Reference: Davies, L., & Mann, M. (2000). Heart children a practical handbook for parents of babies and children with heart conditions. 4th Ed. Parent and Family Resource Centre Inc. Auckland.
Please select an alphabetic section below to view the glossary
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Regurgitation
The backward flow of blood through a defective valve.
Sedative
A drug which depresses the activity of the central nervous system, thus having
a calming effect. Examples are barbiturates and choral hydrate.
Shunt
A passage between two blood vessels or between the two sides of the heart,
as in cases where a hole exists in the wall which normally separates them.
In surgery, the operation of forming a passage between blood vessels to divert
blood from one part of the body to another.
Sodium
A mineral essential to life, found in nearly all plant and animal tissue.
Table salt (sodium chloride) is nearly half sodium. In some types of heart
disease the body retains an excess of sodium and water, and therefore sodium
intake is restricted.
Stokes-Adams Syndrome
Sudden attacks of unconsciousness, sometimes with convulsions, which may accompany
heart block with a sudden fall in heart rate.
Sympathetic Nervous System
A part of the autonomic nervous system or involuntary nervous system. It regulates
tissues not under voluntary control, eg. glands, heart, blood vessels and
smooth muscle.
Syncope
A faint. One cause for syncope can be an insufficient blood supply to the
brain.
Syndrome
A set of characteristics which occur together and are therefore given a name
to indicate that particular combination.
Systemic Circulation
The circulation of the blood through all parts of the body except the lungs,
the flow being from the left lower chamber of the heart (left ventricle) through
the body,
back to the right upper chamber of the heart (right atrium).
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Thrombosis
The formation or presence of a blood clot (thrombus) inside a blood vessel
or cavity of the heart.
Transplantion
Replacement of a failing organ, with a healthy one, from one person to another.
Tricuspid Valve
Three leaflet valve between the right atrium and right ventricle.
Truncus
Single vessel arising from the heart that divides into aorta and lung artery.
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Vaccination
Used generally for immunization.
Vaccine
A liquid of weak or killed micro- organisms, or their proteins that can be
used to prevent diseases.
Vagus Nerves
Two of the nerves of the parasympathetic nervous system which extend from
the brain, through the neck and thorax into the abdomen. Known as the inhibitory
nerves of the heart, they slow the heart rate when stimulated.
Valve
Structure that allows blood flow in one direction and prevents leakage.
Valvoplasty Stretching of a narrow valve often with a balloon
catheter. Valvotomy. Cutting or stretching of a narrow valve.
Valvular Insufficiency. Incomplete closure of a valve, permitting back flow
of blood in the wrong direction.
Vascular Relating to blood vessels.
Vasoconstrictor The vasoconstrictor nerves are part of the involuntary nervous system. When these nerves are stimulated they cause the muscles of the arterioles to contract, thus narrowing the arteriole passage, increasing the resistance to the flow of blood, and raising the blood pressure. Chemical substances which stimulate the muscles of the arterioles to contract are called vasoconstrictor agents or vasopressors. An example is adrenalin or epinephrine.
Vein (Vena)
Thin walled vessel carrying blood towards the heart.
Venous Blood
Unoxygenated blood. The blood, with haemoglobin in the reduced state, is carried
by the veins from all parts of the body back to the heart and then pumped
by the right side of the heart to the lungs where it is oxygenated.
Ventricle
Pumping chamber of heart.
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Last Updated: March 2003
Last Reviewed: August 2003
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