Heart Failure Glossary
Afterload: The force or load against which the heart has to contract to eject the
blood.
 Increase after load with hypotension
Blood Pressure: The pressure of circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels.
Cardiac Output: The amount of blood the heart pumps through the circulatory
system in a minute. Normal cardiac output is roughly 4.7 liters (5 quarts).
Diastolic: When the heart is in a period of relaxation and dilation (expansion).
Dilation: The action or condition of becoming or being made wider, larger or more
open.
Ejection Fraction: Amount of blood pumped by the left ventricle with each
heartbeat.
Emboli: A blood clot, air bubble, piece of fatty deposit, or other object which has
been carried by the bloodstream to lodge in a vessel and cause an embolism.
HFpEF: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (diastolic)
HFrEF: Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (systolic)
Hypertension: A condition in which the force of the blood against the artery walls is
too high.
Hypertrophy: The enlargement of an organ or tissue from the increase in size of its
cells.
MI: Myocardial infarction- a blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle resulting in
decreased oxygenation to the heart and tissue death
Pleural Effusion: A build up of excess fluid between the layers of the pleura outside
the lungs. The pleura are thin membranes that line the lungs and the inside of the
chest cavity and act to lubricate and facilitate breathing.
PNS: Parasympathetic nervous system- one of three divisions of the autonomic
nervous system. Sometimes called the rest and digest system, the parasympathetic
system conserves energy as it slows the heart rate, increases intestinal and gland
activity, and relaxes sphincter muscles of the GI tract.
Preload: Initial stretching of the cardiac myocytes prior to contraction.
Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone-System (RAAS)- System in kidneys that provides
homeostatic regulatory response by controlling blood pressure and electrolyte
balance. Fluid and sodium retained in response to stress. Also causes
vasoconstriction to increase blood pressure.
SNS: Sympathetic nervous system- part of the autonomic nervous system. Activates
what is often termed the fight or flight response. A flash flood of hormones boosts
the alertness and heart rate, sending extra blood to the muscles and organs.
Stroke Volume: The amount of blood put out by the left ventricle of the heart in one
contraction.
Systolic: When the heart muscle contracts and pumps blood from the chambers to
the arteries.
Thrombus: A blood clot formed in situ within the vascular system of the body and
impedes blood flow.
Helpful YouTube Clips
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jBt5jZSWhMI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypYI_lmLD7g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lejrboW7dOs 43 second mark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8byn2NT_lo 1:05 minute mark