oxygen-rich blood.

Question 18

Hypertension

Answer 18

Another term for high blood pressure. It can lead to severe health complications and increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and death.

Question 19

Hypotension

Answer 19

Abnormally low blood pressure.

Question 20

Coronary Artery Disease

Answer 20

A disease caused by a buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that supply oxygen and blood to the heart.

Question 21

Atherosclerosis

Answer 21

The buildup of fats, cholesterol, and other substances in and on the artery walls.

Question 22

Embolism

Answer 22

Occurs when an embolus, such as a blood clot or piece of plaque, is carried by the blood stream to another area of the body where it can block a blood vessel.

Question 23

Fibrinolysis

Answer 23

The process of breaking down fibrin, the protein that forms a mesh-like net to create a blood clot.

Question 24

Hemostasis

Answer 24

The process of stopping bleeding. This includes clotting and coagulation.

Question 25

Antiplatelet Agents

Answer 25

Drugs that inhibit platelets from clumping together and forming a clot.

Question 26

Anticoagulants

Answer 26

Drugs that help prevent blood clots from forming. They do this by interfering with the process of blood clotting.

Question 27

Beta Blockers

Answer 27

Medications that reduce your blood pressure by blocking the effects of the hormone epinephrine, also known as adrenaline.

Question 28

Calcium Channel Blockers

Answer 28

Drugs that relax and widen blood vessels by affecting the muscle cells in the arterial walls.

Question 29

Diuretics

Answer 29

Medications designed to increase the amount of water and salt expelled from the body as urine.

Question 30

Vasopressors

Answer 30

Medications that constrict (narrow) the blood vessels, thereby increasing blood pressure.

Question 31

Vasoconstrictors

Answer 31

Drugs that cause the blood vessels to narrow, thereby reducing blood flow.

Question 32

Inotropic Agents

Answer 32

Drugs that affect the force of your heart's contractions.

Question 33

Chronotropic Agents

Answer 33

Drugs that affect the heart rate.

Question 34

Ventricles

Answer 34

The two lower chambers of the heart which force blood out of the heart and into the arteries.

Question 35

Atria

Answer 35

The two upper chambers of the heart. They receive blood returning to the heart from the body and lungs.

Question 36

Valves

Answer 36

Structures within the heart that open and close to control the flow of blood.

Question 37

Systole

Answer 37

The phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle contracts and pumps blood from the chambers into the arteries.

Question 38

Diastole

Answer 38

The phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle relaxes and allows the chambers to fill with blood.

Question 39

Ejection Fraction

Answer 39

A measurement of the percentage of blood leaving your heart each time it contracts.