Heart Terms a-c (part 2)

Bradycardia - Abnormally slow heartbeat.

Brachytherapy - Delivers radiation directly to the tissues designated for treatment while sparing the surrounding normal tissues.

Bundle-branch block - A condition in which portions of the heart's conduction system are defective and unable to conduct the electrical signal normally, causing arrhythmias.

Calcium channel blocker (or calcium blocker) - A drug that lowers blood pressure by regulating calcium-related electrical activity in the heart.

Capillaries - Microscopically small blood vessels between arteries and veins that distribute oxygenated blood to the body's tissues.

Cardiac - Pertaining to the heart.

Cardiac arrest - The stopping of the heartbeat, usually because of interference with the electrical signal (often associated with coronary heart disease).

Cardiac catheterization - A procedure that involves inserting a fine, hollow tube (catheter) into an artery, usually in the groin area, and passing the tube into the heart. Often used in conjunction with angiography and other procedures, cardiac catheterization has become a prime tool for visualizing the heart and blood vessels and diagnosing and treating heart disease.

Cardiac enzymes - Complex substances capable of speeding up certain biochemical processes in the cardiac muscle. Abnormal levels of these enzymes signal heart attack.

Cardiac output - The amount of blood the heart pumps through the circulatory system in one minute.

Cardiology - The study of the heart and its function in health and disease.

Cardiovascular (CV) - Pertaining to the heart and blood vessels.

Cardiopulmonary bypass - The process by which a machine is used to do the work of the heart and lungs so the heart can be stopped during surgery.

Cardioversion - A technique of applying an electrical shock to the chest in order to convert an abnormal heartbeat to a normal rhythm.

Cardiomyopathy - A disease of the heart muscle that leads to generalized deterioration of the muscle and its pumping ability.

Carotid artery - A major artery (right and left) in the neck supplying blood to the brain.

Cerebral embolism - A blood clot formed in one part of the body and then carried by the bloodstream to the brain, where it blocks an artery.

Cerebral hemorrhage - Bleeding within the brain resulting from a ruptured blood vessel, aneurysm, or a head injury.

Cerebral thrombosis - Formation of a blood clot in an artery that supplies part of the brain.

Cerebrovascular - Pertaining to the blood vessels of the brain.

Cerebrovascular accident  (CVA) - Also called "brain attack", or stroke.  A lack of blood supply to some part of the brain, resulting in injury and death of brain tissue

Cholesterol - An waxy substance that occurs naturally in the body, is also present in animal fats and in dairy products, and that is transported in the blood. Limited quantities are essential to the normal development of cell membranes.  Excessive amounts of cholesterol however increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Cineangiography - The technique of taking moving pictures to show the movement of opaque dye through blood vessels, allowing physicians the ability to diagnose diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

Circulatory system - Pertaining to the heart, blood vessels and the circulation of blood.

Claudication - A tiredness or pain in the arms and legs caused by an inadequate supply of oxygen to the muscles, usually due to narrowed arteries.

Collateral circulation - Blood flow through small, nearby vessels in response to blockage of a main blood vessel.

Computed tomography (CT or CAT scan) - An x-ray technique that uses a computer to create cross-sectional images of the body.

Conduction system - Special muscle fibers that conduct electrical impulses throughout the muscle of the heart.

Congenital - Refers to conditions existing at birth.

Congenital heart defects - Malformation of the heart or of its major blood vessels present at birth.

Congestive heart failure - A condition in which the heart cannot pump all the blood returning to it, leading to a back up of blood in vessels and accumulation of fluid in body tissues, including the lungs.

Coronary arteries - Two arteries arising from the aorta that arch down over the top of the heart and divide into branches. They provide blood to the heart muscle.

Coronary artery bypass (CAB) - Surgical rerouting of blood around a diseased vessel that supplies the heart by grafting either a piece of vein from the leg or the artery from under the breastbone.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) - A narrowing of the inside diameter of arteries that supply the heart muscle with blood. The condition arises from accumulation of plaque and greatly increases a person's risk of having a heart attack.

Coronary heart disease - Disease of the heart caused by atherosclerotic narrowing of the coronary arteries likely to produce angina, (chest pain) or heart attack.

Coronary occlusion - An obstruction of one of the coronary arteries that hinders blood flow to some part of the heart muscle.

Coronary thrombosis - Formation of a clot in one of the arteries that carry blood to the heart muscle. Also called coronary occlusion.

Cyanosis - Blueness of skin caused by insufficient oxygen in the blood.

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