Page 101 - Critical Care Nursing Demystified

86 CRITICAL CARE NURSING DeMYSTIFIED

KEY WORDS

AAA – abdominal aortic aneurysm Inotropic agent
Angina JVD – jugular venous distention
BNP – B-natriuretic peptide MAP – mean arterial blood pressure
Bruit MI – myocardial infarction
CABG – coronary artery bypass graft Murmurs
Cardiac tamponade OHS – open-heart surgery
Cardiomegaly PCI – percutaneous coronary
CO – cardiac output intervention
ECG – electrocardiogram Pericarditis
Echocardiogram PMI – point of maximal impulse
EF – ejection fraction PVR – peripheral vascular resistance
Epicardial pacemaker Remodeling
Gallops Stress test
HF – heart failure SV – stroke volume
Hypertensive crisis TEE – transesophageal echocardiogram
Hypertensive urgency Thrills
IABP – intraaortic balloon pump Transmural infarction
ICD – implantable cardiac Vasodilator Downloaded by [ Faculty of Nursing, Chiangmai University 5.62.158.117] at [07/18/16]. Copyright © McGraw-Hill Global Education Holdings, LLC. Not to be redistributed or modified in any way without permission.
defibrillator Vasopressor

Anatomy and Physiology of the Cardiovascular System

Structure and Function of the Cardiovascular System
The heart is the main pumping organ of the body (see Figure 3–1). About the
size of a clenched human fist, the heart keeps a person alive through a system
of electrical and mechanical activity. The heart is located to the left of center
in the chest cavity, behind and protected by the sternum. It is surrounded by a
fibrous sac known as the pericardium, pericardium which holds the heart in a
fixed position and provides a physical barrier to infection. The outer membra-
nous layer surrounding the heart is the epicardium. A very small amount of
pericardial fluid is contained between these two membranes and serves as a
lubricant. The next layer, or the myocardium, contains the actual pumping cells
of the heart. Inner surfaces of the atria, ventricles, and heart values are known
as the endocardium.