Heart Glossary

Following are common cardiac terms you may hear when learning about a heart problem and treatment:

• Aorta: the body’s largest artery. It carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body.

• Aortic valve: the valve inside the heart that allows blood to flow forward from the left ventricle to the aorta.

• Arrhythmia: an abnormal heart rhythm or rate.

• Artery: a blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart.

• Atresia: condition in which a part of the heart such as a valve is absent at birth because it didn’t develop properly.

• Atria (singular: atrium): the heart’s two upper chambers. They receive blood from the lungs (left atrium) and the body (right atrium).

• AV (atrioventricular) node: the cluster of electrical cells in the heart that receives signals from the atria and guides them to the ventricles.

• Balloon valvuloplasty: a procedure that uses a balloon-tipped catheter to open an abnormally narrowed heart valve or vessel.

• Bicuspid: a heart valve with two leaflets.

• Biological valve: a heart valve created from human or animal tissue.

• Blood vessels: tubes that carry blood throughout the body. Arteries and veins are blood vessels.

• Bradycardia or bradyarrhythmia: a type of arrhythmia during which the heart beats too slowly.

• Bundle branches: pathways of cells in the heart that carry electrical signals from the AV node into the ventricles.

• Cardio-: relating to the heart.

• Cardiologist: a doctor with special training to diagnose and treat heart problems.

• Cardiomyopathy: structural and/or functional diseases of the heart’s ventricles not caused by coronary artery disease.

• Catheter: a long, thin, flexible tube used during cardiac catheterization procedures to obtain information about the heart or to treat a heart problem.

• Coarctation: narrowing of a blood vessel.

• Contrast dye: a special fluid that enhances x-rays of blood vessels and allows blood flow to be tracked. Used for certain heart tests.

• Coronary: relating to the heart vessels that provide blood to the heart itself.

• Coronary arteries: blood vessels that wrap around the heart and supply the heart muscle with oxygen-rich blood.

• Cyanosis: condition in which the skin, lips, and nails appear blue because of low oxygen levels in the blood.

• Ductus arteriosus: a blood vessel in the fetus that connects the pulmonary artery and the aorta. If it fails to close after birth, it’s called a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).

• Echocardiography (echo): a test that uses sound waves to create a picture of the heart. Also called a heart ultrasound.

• Edema: a buildup of excess fluid in the body. Often shows up as swollen feet or ankles.

• Electrocardiography (ECG or EKG): a test that records the way electrical signals move through the heart.

• Foramen ovale: an opening between the two upper chambers of a fetus’s heart. If it fails to close after birth, it’s called a patent foramen ovale (PFO).

• Homograft: a blood vessel with or without a heart valve from a human donor.

• Hypertrophy: when the heart muscle thickens.

• Hypoplastic: abnormally small or undeveloped.

• Insufficiency (regurgitation): occurs when a heart valve doesn’t close tightly and allows leakage or backward flow of blood.

• IV (intravenous) line: a thin tube that delivers fluid to a vein.

• Mechanical valve: a heart valve created from manmade material such as ceramic or metal.

• Mitral valve: the valve inside the heart that allows blood to flow forward from the left atrium to the left ventricle.

• Murmur: an extra noise made by the heart caused when blood doesn’t flow smoothly through the heart.

• Palpitation: irregular or skipped heartbeat.

• Pulmonary artery: the large artery that carries blood from the heart to the lungs to get oxygen.

• Pulmonary veins: veins that carry oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the heart.

• Pulmonary valve: the valve inside the heart that allows blood to flow forward from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery.

• Risk factors: behaviors and/or conditions that place a person at higher risk of developing a problem or disease.

• SA (sinoatrial) node: a cluster of electrical cells in the right atrium that starts each heartbeat.

• Shunt: when blood flows from one location of the heart to another in the direction of least resistance. It can also refer to a tube or device placed in the heart that allows blood to flow in a specific direction.

• Stenosis: narrowing that occurs at or near a heart valve or blood vessel, which causes an obstruction to blood flow.

• Stent: a device that is placed in a blood vessel or heart valve to help keep it open.

• Tachycardia or tachyarrhythmia: a type of arrhythmia during which the heart beats too fast.

• Tricuspid valve: the valve inside the heart that allows blood to flow forward from the right atrium to the right ventricle.

• Valves: “doorways” that open and close to allow blood to flow forward through the heart.

• Vein: a blood vessel that carries blood toward the heart.

• Ventricles (singular: ventricle): the heart’s two lower chambers. They pump blood to the lungs (right ventricle) and the body (left ventricle).