| A | B |
|---|
| acute coronary syndrome | a group of clinical symptoms compatible with acute myocardial ischemia; S/S may include chest discomfort or pain, burning, squeezing, tightness |
| aneurysm | stretching and bulging of an arterial wall, usually caused by weakening of the vessel |
| angina pectoris | chest pain of cardiac origin |
| arteriosclerosis | loss of elasticity or hardening of the arteries |
| atherectomy | surgical removal of fatty plaque from arteries by inserting a cardiac catheter with a cutting tool at the tip or performing laser angioplasty |
| atheroma | fatty mass within the arterial wall |
| atherosclerosis | condition in which the lumen of the artery fills with fatty deposits, chiefly composed of cholesterol |
| bruit | purring or blowing sound caused by blood flowing over the rough surface of one or both carotid arteries |
| cardiac rehabilitation | program following a cardiac event taht combines exercise and educational activities to speed recovery and reduce or prevent recurring episodes |
| cholesterol | fatty (lipid) substance |
| collateral circulation | circulation formed by smaller blood vessels branching off from or near larger occluded vessels |
| coronary artery disease | arteriosclerotic and atherosclerotic changes in the coronary arteries supplying the myocardium |
| coronary occlusion | obstruction of a coronary artery that reduces or totally interrupts blood supply to the distal muscle area |
| coronary stent | small, metal coil with mesh-like openings placed within the coronary artery during PTCA that prevents the coronary artery from collapsing |
| coronary thrombosis | blood clot within a coronary artery |
| electron beam computed tomography | radiologic test that produces x-rays of the coronary arteries using an electron beam |
| embolus | moving mass of particles, either solid or gas, within the bloodstream |
| enhanced external counter pulsation | noninvasive and nonsurgical therapy that helps relieve angina using a pressure suit that moves blood toward the heart |
| high-density lipoprotein | lipoprotein that has a higher ratio of protein than cholesterol |
| homocysteine | amino acid created during the metabolism of protein; elevated levels are believed to impair memory and contribute to above-normal cholesterol levels |
| hyperlipidemia | high levels of fat in blood |
| infarct | area of tissue that dies from inadequate oxygenation |
| ischemia | impaired oxygenation of cells and tissues |
| laser angioplasty | use of short pulses of light to vaporize arterial plaque |
| lipid profile | a group of tests that measure various blood fats; one indicator of a person's risk for cardiac and vascular disease; consists of measuring total serum cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides |
| low-density lipoprotein | protein in blood that has a higher ratio of cholesterol than protein |
| neoangiogenesis | new growth of blood vessels |
| percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty | procedure in which a balloon-tipped catheter is inserted into a diseased coronary artery, then inflated to compress atherosclerotic plaque |
| peripheral vascular disease | disorders that affect blood vessels distant from the large central blood vessels supplying the myocardium or that circulate blood directly in and out of the heart |
| phlebothrombosis | clot formation with minimal or no venous inflammation |
| phytoestrogens | plant sources of estrogen such as soy; may be a cardioprotective strategy |
| plaque | fatty deposits composed chiefly of cholesterol |
| subendocardial infarction | death of tissue that does not extend through the full thickness of the myocardial wall |
| thrombolytic agents | drugs that dissolve blood clots |
| thrombosis | formation of a blood clot |
| thrombus | stationary blood clot |
| topical hyperbaric oxygen | therapy used to treat chronic, non-healing skin lesions by delivering oxygen above atmospheric pressure directly to the wound; may be used to treat venous ulcers |
| transmural infarction | death of tissue that extends through the full thickness of the myocardial wall |
| transmyocardial revascularization | laser procedure that improves oxygenation of myocardial tissue by creating channels into which oxygenated blood seeps and is absorbed by the ischemic myocardium |
| varicose veins | dilated, tortuous veins; caused by anything that constricts or interferes with venous return such as incompentent valves; blood becomes congested and the overstretching prevents recoil eventually |
| vein ligation | surgical treatment for severe varixose veins in which the affected veins are ties off above and below the area of incompetent valves, but the dysfunctional vein remains |
| vein stripping | surgical treatment for severe varixose veins in which the affected veins are severed and removed |
| venous insufficiency | peripheral vascular disorder in which the flow of venous blood is impaired through deep or superficial veins, or both |
| venous reflux | retrograde flow of venous blood |
| venous stasis ulcer | lesion that forms on the skin when the flow of venous blood is impaired |
