Unit 29 Vocabulary — The Heart and Lungs

Noun (thing)
Airway
a tube by which air can pass into the lungs
First responders are taught to check patients for a blocked airway.
Noun (thing)
Anoxia
having no oxygen
Anoxia can have long-lasting effects on the patient such as brain damage.
Adjective
Anterior
of or connected to the front of the body
The infection was restricted to the anterior of the eye.
Noun (thing)
Asphyxia
suffocation, the deprival of oxygen
The medical examiner concluded that he had died from asphyxia.
Noun (thing)
Cardiac arrest
the stopping of the heart
Mortality rates from cardiac arrest have improved over time with updated procedures and medical equipment.
Noun (thing)
Cardiomyopathy
any disorder of the heart muscle
Proper diet and exercise are important for the prevention of cardiomyopathy.
Noun (thing)
Cardiotonic
medicine used to improve the pumping of the heart
The patient responded well to the cardiotonic medicine.
Noun (thing)
Cardioversion
using electric shocks to stabilize the heart beat
Cardioversion is used primarily to treat a fast, irregular heart rhythm.
Adjective
Caudal
near or in the direction of the lower side of the organ
The artery enters the heart at the caudal pole.
Noun (thing)
Consequences
the results or outcomes of an action
There are many negative consequences from drug abuse.
Noun (thing)
Croup
a breathing condition in children causing coughing
It is important to keep a child suffering from croup calm as agitation can worsen the coughing.
Noun (thing)
Diastole
the rest period of the heart between contractions
During diastole the aortic and pulmonary valves remain closed.
Noun (thing)
Distal
referring to a further distance from the center
The radius was fractured at the distal end.
Adjective
Efferent
carrying away from a starting point, such as an organ or the central nervous system
Efferent nerves carry neural impulses away from the central nervous system to the muscles to cause movement.
Noun (thing)
Lobe
a rounded or hanging part of something
The pituitary gland is divided into the anterior lobe and the posterior lobe.
Noun (thing)
Pacemaker
a device inserted under the skin to control the heart rate
Implanting a pacemaker is now considered a minor surgical procedure.
Noun (thing)
Pericardium
the membrane enclosing the heart and the roots of the great blood vessels
An inflamed pericardium will cause chest pain.
Noun (thing)
Pleura
thin tissue covering the interior walls of the chest and the exterior of the lungs
The pleura aids the lungs in breathing by providing lubrication and cushioning.
Adjective
Pulmonary
of or connected to the lungs
The child was born with a congenital pulmonary malformation.
Noun (thing)
Ventilator
a machine used to help a person breathe
The comatose boy was put on a ventilator to help keep him alive.