Module 1 Hypertension Glossary Term ACE inhibitor ACE inhibitors inhibit angiotensin converting enzyme (a component of the blood pressure regulating reninangiotensin system), thereby decreasing the tension of blood vessels and blood volume, thus lowering blood pressure. Adrenaline Adrenaline is the neurotransmitter and hormone released from the sympathetic nervous system to affect the heart. An increase in adrenaline from the sympathetic nervous system increases the rate of contractions in the heart. Aldosterone Aldosterone is a hormone that plays a central role in the regulation of blood pressure by increasing reabsorption of salt and water in the kidney, which increases water retention, and increased blood pressure. Aneurysm An aneurysm is a balloon like bulge in the wall of a blood vessel Angina Angina is chest pain due to inadequate blood supply to the heart muscle, generally due to obstruction or spasm of the coronary arteries. The main cause of angina is coronary artery disease, due to atherosclerosis of the arteries feeding the heart. Angiotensin 2 Angiotensin II is a hormone that causes contraction of blood vessels and increase blood pressure. It is part of the reninangiotensin system, which is a major target for drugs that lower blood pressure. Angiotensin converting enzyme Angiotensin converting enzyme converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II. It is primarily found within the lung (but is also present in endothelial cells and kidney epithelial cells). Antidiuretic hormone Antidiuretic hormone which is also called arginine vasopressin is a hormone that functions increase blood pressure by increasing the retention of water in the body and constricting blood vessels. Aorta The aorta is the largest artery in the human body. It starts at the left ventricle of the heart and extends down to the abdomen. Artery Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. Atherosclerosis Atherosclerosis is a condition affecting arterial blood vessels where the artery wall thickens as a result of the accumulation of fatty materials such as cholesterol and triglyceride. Atria The atria are the chambers of the heart where the blood enters the heart Autonomic nervous system The autonomic nervous system is the part of the nervous system that controls functions that are unconsciousness or largely involuntary such as heart rate, digestion, respiratory rate, salivation, perspiration, urination and sexual arousal.
Beta blocker Blood clot (Thrombus) Calcium Calcium channel blocker Capillary Cardiac muscle Cardiovascular disease Catheter Cholesterol Chronic kidney disease Coronary heart disease Beta blockers are a class of drugs that target the beta receptor. Beta receptors are found on the heart muscles, smooth muscles, airways, arteries, kidneys, and other tissues that are part of the sympathetic nervous system. Beta blockers are used for the management of cardiac arrhythmias, protecting the heart from a second heart attack (myocardial infarction) after a first heart attack (secondary prevention), and hypertension A blood clot or thrombus is the final product of the blood coagulation. It is achieved via the aggregation of platelets that form a platelet plug, and the activation of clotting factors. A thrombus is a normal response to damage to a blood vessel such as a cut. Calcium (Ca 2+ ) is a chemical element essential for living organisms. Movement of calcium into and out of the cell functions as a signal for many cellular processes including contraction of muscle. A calcium channel blocker is a drug used to treat hypertension that blocks the movement of calcium through calcium channels. Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels in the body, They connect arteries and veins and their walls are only made up of a single endothelial cell. They function for exchange of water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and many other nutrients and waste chemical substances between blood and the tissues surrounding them. Cardiac muscle is one of three major types of muscle. Cardiac muscle is the muscle found in the walls of the heart and is also called the myocardium. Cardiovascular disease refers to diseases that affect the cardiovascular system including the heart, the blood vessels (arteries, capillaries, and veins) or both. The most common causes of cardiovascular disease are atherosclerosis and/or hypertension. A catheter is a thin tube inserted into the body to treat diseases or perform a surgical procedure. Cholesterol is a fat molecule that is essential for production of some hormones as well as for proper cellular functioning. Cholesterol is synthesised in the liver and also obtained from animal fats in the diet. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the progressive loss in kidney function over a period of months or years. People known to be at risk of kidney problems include those with high blood pressure or diabetes and those with a blood relative with chronic kidney disease. Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, usually caused by atherosclerosis.
Diastolic pressure Diuretic Endothelial cells Fibrosis Glomerulus Heart Heart attack Heart failure Hypertension Hypertensive retinopathy Kidney Nephron The diastolic pressure is the lowest pressure within the arterial blood stream occurring during each heartbeat. A diuretic is a substance that promotes the production of urine. The endothelial cells are the thin layer of cells that line the interior of blood vessels. Endothelial cells line the entire blood circulatory system, from the heart to the smallest capillaries. Fibrosis is similar to the process of scarring and is the formation of excess connective tissue in an organ or tissue in response to injury. The glomerulus is a network of capillaries that performs the first step in filtering the blood. The heart is a hollow muscle that pumps blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions. The adjective cardiac means "related to the heart". The human heart has four chambers, two atria and two ventricles. The atria receive blood into the heart while the ventricles discharge blood from the heart into the arteries. A heart attack or a Myocardial infarction (MI) happens when the blood stops flowing properly to part of the heart and the heart muscle is damaged because it doesn t get enough oxygen. Usually this is because one of the coronary arteries that supplies blood to the heart is blocked due to atherosclerosis. Heart failure or called congestive heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to pump the blood at a pressure that is sufficient to maintain flow throughout the body. Heart failure can cause a number of symptoms including shortness of breath, leg swelling, and exercise intolerance. the definition of hypertension according to the World Health Organisation is a reading of 140/90 or above Hypertensive retinopathy is damage to the retina (the structure at the back of the eye) and retinal blood vessels due to high blood pressure. The kidneys are organs located at the rear of the abdominal cavity. The kidneys filter of the blood, and remove wastes which are diluted in the urine. Nephron is the functional unit of the kidney. Its chief function is to regulate the concentration of water and salts by filtering the blood, reabsorbing what is needed and excreting the rest as urine.
Oedema Term Parasympathetic nervous system Perindopril Physiology Receptor Renal tubule Renin Renin angiotensin system Retina Skeletal muscle Smooth muscle Sphygmomanometer Stroke Oedema or edema is an abnormal accumulation of fluid just beneath the skin it is clinically shown as swelling. The parasympathetic nervous system (PSN) is one of main divisions of the autonomic nervous system. The parasympathetic system is responsible for stimulation of "rest and digest" activities, especially those that occur after eating. Perindopril is a long acting ACE inhibitor used to treat high blood pressure. Physiology is the scientific study of function in living systems. A receptor is a structure, usually located on the outside surface of a cell that receives and responds to a neurotransmitter, or other substance. A receptor takes part in communication between the cell and the outside body. The renal tubule is the portion of the nephron containing the fluid filtered through the glomerulus. Renin is an enzyme, produced by the kidneys and is the first component in the renin angiotensin system. The renin angiotensin system (RAS) is a hormone system that regulates blood pressure and water (fluid) balance. The retina is a light sensitive layer of tissue, lining the inner surface of the eye. Light striking the retina is sent to the visual centres of the brain through the optic nerve. Skeletal muscle is one of three major muscle types found in the body. Skeletal muscle is under the voluntary control and makes up the major muscles in the arms and legs. Smooth muscle is one of three major muscle types found in the body. Smooth muscle is an involuntary muscle controlled by the Sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Smooth muscle is found within the walls of blood vessels. A sphygmomanometer is a device used to measure blood pressure, composed of an inflatable cuff to restrict blood flow, and a mercury or mechanical manometer to measure the pressure. It is used in conjunction with a stethoscope as a means of hearing at what pressure blood flow is just starting, and at what pressure it is unimpeded. A stroke, sometimes referred to as a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), is the rapid loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain.
Sympathetic nervous system Systolic pressure Thrombus Thrombosis Vein Ventricle The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is one of major parts of the autonomic nervous system it functions to mobilize the body's nervous system fight or flight response. The systolic pressure is the force that drives the blood out of the heart. A blood clot or thrombus is the final product of the blood coagulation. It is achieved via the aggregation of platelets that form a platelet plug, and the activation of clotting factors. A thrombus is a normal response to damage to a blood vessel such as a cut. Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel, obstructing the flow of blood through the circulatory system. The veins are the blood vessels that carry blood from the tissues back toward the heart. The ventricle is the chamber of the heart that collects the blood to be expelled towards the peripheral tissues.