Glossary

A medication that lowers blood pressure.

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

The stopping of heartbeat.

A diagnostic procedure in which a tiny, hollow tube (catheter) is inserted into an artery or vein in order to evaluate the heart and blood vessels.

The amount of blood that goes through the circulatory system in one minute.

A physician who specializes in the medical evaluation and treatment of heart diseases.

The clinical study and practice of treating the heart.

Pertaining to the heart and blood vessel (circulatory) system.

The procedure of applying electrical shock to the chest to change an abnormal heartbeat into a normal one.

The major arteries in the neck that supply blood to the brain.

A small, thin tube; may refer to a tube used during a cardiac catheterization procedure to inject dye, obtain blood samples, and measure pressures inside the heart; may also refer to a small tube used to help drain the bladder during and after a surgical procedure.

A waxy substance that is produced by the human body. It is also found in animal fats, shellfish, and in dairy products (such as beef, chicken, pork, butter, milk, cheese, and eggs).

Pertaining to the heart and blood vessels, and the circulation of blood.

New blood vessels that are created by the body to provide extra blood flow to an area when the blood vessel(s) that are already there are too small, narrowed, or blocked.

A non-invasive procedure that takes cross-sectional images of the brain or other internal organs; to detect any abnormalities that may not show up on an ordinary x-ray.

The electrical system inside the heart that stimulates the heart to beat.

Present at birth.

A heart problem present at birth, caused by improper development of the heart during fetal development.

Two arteries that come from the aorta to provide blood to the heart muscle.

Appearing blue, due to insufficient oxygen in the blood.

An electronic device used to establish normal heartbeat.

A heart that is "flipped over," so that the structures that are normally on the right side of the chest are on the left, and vice versa. The arteries and veins are connected correctly; occurs due to an abnormality in heart development during pregnancy.

The time during each heartbeat when the ventricles are at rest, filling with blood and not pumping.

The lowest blood pressure measure in the arteries, which occurs between heartbeats.

A genetic disease caused by a missing piece of chromosome material on chromosome #22 that results in many different health problems, and affects the normal fetal development of the heart, thymus, and parathyroid glands.

A procedure that uses sound waves to evaluate heart, blood vessels, and valves.

A congenital heart defect in which both the aorta and the pulmonary artery are connected to the right ventricle.

A connection between the aorta and the pulmonary artery that is necessary in fetal life, but becomes unnecessary after birth.

Shortness of breath.

Abnormal development of the tricuspid valve during pregnancy, causing an abnormally positioned valve that does not open easily (stenosis) and allows backflow of blood from the right ventricle into the right atrium (regurgitation).

A procedure that evaluates the structure and function of the heart by using sound waves recorded on an electronic sensor which produce a moving picture of the heart and heart valves.

Swelling.

A collection of fluid in a closed cavity.

The measurement of the amount of blood pumped out of the ventricles.

A test that records the electrical activity of the heart, shows abnormal rhythms (arrhythmias or dysrhythmias), and detects heart muscle stress.

A cardiac catheterization to study electrical current in patients who have arrhythmias.

The membrane that covers the inside surface of the heart.

A bacterial infection of the valves and interior surfaces of the heart.

Aurgical connection of two segments of blood vessel by stitching the open end of one segment to the open end of another segment.

A condition of the heart in which it is larger than normal.

The membrane that covers the outside of the heart.

A test to assess the cardiac rhythm and function by having the child exercise on a treadmill or bicycle.

Failure to grow and gain weight; often due to increased energy expenditure with congenital heart disease.

Rapid contractions of the heart muscles.

An x-ray procedure that takes continuous pictures to evaluate moving structures within the body, such as the heart.

Failure to grow and gain weight; often due to increased energy expenditure with congenital heart disease.

Ineffective contractions of the heart muscles.

A surgical procedure performed to repair heart defects in which only one ventricle is functional. It connects the right atrium to the pulmonary artery, allowing oxygen-poor (blue) blood from the body to flow into the lungs.

A hole between the right and left atria, present in all unborn children, that remains open after birth for variable periods of time.

A surgical connection between the superior vena cava and the right pulmonary artery, allowing oxygen-poor (blue) blood to flow into the lungs.

Occurs when one of more regions of the heart muscle experience a severe or prolonged decrease in oxygen supply caused by a blocked blood flow to the heart muscle.

Interrupted electrical impulse to heart muscles.

A machine that performs for the heart and lungs during open heart surgery.

A condition of the heart valve in which it is partially open when it should be closed.

Blood pressure that is above the normal range.

The "good" cholesterol that promotes breakdown and removal of cholesterol from the body.

A portable EKG machine worn for a 24-hour period or longer to evaluate irregular, fast, or slow heart rhythms while engaging in normal activities.

A blood vessel taken from a tissue donor, used to replace a defective blood vessel, most often the pulmonary artery or aorta.

Refers to an abnormally small organ or blood vessel due to abnormal development prior to birth.

A congenital heart defect in which the left side of the heart is poorly developed, resulting in small mitral valve, left ventricle, and aorta.

Low blood pressure.

Abnormal oxygen content in the organs and tissues of the body.

Medications that suppress the body's immune system; used to minimize rejection of transplanted organs.

A cut made with a surgical instrument during an operation.

The large blood vessel (vein) that returns blood from the legs and abdomen to the heart..

A valve deformity that allows the blood to leak backwards when the valve is closed.

Decreased flow of oxygenated blood to an organ due to obstruction in an artery.

Coronary artery disease or coronary heart disease caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries and decreased blood flow to the heart.

Veins that carry blood from the head back to the heart..

An immune system disorder affecting the heart, particularly the coronary arteries.

The upper left-hand chamber of the heart. It receives oxygen-rich (red) blood from the lungs via the four pulmonary veins, and then sends this blood to the left ventricle.

The lower left-hand chamber of the heart. It receives oxygen-rich (red) blood from the left atrium and pumps it into the aorta, which takes the blood to the body. The left ventricle must be strong and muscular in order to pump enough blood to the body to meet its requirements.

An injury or wound.

A fatty substance in the blood.

Transporters of fatty substances in the blood.

The primary cholesterol-carrying substance in the body. In large amounts, it accumulates inside arteries.

The hollow area inside a blood vessel..

A diagnostic procedure that uses a combination of large magnets, radiofrequencies, and a computer to produce detailed images of organs and structures within the body.

A genetic disorder which affects the connective tissue of the body. It causes dilation of blood vessels and abnormalities of cardiac valves.

An artificial valve used to replace a diseased or defective valve, most often the aortic valve.

An incision in the center of the chest, from the top to the bottom of the breastbone, used for many congenital heart defect repair surgeries.

The valve that controls blood flow between the left atrium and left ventricle in the heart.

An abnormality of the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart that causes backward flow of blood from the left ventricle into the left atrium.

Dietary fats, such as olive oil or canola oil, that may lower LDL cholesterol levels.

A blowing or rasping sound heard while listening to the heart that may or may not indicate problems within the heart or circulatory system.

Occurs when one of more regions of the heart muscle experience a severe or prolonged decrease in oxygen supply caused by a blocked blood flow to the heart muscle.

Insufficient blood flow to part of the heart.

Inflammation of the heart muscles.

The muscular layer of the heart.

A diagnostic effort or treatment that does not require entering the body or puncturing the skin.

Overweight by 30 percent of the ideal body weight.

An artery that is narrowed by plaque that impedes blood flow.

Surgery that involves opening the chest and heart while a heart-lung machine performs for the heart and lungs during the operation.

Insufficient amounts of oxygen in the bloodstream. Desaturation can occur when oxygen-poor (blue) blood from the right side of the heart circulation mixes with oxygen-rich (red) blood in the left side of the heart circulation and goes to the body. Normal oxygen saturation in the arteries is 95 to 100 percent.

The extent to which the hemoglobin is saturated with oxygen. (Hemoglobin is an element in the bloodstream that binds with oxygen and carries it to the organs and tissues of the body.) A normal oxygen saturation of the blood leaving the heart to the body is 95 to 100 percent. The oxygen saturation of the blood returning to the heart after delivering oxygen to the body is 75 percent.

An electronic device that is surgically placed in the patient's body and connected to the heart to regulate the heartbeat.

A sensation in the chest caused by an irregular heartbeat.

Open.

A blood vessel present in all infants that usually closes shortly after birth. It connects the aorta to the pulmonary artery. When it remains open, it allows extra blood to pass through from the aorta to the lungs.

An opening in the atrial septum (wall between the right and left atria) that is present in all infants, but which usually closes shortly after birth. When it remains open, it allows extra blood to pass through the opening from the left atrium to the right atrium.

A build up of excess fluid in-between the heart and the membrane that surrounds it, often due to inflammation.

An inflammation or infection of the sac which surrounds the heart.

A diagnostic procedure that uses a needle to draw fluid from the pericardium.

The membrane that surrounds the heart.

Deposits of fat or other substances attached to the artery wall.

Cells found in the blood that assist in clotting.

A type of fat found in vegetable oils and margarines that does not appear to raise blood cholesterol levels.

A build up of excess fluid in-between the heart and the membrane that surrounds it, often due to inflammation after open heart surgery. ("Post" means after, and "pericardiotomy" means opening the membrane around the heart for open heart surgery.).

An early heartbeat started by the atria.

An early heartbeat started by the ventricles.

Prevention.

An intravenous medication used to keep a patent ductus arteriosus from closing and preserve blood flow to the lungs.

Pertaining to the lungs and respiratory system.

The blood vessel connecting the right ventricle to the lungs, allowing oxygen-poor (blue) blood to receive oxygen..

A condition in which there is fluid accumulation in the lungs caused by an incorrectly functioning heart.

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

The vessel that carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left side of the heart.

A device that measures the amount of oxygen in the blood. Normal oxygen saturation in the arteries is 95 to 100 percent.

A radioactive material injected into the body so that a nuclear scanner can make pictures.

Backward flow of blood caused by a defective heart valve.

Pertaining to the kidneys.

A disease caused by a strep infection that may damage the heart valves.

The upper right chamber of the heart, which receives oxygen-poor (blue) blood from the body and sends it to the right ventricle.

The lower right chamber of the heart, which receives oxygen-poor (blue) blood from the right atrium and sends it to the pulmonary artery.

A condition, element, or activity that may adversely affect the heart.

A surgical procedure performed to