| A | B |
|---|
| Atherosclerosis | development of obstruction by cholesterol plaques and thrombus on the walls of large arteries. |
| Arteriosclerosis | hardening and loss of elasticity of the arterial wall with narrowing of the lumen. |
| Baroreceptor | a sensory nerve receptor that is stimulated by a change in pressure, perhaps blood pressure. |
| Angioplasty | repair of a blood vessel. |
| Murmur | an abnormal sound heard in the heart, caused by a defective valve or opening in the heart. |
| Anemia | a decrease in circulating hemoglobin and oxygen-carrying capacity in the blood because of decreased erythrocyte production, decreased hemoglobin production, excessive hemolysis, or loss of blood. |
| Leukaemias | General term for white blood cell cancer |
| Haemophila | A group of disorders characterised by a deficiency of certain clotting factors. |
| Thalassaemias | inherited mutations of haemoglobin molecules that affect red blood cells. |
| Angina | Pain associated with myocardial hypoxia. |
| Afterload | The resistance that the left ventricle must overcome to eject its contents. |
| Atrial fibrillation | An arrhythmia due to rapid and disorganised electrical activity in the atria. |
| Bradycardia | Slow heart rate (< 60 beats per minute, for an adult). |
| Cardiomyopathy | Any disease or condition affecting cardiac contractility. |
| Congestive heart failure | A condition in which inadequate circulation causes dyspnoea, oedema and fatigue. |
| Deep vein thrombosis | A blood clot that has formed within a deep vein, often within the legs, but can occur elsewhere. |
| Heart failure | A generic term for the inability of the heart to adequately pump fluids through the body to meet its needs. |
| High-density lipoprotein (HDL) | Class of lipoprotein that transports cholesterol to the liver for excretion or re-utilisation. Also known as ‘good cholesterol’. Lipoproteins are a combination of protein and lipid molecules. |
| Hypertension | An abnormally elevated blood pressure. |
| Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) | Class of lipoprotein that transports cholesterol from the liver to the tissues. Also known as ‘bad cholesterol’. Lipoproteins are a combination of protein and lipid molecules. |
| Mean arterial pressure (MAP) | The average blood pressure for a person during one cardiac cycle. In clinical practice it can be calculated as one-third of the pulse pressure (the difference between the systolic and diastolic pressure readings) plus the diastolic blood pressure reading. |
| Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) | Also known as peripheral artery disease, PVD is a condition resulting in peripheral arterial obstruction. PVD results in claudication and, in extreme cases, the need for amputation owing to gangrene infection. |
| Preload | The force to which a muscle is subjected prior to shortening. Often used in relation to myocardial workload, where preload refers to end-volumetric pressure opposing a contraction. |
| Tachycardia | Fast heart rate (>99 beats/min in an adult). |
| Very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) | Large lipoproteins that are a combination of triglycerides, cholesterol and protein. They function to transport lipid from the liver to body cells. |
| Ventricular fibrillation | A severe arrhythmia that will often result in death due to rapid and irregular impulses occurring in the ventricles. |
| Ventricular tachycardia (VT) | A fast heart rate originating from an ectopic focus in the ventricles. |
