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Heart Attack Glossary
Terms used to explain Heart Attack can sometimes be confusing. To help you fully understand the articles and features related to this very important health topic, we have compiled a glossary of terms that can help.
an*eu*rysm
Function: noun
: an abnormal blood-filled dilatation of a blood vessel and esp. an artery resulting from disease of the vessel wall
: an alteration in rhythm of the heartbeat either in time or force
pl atria
Pronunciation: \-trē-ə\
also atri*ums
: an anatomical cavity or passage; esp: a chamber of the heart that receives blood from the veins and forces it into a ventricle or ventricles
CHF
Function: abbreviation
congestive heart failure
pl -gies
: the study of the heart and its action and diseases
coronary artery
Function: noun
: either of two arteries that arise one from the left and one from the right side of the aorta immediately above the semilunar valves and supply the tissues of the heart itself
pl -no*ses
Pronunciation: \-ˌsēz\
: a bluish or purplish discoloration (as of skin) due to deficient oxygenation of the blood
1: an abnormal rhythm; esp: a disordered rhythm exhibited in a record of electrical activity of the brain or heart
2: see: jet lag
: the tracing made by an electrocardiograph; also: the procedure for producing an electrocardiogram
: inflammation of the lining of the heart and its valves
myocardial infarction
Function: noun
: see: heart attack
pulmonary artery
Function: noun
: an arterial trunk or either of its two main branches that carry oxygen-deficient blood to the lungs:
a: a large arterial trunk that arises from the conus arteriosus of the right ventricle, ascends in front of the aorta, and branches into the right and left pulmonary arteries —called also pulmonary trunk
b: a branch of the pulmonary trunk that passes under the arch of the aorta to the right lung where it divides into branches —called also right pulmonary artery
c: a branch of the pulmonary trunk that passes to the left in front of the descending part of the aorta, gives off the ductus arteriosus in the fetus which regresses to the ligamentum arteriosum in the adult, and passes to the left lung where it divides into branches —called also left pulmonary artery
tricuspid valve
Function: noun
: a valve that is situated at the opening of the right atrium of the heart into the right ventricle and that resembles the mitral valve in structure but consists of three triangular membranous flaps —called also right atrioventricular valve
1: vibrations of the same physical nature as sound but with frequencies above the range of human hearing compare infrasound
2: the diagnostic or therapeutic use of ultrasound and esp. a noninvasive technique involving the formation of a two-dimensional image used for the examination and measurement of internal body structures and the detection of bodily abnormalities —called also echography, sonography, ultrasonography
3: a diagnostic examination using ultrasound
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