Dictionary for Patient Monitoring & Diagnostics
Dictionary for Cardiology
Arrhythmia (or dysrhythmia)
An abnormal (too slow, too fast, irregular) heart rhythm.
Atrial fibrillati
on An abnormally fast heart rhythm caused by multiple wavelets of depolarisation moving around the atria in a chaotic fashion.
Atrioventricular (AV) node
A group of cells located in the middle of the heart receiving electrical impulse from the sinoatrial (SA) or sinus node. The impulse is delayed in the AV node before rapidly continuing through the bundle of His to the ventricles.
Atrium (pl. atria)
One of the two upper heart chambers in which the blood piles up before being pumped to the lower heart chambers (ventricles).
Bradycardia
An abnormally slow heart rhythm.
Cardiac arrest
The stopping of the heart beat.
Cardiac arrhythmia
Irregularity of the heartbeat caused by damage to or defect in the heart tissue and its electrical system.
Cardiology
The clinical study and practice of treating the heart.
Depolarisation
Contraction of the cardiac muscle.
Electrocardiography/electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)
A recording and graphic reproduction of the electrical activity of the heart.
Fibrillation
Rapid, irregular and uncoordinated depolarisations of heart muscle fibres causing an ineffective pump function of the heart.
Heart attack
A medical emergency that occurs when a blood clot forms suddenly in a heart artery and causes a blockage, usually after the surface of cholesterol plaque in the artery breaks. A heart attack, also called a myocardial infarction, usually produces chest pain and shortness of breath. It may also cause sudden death.
Heart block
Reduced or blocked conduction of the normal electrical impulse spreading in the atria, and from the atria to the ventricles causing a slow heart beat.
Ischemia
Decreased flow of oxygenated blood to an organ due to obstruction in an artery.
Myocardial infarction
(see Heart attack)
Offset concept
Ambu developed this unique design where the lead wire connection point is moved from the centre to the edge of the electrode. This prevents pulled leads from lifting the vital sensor area and ensures a stable, reliable signal even if a patient is restless or there is excessive movement, such as during stress test.
Re-polarisation
Relaxation of the cardiac muscle.
Sinoatrial (SA) node
A group of cells located in the right atrium sending out electrical impulses, which trigger the atria to pump blood to the ventricles.
Tachycardia
An irregular or abnormally rapid heart rhythm.
Ventricle
One of the two lower chambers of the heart. Responsible for pumping blood to the lungs for oxidation, and to the body.
Ventricular fibrillation
An irregular heart rhythm caused by depolarisations of the ventricles being independent of each other and at a fast and chaotic rate.
Ventricular tachycardia
An abnormally fast heart rhythm caused by three or more consecutive ventricular beats at a rate being higher than 120 beats/min.
Wet gel/solid gel
The gel in ECG electrodes ensures that there is good electrical contact between the skin and the sensor of the electrode. Solid gel minimizes epidermal reactions, makes it easy to remove electrodes without hurting sensitive skin, and allows many electrodes to be repositioned. Wet gel ensures rapid reduction
Dictionary for Neurology
ABR
Auditory Brainstem Response
AEP
Auditory Evoked Potentials
BAEP
Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials
EEG
ElectroEncephaloGram
EMG
ElectroMyoGraphy
ENG
ElectroNystagmoGraphy
EOG
Electro-OculoGraphy
EP
Evoked Potentials
ERG
ElectroRetinoGraphy
MEP
Motor Evoked Potentials
MSLT
Multiple Sleep Latency Test
MWT
Maintenance of Wakefulness Test
NCS
Nerve Conduction Studies
PSG
PolySomnoGraphy
SEP
Somatosensation Evoked Potentials
VEP
Visual Evoked Potentials
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