MA 161

largest artery in the body

small artery

specialized muscle fibers connecting the atria with the ventricles and transmitting electrical impulses between them.

specialized tissue in the wall between the atria. Electrical impulses pass from the pacemaker (SA node) through the AV node and the atrioventricular bundle or bundle of His toward the ventricles.

smallest blood vessel. Materials pass to and from the bloodstream through the thin capillary walls.

relaxation phase of the heartbeat. From the Greek diastole, dilation.

flow of blood from the heart to the lungs and back to the heart.

partition or wall dividing a cavity, such as between right and left atria (interatrial septum) and right and left ventricles (interventricular septum)

pacemaker of the heart

flow of blood from body tissue to the heart and then from the heart back to body tissues

contraction phase of the heartbeat. From the Greek systole, a contracting.

largest vein in the body. The superior and inferior venae cavae return blood to the right atrium of the heart

one of two lower chambers of the heart

small vein

abnormalities in the heart at birth

heart is unable to pump its required amount of blood

conditions caused by myocardial ischemia; unstable angina and myocardial infaction (heart attack), which are consequences of plaque rupture in coronary arteries.

inflammation of the inner lining of the heart

local widening (dilation) of an arterial wall

high blood pressure

an ECG device is worn during a 24-hour period to detect cardiac arrhythmias.

exercise tolerance test (ETT) determines the heart's response to physical exertion (stress)

technique using lower energy to treat atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and supraventricular tachycardia

balloon-tipped catheter is inserted into a coronary artery to open the artery; stents are put in place.

drugs to dissolve clots are injected into the bloodstream of patients with coronary thrombosis