This article discusses the difficult terminologies in cardiology, and some effective therapies used in the investigation and treatment of cardiac (heart) diseases.
HEART ANATOMICAL TERMS
The heart is divided into four chambers � two on the right hand side and two on the left. The upper chambers are known as atria (atrium- singular) and the lower chambers as ventricles. The 4 compartments are - the right atrium; the right ventricle; the left atrium and the left ventricle.
Superior Vena Cava and Inferior Vena Cava
These are the two large veins that enter the right atrium. They carry deoxygenated blood. The superior vena cava brings in blood from the head and arms and upper body and the inferior vena cava brings in blood from the trunk and legs.
Pulmonary Arteries
The main pulmonary artery extends from the right ventricle and branches into left and right pulmonary arteries that extend to the left lung and right lung. They carry the deoxygenated blood from the right ventricles to the lungs.
Pulmonary Veins
The right and left pulmonary veins bring the oxygenated blood back from the lungs to the heart into the left atrium.
Aorta
The aorta is the largest artery in the body. The aorta is the largest single blood vessel in the body. It is approximately the diameter of your thumb. This vessel carries oxygen-rich blood from the left ventricle to the various parts of the body.
Valves
The valves separate the atria from the ventricles and the ventricles from the aorta and pulmonary artery. As the heart beats, the valves open and blood is pumped from one chamber to another chamber.
The right atrium and right ventricle are separated by the tricuspid valve. This valve has tree cusps. The tricuspid valve lets blood pump from the right atrium into the right ventricle but prevents its flow back again.
Similarly, the mitral valve opens from the left atrium into the left ventricle. This valve has two cusps so it is also called as bicuspid valve.
The semilunar valves, i.e., the pulmonary and aortic valves guard the opening of the pulmonary artery and aorta, respectively.
Coronary Arteries
The coronary arteries are the network of blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrient rich blood to the cardiac muscle tissue. The heart is composed primarily of cardiac muscle tissue that continuously contracts and relaxes, and therefore, it must have a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients.
WORKING OF HEART
The deoxygenated blood the entire body is carried by the superior and inferior venacavae to the right auricle/atrium. This deoxygenated blood is then pumped to the right ventricle from where it goes to the lungs to get oxygenated via the pulmonary arteries. The purified blood from the lungs is then bought to the left atrium by the pulmonary veins. From the left atrium the oxygenated blood is then pumped to left ventricle, and from there to the aorta, which distributes this blood to the entire body. This cycle keeps repeating, and hence, your heart keeps pumping.
DIAGNOSTIC TERMS
Angiography is an X-ray technique where dye is injected into the chambers of the heart or the arteries that lead to the heart (the coronary arteries). The test lets doctors measure the blood flow and blood pressure in the heart chambers to check if the coronary arteries are blocked.
Cardiac Catheterization is a method used by the doctors to perform many tests and procedures available for diagnosing and treating coronary artery disease. This technique is used with other tests such as angiography, arteriography, and electrophysiology studies (EPS).
CT Scan (CAT Scan � Computer Aided Tomography Scan) is an X-ray technique that uses a computer to create cross-sectional (slice-like) images of the heart.
EBCT (Electron Beam Computed Tomography) is a faster type of CT scanning that takes an X-ray of the heart in about one-tenth of a second, and thus, avoids blurred pictures caused by the beating of the heart - a problem common with a regular CT scan.
MDCT (Multi-Detector Computed Tomography) scanners have many rows of detectors which can take multiple X-rays of the heart at the same time. It greatly increases the speed of image acquisition.
Echocardiography uses sound waves to produce an image of the heart in order to see how it is functioning. From this test, the doctors can learn about the size, shape, and movement of the heart muscle. This test also shows the working of the heart valves and flow of blood through the heart.
Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) or intravascular echocardiography is a combination of echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. IVUS uses sound waves to produce an image of the coronary arteries to see their condition. The sound waves travel through a tube called a catheter, which is threaded through an artery into the heart. This test enables doctors look inside the blood vessels.
Stress Echocardiography (or stress echo) uses sound waves to produce an image of the heart and to see how it is functioning when the patient is under stress. It lets doctors see the wall motion of the heart's pumping chambers before and after exercise. This test can show if certain areas of the heart muscle are not getting enough oxygen-rich blood.
Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) uses sound waves to produce an image of the heart to see its functioning. Here, the sound waves travel through a tube-like device put in the mouth and passed down the throat into the oesophagus. This test is done by the doctors when they do not get a clear picture of the heart using standard echocardiography.
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a routine test to measure the electrical activity of the heart. A healthy person's ECG has a certain pattern. Any change in that pattern is an indication of a cardiac problem.
Cardiac MRI (Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is a scan that allows doctors to see inside the body without performing surgery. This test is painless and uses no radiation.
Nuclear (Thallium) Stress Test is a nuclear stress test through which doctors can see pictures of the heart while a person is resting and shortly after he has exercised. The test gives information about the size of the heart's chambers, how well the heart is pumping blood, and whether the heart has any damaged or dead muscle. Nuclear stress tests can also give doctors information about the arteries and whether they are narrowed or blocked because of coronary artery disease. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a scan that shows whether parts of the heart muscle are alive and working by using information about the energy of certain elements in the body. This scan is very accurate as it actually shows the heart at work.
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