Glossary of Cardiac Terms

Ablation - surgical or catheter scarring of cardiac tissue.

Anastomosis - the surgical connection of separate or severed tubular hollow organs to form a continuous channel.

Aneurysm - a localized dilation of a blood vessel caused by disease or weakening of the vessel wall.

Angiography - an x-ray that uses dye injected into arteries so that coronary anatomy can be studied.

Aorta - the largest artery in the body and the primary blood vessel leading from the heart to the body.

Aortic Valve - the valve that regulates blood flow from the heart into the aorta.

Arrhythmia - an abnormal heartbeat.

Artery - a blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body.

Arteriosclerosis - a chronic disease in which thickening, hardening, and loss of elasticity of the arterial walls result in impaired blood circulation. It develops with aging, and in hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and other conditions.

Atherosclerosis - a form of arteriosclerosis that is caused by a buildup of plaque in the inner lining of an artery.

Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) - an abnormal hole in the wall between the right and left atrium.

Atrium - one of two upper chambers in the heart.

Bradycardia - an abnormally slow heartbeat.

Bundle-branch Block - a condition in which the heart's electrical system is unable to normally conduct the electrical signal.

Capillaries - the smallest vessels between arteries and veins that distribute oxygen-rich blood to the body.

Cardiac Arrest - the sudden stopping of heartbeats.

Cardioversion - the restoration of the heartbeat to normal by electrical counter shock or by use of medication.

Cardiomyopathy - a disease or disorder of the heart muscle causing it to lose its pumping strength.

Carotid Artery - either of two major arteries of the neck and head branching from the aorta and bringing blood to the brain.

Computed Tomography (CT or CAT scan) - a method of examining body organs by scanning them with X-rays and using a computer to construct a series of cross-sectional scans along a single axis.

Congenital - existing at birth.

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) - heart surgery in which a section of a blood vessel is grafted to the coronary artery to bypass the blocked section of the coronary artery and improve the blood supply to the heart.

Defibrillator - an electronic device used to establish a normal heartbeat.

Echocardiography - The use of ultrasound in the diagnosis of cardiovascular lesions and in recording the size, motion, and composition of various cardiac structures.

Ejection Fraction - the measurement of the blood pumped out of the ventricles (Normal is 60 percent).

Electrocardiogram (ECC or EKG) - a test that records the electrical activity of the heart, shows abnormal rhythms and detects heart muscle damage (heart attacks). Future events cannot be predicted.

Electrophysiological Study (EPS) - a cardiac catheterization to study electrical current in patients who have arrhythmias.

Endocarditis - a bacterial infection of the heart that may affect heart valves and the aorta.

Endotracheal Tube (ETT) - a tube inserted into the trachea (wind pipe) to provide a passageway for air.

Epicardium - the membrane that covers the outside of the heart.

Fibrillation - rapid irregular contractions of the heart muscles.

Flutter - ineffective contractions of the heart muscles.

Heart Attack - (myocardial infarction) is the sudden interruption or insufficiency of the supply of blood to the heart, typically resulting from occlusion or obstruction of a coronary artery and often characterized by severe chest pain.

Heart Block - Impaired conduction of the impulse that regulates the heartbeat. May cause sudden attacks of unconsciousness.

Heart-lung Machine - a machine that pumps and oxygenates blood during open-heart surgery.

Heart Valve Prolapse - a condition of the heart valve in which it is partially open when it should be closed.

Internal Mammary Artery - is a blood vessel located on the inside of the chest cavity.

Intravascular Echocardiography - echocardiography used in cardiac catheterization.

Ischemia - reduced blood supply to the heart muscle due to plaque blockage in the coronary arteries.

Ischemic Heart Disease - a disease characterized by reduced blood supply to the heart.

Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) - a mechanical pumping device that is surgically implanted; it helps maintain the pumping action of the heart and often used in patients who are waiting for a heart transplant.

MAZE - Known as the micro-MAZE, this innovative videoscopic operation offers a surgical remedy for atrial fibrillation without opening the chest or stopping the heart. With the micro-MAZE operation, access to the heart is achieved through three one-centimeter (keyhole) incisions on each side of the patient's chest.

Mechanical Valves - artificial valves made from metal, plastic, and/or pyrolytic carbon.

Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery - a variety of approaches using smaller incisions to reduce the trauma of surgery and potentially speed recovery.

Mitral Valve - the valve that controls the blood flow between the left atrium and left ventricle in the heart.

Mitral Valve Prolapse - a bulge in the valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle of the heart that causes backward flow of the blood into the atrium.

Murmur - a specific sound emanating from the chest in addition to the normal heart sounds.

Myocardial Infarctrion - also called heart attack; the sudden interruption or insufficiency of the supply of blood to the heart, typically resulting from occlusion or obstruction of a coronary artery and often characterized by severe chest pain.

Myocardial Ischemia - insufficient blood flow to part of the heart.

Pacemaker - surgically implanted electronic devices used to stimulate or regulate contractions of the heart muscle.

Palpitation - irregular heartbeat that can be felt by a person.

Pulmonary Valve - the heart valve located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery that controls blood flow to the lungs.

Pulmonary Vein - the vessel that carries newly oxygenated blood to the heart from the lungs.

Regurgitation - is blood flow in the opposite direction from normal.

Rheumatic Heart Disease - a condition resulting from certain strep infections that occasionally cause disease in the joints and heart valves.

Saphenous Vein - a vein on the inside of the leg running from the ankle to the groin that can be used to create bypasses from the aorta to the coronary arteries.

Septal Defect - a congenital abnormality in the septum between the left and right sides of the heart.

Septum - the wall that divides the heart chambers.

Sinus Rhythm - the normal rhythm of the heart (60 to 100 beats per minute).

Stenosis - The valve opening has not formed correctly or has become narrowed and inflexible (or stenotic) reducing the ability of the heart to pump blood out efficiently.

Sternotomy - a type of incision in the center of the chest that separates the sternum (chestbone) to allow access to the heart.

Telemetry Unit - a small transmitter that is used to send information about the heart via radio transmission to healthcare professionals for evaluation.

Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) - a diagnostic test in which a probe is passed through the esophagus, measuring the sound waves that bounce off the heart.

Tricuspid Valve - the heart valve that controls the blood flow from the right atrium into the right ventricle.

Valve - there are four heart valves: mitral, aortic, pulmonary and tricuspid, that act as one-way "doors" between the chambers of the heart.

Ventricular Septal Defect - a common congenital heart defect; an abnormal opening in the septum dividing the ventricles allows blood to pass directly from the left to the right ventricle; large openings may cause congestive heart failure.