Cardiology AEMT
acute coronary syndrome - ANSA term used to describe a group of symptoms caused by
myocardial ischemia; includes angina and myocardial infarction.
acute myocardial infarction - ANSReduced blood flow through coronary arteries causes
sustained ischemia which causes irreversible cellular death.
afterload - ANSThe force or resistance against which the heart pumps.
angina pectoris - ANSacute chest pain that occurs when myocardial demand exceeds its
oxygen supply
aorta - ANSLarge artery that carries blood from left ventricle to the rest of the body
aortic aneurysm - ANSLocalized dilation and weakening of arterial wall of the aorta
aortic arch - ANSblood vessels located between ascending and descending aortas that deliver
blood to most of the upper body
aortic valve - ANSvalve that allows blood to pass from the left ventricle through the aorta and to
the rest of the body
arrhythmia - ANSAbnormal heart rhythm
arterioles - ANSBlood vessels that are smaller branches off of arteries.
ateriosclerosis - ANSHardening of the arteries caused by buildup of plaque, a deposit of fatty
substances on the artery lining leading to a loss of elasticity
ascending aorta - ANSBranches off the left ventricle; carries oxygen rich blood to parts of the
body above the heart
asystole - ANSabsence of contractions of the heart
AV node (atrioventricular node) - ANSregion of the heart between the right atrium and right
ventricle from which electrical impulses spread to the ventricles during a heartbeat
AV Valves - ANSMitral and Tricuspid valves- allow flow from atria to ventricle during atrial
contraction and ventricular diastole. Left-mitral, Right-tricuspid
, atrium - ANSEach of the two upper chambers of the heart that receives blood that comes into
the heart
automaticity - ANSThe ability of the heart to generate and conduct electrical impulses on its
own.
autonomic nervous system - ANSA subdivision of the peripheral nervous system. Controls
involuntary activity of visceral muscles and internal organs and glands.
baroreceptors - ANSThese receptors detect changes in pressure within the body caused by the
stretch or distention of internal structures.Located in the blood vessles, kidney, brain and heart
bradycardia - ANSSlow heart rate
capillaries - ANSMicroscopic vessel through which exchanges take place between the blood
and cells of the body
cardiac arrest - ANSfailure of the ventricles of the heart to contract (usually caused by
ventricular fibrillation) with consequent absence of the heart beat leading to oxygen lack and
eventually to death
cardiac cycle - ANSA complete heartbeat consisting of contraction and relaxation of both atria
and both ventricles
chemoreceptors - ANSchemical sensors in the brain and blood vessels that identify changing
levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide
cardiogenic shock - ANSA state in which not enough oxygen is delivered to the tissues of the
body, caused by low output of blood from the heart. It can be a severe complication of a large
acute myocardial infarction, as well as other conditions.
cardiac output - ANSHeart rate x stroke volume
chordae tendinae - ANSFibers (heart strings) attatched to the tricuspid and mitral valve which
pull it closed when papillary muscles contract, preventing back flow of blood
circumflex coronary artery - ANSone of the two branches of the left main coronary artery
conduction system - ANSElectrical impulses from nerves that stimulate contraction and
relaxation of heart
conductivity - ANSability to condut an electric charge
acute coronary syndrome - ANSA term used to describe a group of symptoms caused by
myocardial ischemia; includes angina and myocardial infarction.
acute myocardial infarction - ANSReduced blood flow through coronary arteries causes
sustained ischemia which causes irreversible cellular death.
afterload - ANSThe force or resistance against which the heart pumps.
angina pectoris - ANSacute chest pain that occurs when myocardial demand exceeds its
oxygen supply
aorta - ANSLarge artery that carries blood from left ventricle to the rest of the body
aortic aneurysm - ANSLocalized dilation and weakening of arterial wall of the aorta
aortic arch - ANSblood vessels located between ascending and descending aortas that deliver
blood to most of the upper body
aortic valve - ANSvalve that allows blood to pass from the left ventricle through the aorta and to
the rest of the body
arrhythmia - ANSAbnormal heart rhythm
arterioles - ANSBlood vessels that are smaller branches off of arteries.
ateriosclerosis - ANSHardening of the arteries caused by buildup of plaque, a deposit of fatty
substances on the artery lining leading to a loss of elasticity
ascending aorta - ANSBranches off the left ventricle; carries oxygen rich blood to parts of the
body above the heart
asystole - ANSabsence of contractions of the heart
AV node (atrioventricular node) - ANSregion of the heart between the right atrium and right
ventricle from which electrical impulses spread to the ventricles during a heartbeat
AV Valves - ANSMitral and Tricuspid valves- allow flow from atria to ventricle during atrial
contraction and ventricular diastole. Left-mitral, Right-tricuspid
, atrium - ANSEach of the two upper chambers of the heart that receives blood that comes into
the heart
automaticity - ANSThe ability of the heart to generate and conduct electrical impulses on its
own.
autonomic nervous system - ANSA subdivision of the peripheral nervous system. Controls
involuntary activity of visceral muscles and internal organs and glands.
baroreceptors - ANSThese receptors detect changes in pressure within the body caused by the
stretch or distention of internal structures.Located in the blood vessles, kidney, brain and heart
bradycardia - ANSSlow heart rate
capillaries - ANSMicroscopic vessel through which exchanges take place between the blood
and cells of the body
cardiac arrest - ANSfailure of the ventricles of the heart to contract (usually caused by
ventricular fibrillation) with consequent absence of the heart beat leading to oxygen lack and
eventually to death
cardiac cycle - ANSA complete heartbeat consisting of contraction and relaxation of both atria
and both ventricles
chemoreceptors - ANSchemical sensors in the brain and blood vessels that identify changing
levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide
cardiogenic shock - ANSA state in which not enough oxygen is delivered to the tissues of the
body, caused by low output of blood from the heart. It can be a severe complication of a large
acute myocardial infarction, as well as other conditions.
cardiac output - ANSHeart rate x stroke volume
chordae tendinae - ANSFibers (heart strings) attatched to the tricuspid and mitral valve which
pull it closed when papillary muscles contract, preventing back flow of blood
circumflex coronary artery - ANSone of the two branches of the left main coronary artery
conduction system - ANSElectrical impulses from nerves that stimulate contraction and
relaxation of heart
conductivity - ANSability to condut an electric charge
