Glossary

Glossary of Terms

Aorta - The largest artery in the body.

Artery - A type of vessel that carries blood away from the heart.

Arterioles - A smaller artery that connects with a capillary.

Atrium - The upper chamber of the heart that collects blood and pumps the blood into the ventricle.

Capillaries - A very thin vessel that transfers nutrients to cells and connects arteries with veins.

Cardiac catheterization - A type of imaging technique that utilizes the a thin plastic tube.

Circulatory system - One of the several general systems in the body that circulates blood to the cells.

CT - Stands for computed tomography. CT is a special type of imaging that produces clear pictures of the heart with X-rays.

Diastole - A stage in the heartbeat where the muscles are relaxed. The atrium are filled with blood and the ventricles begin filling with blood.

Doppler - A specialized type of ultrasound.

EKG - Stands for electrocardiogram. The EKG can record a patient's heartbeats by measuring electrical activity.

Endocardium - A lining that covers the innermost layer of the heart that prevents blood clots.

Galvanometer - An instrument that can measure electricity using a magnetic coil.

Gamma ray camera - An instrument used in nuclear medicine to detect radiation from a radioactive tracer.

Hemoglobin - A specialized pigment that carries iron. Hemoglobin is necessary for the transportation of gases.

Inferior vena cava - A major vein that brings blood from the lower body into the right atrium.

Left Atrium - The upper chamber of the heart that carries oxygenated blood and pumps the blood into the left ventricle.

Left Ventricle - The chamber of the heart that pumps oxygenated blood to the aorta.