Heart Terms (L-P)

Lesion - An injury or wound. An atherosclerotic lesion is an area of an artery affected by plaque formation.

Lipid - A fatty substance insoluble in blood.

Lipoprotein - A lipid surrounded by a protein; the protein makes the lipid soluble in blood.

Low density lipoprotein (LDL) - The body's primary cholesterol-carrying molecule. High blood levels of LDL increase a person's risk of heart disease by promoting cholesterol attachment and accumulation in blood vessels; hence, the popular nickname "bad cholesterol."

Lumen - The hollow area within a tube, such as a blood vessel.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - A technique that produces images of body structures by measuring the response of certain elements (such as hydrogen) in the body to a magnetic field. When stimulated by radio waves, the elements emit distinctive signals in a magnetic field. MRI can produce detailed pictures of the body tissues or organs without the need to inject a dye.

Mitral valve - The structure that controls blood flow between the heart's left atrium (upper chamber) and left ventricle (lower chamber).

Mitral valve prolapse - A condition that occurs when the leaflets of the mitral valve between the left atrium (upper chamber) and left ventricle (lower chamber) bulge into the ventricle and permit backflow of blood into the atrium. The condition is often associated with progressive mitral regurgitation.

Monounsaturated fats - A type of fat found in many foods but predominantly in avocados and canola, olive and peanut oil. Monounsaturated fat tends to lower LDL (the bad) cholesterol levels.   Some studies suggest that it may do so without also lowering HDL (the good) cholesterol levels.

Mortality - The total number of deaths from a given disease in a population during an interval of time, usually a year.

Murmur - The sound of blood flow superimposed on normal heart sounds. They are caused by congenital defects or damaged heart valves that do not close properly and allow blood to leak back into the chamber from which it has come.

Myocardial infarction - The damage or death of an area of the heart muscle (myocardium) resulting from a blocked blood supply to the area. The affected tissue dies, permanently damaging the heart. Symptoms include prolonged, pressure, tightness or pain in the chest, pain radiating to the shoulders, arms, neck or jaw; shortness of breath; light headedness, fainting ,sweating, extreme fatigue.

Myocardial ischemia - Deficient blood flow to an area of the heart muscle.

Myocardium - The muscular wall of the heart. It contracts to pump blood out of the heart and then relaxes as the heart refills with returning blood.

Nitroglycerin - A drug that helps relax and dilate arteries, allowing blood and oxygen to flow to the heart muscle, often used to treat chest pain (angina).

Necrosis - Referring to the death of tissue within a certain area.

Noninvasive procedures - Any diagnostic or treatment procedure in which no instrument enters the body.

Obesity - The condition of being significantly overweight. It is usually applied to a condition of 30 percent or more over ideal body weight. Obesity puts a strain on the heart and can increase the chance of developing high blood pressure and diabetes.

Occluded artery - An artery in which the blood flow has been impaired by a blockage.

Open heart surgery - An operation in which the chest and heart are opened surgically while the bloodstream is diverted through a heart-lung (cardiopulmonary perfusion) machine.

Pacemaker - A surgically implanted electronic device that helps regulate the heartbeat.

Palpitation - An uncomfortable sensation within the chest caused by an irregular heartbeat.

Patent ductus arteriosus - A congenital defect in which the opening between the aorta and the pulmonary artery does not close after birth.

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) - See angioplasty.

Pericarditis - Inflammation of the outer membrane surrounding the heart. Rheumatic fever, tuberculosis, and many other agents are its possible causes.

Pericardiocentesis - A diagnostic procedure using a needle to withdraw fluid from the sac or membrane surrounding the heart (pericardium).

Pericardium - The outer fibrous sac that surrounds the heart.

Plaque - A deposit of fatty (and other) substances in the inner lining of the artery wall; it is characteristic of atherosclerosis.

Platelets - One of the three types of cells found in blood; they aid in the clotting of the blood.

Polyunsaturated fat - The major fat constituent in most vegetable oils including corn, safflower, sunflower, and soybean. These oils are liquid at room temperature. Polyunsaturated fat actually tends to lower LDL cholesterol levels but may also reduce HDL cholesterol levels as well.

Positron emission tomography (PET) - A test that uses positron emitting substances to assess information about the metabolism of elements that can be used to indicate whether heart muscle is alive and functioning. A ring of radiosensitive detectors positioned around the chest reconstructs a two- or three-dimensional image of the heart.

Prevalence - The total number of cases of a given disease that exist in a population at a specific time.

Pulmonary - Referring to the lungs and respiratory system.

Pulmonary valve - The heart valve between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery. It controls blood flow from the heart into the lungs.

Pulmonary vein - The blood vessel that carries newly oxygenated blood from the lungs back to the left atrium of the heart.

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