Glossary

Longest of the cranial nerves, part of the parasympathetic system, sends inpulses that reduce heart rate

Inadequate closure of a cardiac valve, e.g. with AV or semilunar valve defects

Valve

Relating to the valve

Narrowing or stricture of a cardiac valve, e.g. aortic stenosis

Expansion of a narrowed valve, e.g. with a balloon catheter

Surgical expansion of a narrowed valve

Relating to blood vessels

Replacement of blood vessels using synthetic material, e.g. Goretex, surgical restoration of a blood vessel

Reduction in the size of vessels, diminished circulation

Dilation of a vessel, e.g. to improve circulation to parts of the body

Fungus-like growth, e.g. on a cardiac valve following an infection (endocarditis)

Blood vessel that transports deoxygenated blood to the heart (exception is the pulmonary vein)

Superior and inferior caval veins; collection veins that take up the deoxygenated blood from the upper and lower parts of the body and transport it to the right atrium

Blood in the veins; usually deoxygenated (exception: pulmonary venous blood)

Chamber—eg, heart ventricle, cerebral ventricle

Relating to the ventricle

Life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia that results in uncoordinated cardiac muscle activity and functional circulatory arrest

Severe cardiac arrhythmia with uniform tachycardia originating in one of the ventricles, usually at a rate of 200 – 300 per minute. Possible transition to ventricular fibrillation

Hole in the wall that separates the left and right ventricles

A rapid heartbeat that is caused by abnormal impulses coming from one single area of the ventricle. The rapid heart rate of between 120-250 beats per minute can lead to dizziness, impaired vision and, eventually, unconsciousness

Wall separating the left and right ventricles of the heart
VSD (ventricular septal defect): hole in the wall of the heart (septum), which normally separates the right from the left ventricle; possible spontaneous closure of smaller, particularly muscular VSDs during childhood. VSD can lead to heart failure, require surgery, or be complicated by diseases of the pulmonary vessels

Incision into a ventricle

Resistance to flow, physical property of blood, increases when the blood thickens

Vitamins are chemical compounds required by the organism not as a source of energy but for other vital functions. They cannot be made by the body and have to be included in a person’s diet.

Congenital defect of the heart

Flooding of the heart ventricle with blood

Hole in the wall of the heart (septum) between right and left chamber