Glossary

Aerobic exercise light and repetitive exercise done over a prolonged period of time, such that you will be using the same amount of oxygen and energy that your body can furnish to your muscles.

Angina an episode of chest pain due to a temporary discrepancy between the supply and demand of oxygen to the heart. Most often it is a chronic condition caused by a blood supply restricted by hardening and narrowing of coronary arteries supplying the heart muscle.

Aorta the main trunk of the arterial system of the body; the divisions of the aorta are the abdominal aorta, thoracic aorta, aortic artery, and ascending aorta.

Aortic Valve valve between the left ventricle and the ascending aorta.

Arteries blood vessels carry blood from the heart to the tissues. The arteries carry the oxygenated blood from the right and left ventricles of the heart to all parts of the body.

Arteriosclerosis hardening of the arteries.

Atherosclerosis condition in which the inner layer of the artery wall is made thick and irregular by deposits of a fatty substance. These deposits project above the surface of the inner layer of the artery and thus decrease the diameter of the vessel.

Atrium the upper chamber of each half of the heart. Also called the auricle.

A-V node a bundle of fibers of the impulse conducting system of the heart.

Cardiac arrest when the heart stops beating.

Cardiovascular pertaining to the heart and blood vessels.

Calorie a unit that expresses the amount of energy in food.

Cholesterol a constituent of saturated fat. The major component of the fatty deposits in atherosclerosis.

Collateral circulation when small blood vessels in the heart muscle become connected to each other and re-route blood and oxygen to the damaged or deprived area of the heart.

Congestive heart failure when the heart can't pump properly, blood backs up the vein leading to the heart.

Coronary arteries blood vessels that supply blood directly to the heart muscle.

Coronary artery disease also known as coronary heart disease or ischemic heart disease; heart ailments caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries and therefore causing a decreased blood supply to the heart.

Coronary occlusion an obstruction (generally a blood clot) in a branch of one of the coronary arteries that hinders the blood flow to some part of the heart muscle. This part then dies because it lacks blood supply. Also often called "heart attack".

Coronary thrombosis when a clot forms in an artery conducting blood to the heart muscle. A form of coronary occlusion.

Lipids a fatty substance.

Metabolism a general term designating all chemical changes that occur to substances within the body.

Mitral valve valve between the left atrium and left ventricle.

Monosaturated fat type of fat that has little effect on blood cholesterol.

Myocardial infarct (MI or heart attack) an area in the cardiac muscle that dies after blood supply has been cut off.

Myocardium the middle layer of the walls of the heart, composed of cardiac muscle.

Polyunsaturated fat a certain type of fat of plant origin. These fats tend to lower blood cholesterol.

Potassium a mineral in the body necessary for normal fluid balance, normal muscle contraction and for transmission of nerve impulses.

Progressive Cardiac Exercise (PCE) a continuous, graded program of physical activity designed to prevent the adverse effects of bedrest, improve cardiovascular functioning and promote a healthier way of life.

Pulmonary artery artery originating from the right ventricle that carries blood to the lungs.

Pulmonic or Pulmonary valve valve composed of three cusps, separating the pulmonary artery and right ventricle.

Saturated fat fats of animal origin. Saturated fat tends to raise blood cholesterol levels.

Septum a wall dividing two cavities.

Sodium a mineral that helps regulate blood pressure and the volume of blood, controls the amount of fluid around the bodys cells, and is essential for contraction of the heart and other muscles and for transmission of nerve impulses.

Stroke an impeded blood supply to some part of the brain.

Tricuspid valve valve between the right atrium and right ventricle.

Ventricular septum partition between the right and left ventricle of the heart.