Ventricular Septal Defect Glossary of Terms

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Abnormal: Outside the expected norm, or uncharacteristic of a particular patient.

Absorb: 1. To take something in, as through the skin or the intestine.
2....

Anatomy: The study of human or animal form, by observation or examination of the living be...

Anesthesia: Loss of feeling or awareness, as when an anesthetic is administered before sur...

Antibiotic: A drug used to treat infections caused by bacteria and other microorganisms. ...

Aorta: The largest artery in the body, the aorta arises from the left ventricle of the he...

Aortic: Pertaining to the aorta, the largest artery in the body.

Aortic regurgitation: The return of blood from the aorta into the left ventricle of the he...

Aortic valve: One of the four valves in the heart, this valve is situated at exit of the ...

Artery: A vessel that carries blood high in oxygen content away from the heart to the far...

Atria: The plural of atrium.

Atrial: Pertaining to the atria, the upper chambers of the heart, as in atrial fibrillatio...

Atrium: An entry chamber. On both sides of the heart, the atrium is the chamber that leads...

Breast bone: Familiar name for the sternum, the long flat bone in the middle of the front ...

Breathing: The process of respiration, during which air is inhaled into the lungs through ...

Cardiac: Having to do with the heart.

Cardiologist: A physician who specializes in treating heart disorders.

Cardiovascular: Relating to the circulatory system, which comprises the heart and blood ve...

Catheter: A thin, flexible tube.

Chest: The area of the body located between the neck and the abdomen. The chest contains t...

Chest pain: Pain in the chest that can be a result of many things, including angina, heart...

Chest X-ray: A type of X-ray commonly used to detect abnormalities in the lungs. A chest X...

Circulatory: Having to do with circulation, the movement of fluid in a regular or circuito...

Circulatory system: The system that moves blood throughout the body. The circulatory syste...

Congenital: A condition that is present at birth, whether or not it is inherited.

Congestion: An abnormal or excessive accumulation of a body fluid. The term is used broadl...

Congestive heart failure: Inability of the heart to keep up with the demands on it, with f...

Cyanosis: A bluish color of the skin and the mucous membranes due to insufficient oxygen i...

Discharge: 1.The flow of fluid from part of the body, such as from the nose or vag...

Electrocardiogram: A recording of the electrical activity of the heart. Abbreviated ECG an...

Emergency department: The department of a hospital responsible for the provision of medica...

Empirical: Based on experience and observation rather than on systematic logic. Experience...

Endocarditis: an inflammation of one or more of the heart valves and lining tissues of the...

Enzyme: A protein (or protein-based molecule) that speeds up a chemical reaction in a livi...

Groin: The area where the thigh meets the hip.

Heart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. ...

Heart failure: Inability of the heart to keep up with the demands on it and, specifically...

Heart murmur: An unusual, 'whooshing' heart sound that may be innocent or may reflect dise...

Heart muscle: A type of muscle with unique features only found in the heart. The heart mus...

Heart valves: There are four heart valves. All are one-way valves. Blood entering the ...

Hypertension: High blood pressure, defined as a repeatedly elevated blood pressure exceedi...

Hypertrophy: Enlargement or overgrowth of an organ or part of the body due to the increase...

Hypoxia: A lower-than-normal concentration of oxygen in arterial blood, as opposed to anox...

Infant: A young baby, from birth to 12 months of age.

Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, an...

Internal medicine: The medical specialty dedicated to the diagnosis and medical treatment ...

Intervention: The act of intervening, interfering or interceding with the intent of modify...

Laboratory: A place for doing tests and research procedures, and for preparing chemicals a...

Left atrium: The upper right chamber of the heart. The left atrium receives oxygenated blo...

Left ventricle: The left lower chamber of the heart that receives blood from the left atri...

Lips: Aside from the lips of the mouth, there are two pairs of lips at the entrance to the...

Liver: The largest solid organ in the body, situated in the upper part of the abdomen on t...

Lungs: The lungs are a pair of breathing organs located with the chest which remove carbon...

Malformation: A structural defect in the body due to abnormal embryonic or fetal developme...

Medical school: A school with a curriculum leading to a medical degree. The mission of eve...

Membranous: Pertaining to a membrane. As in acute membranous gingivitis, membranous nephro...

Murmur: A sound due to vibrations from the flow of blood through the heart or great vessel...

Muscle: Muscle is the tissue of the body which primarily functions as a source of power. T...

Muscular: Having to do with the muscles. Also, endowed with above average muscle developme...

Neck: The part of the body joining the head to the shoulders. Also, any narrow or constric...

Open heart surgery: Surgery in which the chest is opened and surgery is performed on the h...

Operation: In medicine, a surgical procedure. Many operations are named after persons. The...

Outlet: The exit or opening. The means by which something escapes.

Oxygen: The odorless gas that is present in the air and necessary to maintain life. Oxygen...

PA-C: Physician Assistant - Certified.

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

Pharmacy: A location where prescription medications are sold. A pharmacy is constantly sup...

Pregnancy: The state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus within the female body. Thi...

Primary care: A patient's main source for regular medical care, ideally providing continui...

Primary care provider: In insurance parlance, a physician who is chosen by or assigned to ...

Prognosis: The forecast of the probable outcome or course of a disease; the patient's chan...

Pulmonary: Having to do with the lungs.

Pulmonary hypertension: High blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries. This elevated blood...

Regurgitation: A backward flowing. For example, vomiting is a regurgitation of food from t...

Right atrium: The right upper chamber of the heart. The right atrium receives deoxygenated...

Right ventricle: The lower right chamber of the heart that receives deoxygenated blood fro...

Septum: A dividing wall or enclosure. For example, the septum of the nose is the thin cart...

Shortness of breath: Difficulty in breathing. Medically referred to as dyspnea. Shortness ...

Shunt: 1) To move a body fluid, such as cerebrospinal fluid, from one place to another. 2...

Sternum: The long flat bone in the upper middle of the front of the chest. The sternum art...

Stethoscope: An instrument that is used to transmit low-volume sounds such as a heartbeat ...

Surgery: The branch of medicine that employs operations in the treatment of disease or inj...

Sweating: The act of secreting fluid from the skin by the sweat (sudoriferous) glands. The...

Systolic: The blood pressure when the heart is contracting. It is specifically the maximum...

Therapy: The treatment of disease. Therapy is synonymous with treatment.

Ultrasound: High-frequency sound waves. Ultra-sound waves can be bounced off tissues by us...

Vasodilators: Agents that act as blood vessel dilators (vasodilators) and open vessels by ...

Ventricle: A chamber of an organ. For example, the four connected cavities in the central ...

Ventricles: 1, The right ventricle and the left ventricle, the lower two chambers o...

Ventricular: Pertaining to the ventricles, the lower chambers of the heart, as in ventricu...

Ventricular septum: The wall between the two lower chambers (ventricles) of the heart.

VSD: Ventricular septal defect.

Weight loss: Weight loss is a decrease in body weight resulting from either voluntary (die...

Womb: The womb (uterus) is a hollow, pear-shaped organ located in a woman's lower abdomen ...

X-ray: High-energy radiation with waves shorter than those of visible light. X-ray is used...