EKG Interpretation - The Heart - A Brief Glossary

http://ezinearticles.com/?EKG-Interpretation---The-Heart---A-Brief-Glossary&id=6548391 By Maurice Bartenleau Aorta - the body's largest artery; the blood vessel that carries blood out of the heart's left ventricle Superior vena cava - The vein that carries blood from the upper body into the right atrium Inferior vena cava - The vein that carries blood from the lower body into the right atrium Pulmonary artery - Artery that carries blood from the right ventricle into the lungs. Upon exiting the heart, it immediately divides into the left pulmonary artery and the right pulmonary artery Pulmonary veins - veins that carry freshly oxygenated blood from the lungs into the left atrium Atria - one of two low-pressure and thin-walled chambers of the heart. The right atrium is the entry point of the heart for deoxygenated blood that has traveled through the body; the left atrium is the entry point for blood that has been oxygenated in the lungs. Interatrial Septum - connective tissue that forms the wall between the left and right atria Atrial kick - the occurrence of extra blood flowing into the ventricles as a result of the contraction of the atria Coronary arteries - the arteries that supply blood to the heart itself Tricuspid atrioventricular valve - the valve between the right atrium and the right ventricle which prevents blood from flowing back to the right atrium once it has entered the right ventricle Mitral (bicuspid) atrioventricular valve - the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle which prevents blood from flowing back into the left atrium once it has entered the left ventricle Pulmonic semilunar valve - the valve between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery which prevents blood from flowing back to the right ventricle once it has entered the pulmonary artery Aortic semilunar valve - the valve between the left ventricle and the aorta which prevents blood from flowing back into the left ventricle once it has entered the aorta

Interventricular septum - connective tissue that separates the right and left ventricles Ventricles - the lower, high-pressure, thick-walled chambers of the heart. The right ventricle receives blood from the right atrium and pumps it into the pulmonary artery. The left ventricle receives blood from the left atrium and pumps it ito the aorta. Myocardium - the heart muscle. It is made up of muscle fibers, capillaries and nerve cells. The term can also refer to the heart itself. Endocardium - the inside layer of the heart muscle Epicardium-the outer layer of the heart muscle Pericardium - the double walled sac that surrounds the heart Subendocardial area - the innermost half of the myocardium Subepicardial area - the outermost half of the myocardium Visceral layer of the serous pericardium - another name for the epicardium Fibrous parietal pericardium - the outer layer of the pericardium Serous pericardium - the inner layer of the pericardium 4300 gallons - approximate amount of blood that is pumped by the heart each day 150 mL - approximate volume of blood that each ventricle can hold Cardiac cycle - refers to one complete cycle of pumping by the heart Systole - period of contraction when blood is being ejected from a chamber. There is both atrial systole and ventricular systole. When the prefix is not supplied, however, ventricular systole is the assumed meaning Asystole - when the period of contraction does not occur Diastole - the period of relaxation during which the chambers are allowed to fill with blood due to the pressure differences inside the chambers.. There is both atrial diastole and ventricular diastole. When the prefix is not supplied, however, ventricular diastole is the assumed meaning http://www.EmsEkg.com Provides a 12-Lead EKG class that is applicable for all medical personnel. Our program is a fast paced, PowerPoint based program that can be completed in 3 hours, and then reviewed endlessly

at your leisure. The training includes illustrations, examples, and a voice "teaching" the course to you Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6548391