CARDIOLOGY TERMS STUDY GUIDE -WITH
100% ACCURATE SOLUTION -2024-2025
Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI)
A heart attack; death of heart muscle following obstruction of blood flow to it. Sudden narrowing or
complete blockage of a coronary artery.
sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)
An unexpected cardiac arrest that results in attempts to restore circulation
Point of maximal impulse (PMI)
Where heartbeat is best palpable on chest wall; 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line
Myocardium
Muscular, middle layer of the heart. Responsible for cardiac contraction and efficient ejection of
blood from the heart.
Coronary arteries
supply blood to the heart
Left main coronary artery (LMCA)
The coronary artery that branches off into the Circumflex and the Left anterior descending coronary
arteries (LAD). Shortest and largest in diameter.
Left anterior descending artery (LAD)
Supplies blood to the left ventricle's anterior surface.
Branches of the right coronary artery (RCA)
Supply blood to the walls of the right atrium and ventricle. Portion of inferior part of left ventricle
and portions of the conduction system.
Preload
Volume of blood in ventricles at end of diastole. Reflection of venous return.
Afterload
The force or resistance against the ventricles must contract to eject blood.
acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
A series of cardiac conditions caused by an abrupt reduction in coronary artery blood flow.
three major ACSs
Unstable angina
Non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)
ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)
, Second Degree AV Block Type I
Interruption in impulse conduction occurs within AV node, bundle of His, or Purkinje, preventing
impulse from going to ventricles and generating a QRS complex.
Mobitz type I second degree block
Wenckebach
Second degree AV block type II occurs within
Bundle of His or more commonly the bundle branches.
Acute anterior wall MI
Atropine ineffective (only SA/atria) use TCP.
Can progress to 3rd degree.
Third degree AV block
All impulses reaching AV junction are prevented from proceeding to the ventricles and generating a
QRS complex.
Complete heart block
Complete AV block
Bc all impulses from SA are blocked.
Either 40 to 60 or 20 to 40 depending if junctional or ventricle
Undersensing (pacemaker)
pacemaker cannot detect intrinsic electrical activity (fires all the time) Appearance of pacer spikes
within P wave, QRS, or T-wave.
Can cause VT, or VF
Oversensing (pacemaker)
Fails to generate an impulse bc it sensed extraneous signals and misinterpreted than as QRS
complexes.
Indicated by absence of paced beats or pacemaker spikes at a rate lower than pacemakers preset
rate.
Runaway pacemaker
Indicated by very tachycardic pacemaker rhythm that must be slowed. IE with a strong magnet.
Malfunctions with pacemaker, should treat with...
Heartbeat will depend on natural pacemaker (usually ventricles) 20-40 = TCP til replaced.
100% ACCURATE SOLUTION -2024-2025
Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI)
A heart attack; death of heart muscle following obstruction of blood flow to it. Sudden narrowing or
complete blockage of a coronary artery.
sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)
An unexpected cardiac arrest that results in attempts to restore circulation
Point of maximal impulse (PMI)
Where heartbeat is best palpable on chest wall; 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line
Myocardium
Muscular, middle layer of the heart. Responsible for cardiac contraction and efficient ejection of
blood from the heart.
Coronary arteries
supply blood to the heart
Left main coronary artery (LMCA)
The coronary artery that branches off into the Circumflex and the Left anterior descending coronary
arteries (LAD). Shortest and largest in diameter.
Left anterior descending artery (LAD)
Supplies blood to the left ventricle's anterior surface.
Branches of the right coronary artery (RCA)
Supply blood to the walls of the right atrium and ventricle. Portion of inferior part of left ventricle
and portions of the conduction system.
Preload
Volume of blood in ventricles at end of diastole. Reflection of venous return.
Afterload
The force or resistance against the ventricles must contract to eject blood.
acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
A series of cardiac conditions caused by an abrupt reduction in coronary artery blood flow.
three major ACSs
Unstable angina
Non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)
ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)
, Second Degree AV Block Type I
Interruption in impulse conduction occurs within AV node, bundle of His, or Purkinje, preventing
impulse from going to ventricles and generating a QRS complex.
Mobitz type I second degree block
Wenckebach
Second degree AV block type II occurs within
Bundle of His or more commonly the bundle branches.
Acute anterior wall MI
Atropine ineffective (only SA/atria) use TCP.
Can progress to 3rd degree.
Third degree AV block
All impulses reaching AV junction are prevented from proceeding to the ventricles and generating a
QRS complex.
Complete heart block
Complete AV block
Bc all impulses from SA are blocked.
Either 40 to 60 or 20 to 40 depending if junctional or ventricle
Undersensing (pacemaker)
pacemaker cannot detect intrinsic electrical activity (fires all the time) Appearance of pacer spikes
within P wave, QRS, or T-wave.
Can cause VT, or VF
Oversensing (pacemaker)
Fails to generate an impulse bc it sensed extraneous signals and misinterpreted than as QRS
complexes.
Indicated by absence of paced beats or pacemaker spikes at a rate lower than pacemakers preset
rate.
Runaway pacemaker
Indicated by very tachycardic pacemaker rhythm that must be slowed. IE with a strong magnet.
Malfunctions with pacemaker, should treat with...
Heartbeat will depend on natural pacemaker (usually ventricles) 20-40 = TCP til replaced.
