Histological section - ANSWERS-A thinly sliced tissue sample that has
been stained for examination by microscopy, to visualize cell shape and
organization as well as other features of the tissue.
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) - ANSWERS-A small
device implanted in the chest that automatically monitors for
arrhythmias and uses electrical shocks to attempt a cardioversion. The
patient refers to this as an intracardiac device. You can read more about
ICDs here.
Inferior - ANSWERS-Below, in anatomical descriptions.
Lateral - ANSWERS-Away from the center of the body, in anatomical
descriptions.
Mitral valve - ANSWERS-The valve between the left atrium and the left
ventricle.
Murmur - ANSWERS-A heart sound resulting from the flow of blood
through the heart, which can be harmless or indicative of a problem (for
example, an abnormality of a heart valve). Also called a heart murmur.
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Crescendo-decrescendo murmur - ANSWERS-A murmur that increases
and then decreases in intensity.
Ejection murmur - ANSWERS-A murmur caused by turbulence in the
flow of blood as it leaves the heart.
Outflow tract - ANSWERS-The part of each ventricle that blood passes
through on the way out of the ventricle. The right ventricular outflow
tract leads to the pulmonary artery and the left ventricular outflow tract
leads to the aorta.
Stress test - ANSWERS-A diagnostic test in which the heart rate, heart
rhythm, and blood pressure are monitored during exercise to reveal
problems that might not be apparent at rest. You can read more about
stress tests here.
Sudden cardiac death - ANSWERS-Sudden unexpected death due to loss
of heart function, usually due to an an arrhythmia. This was referred to
as "sudden death" in the video.
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Venous column - ANSWERS-The height of the column of blood seen in
the internal jugular vein in the neck. This can be used an indicator of the
venous pressure and the filling of the right side of the heart.
AFP - ANSWERS-Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is produced by the fetus
during development. AFP diffuses across the placenta into the maternal
bloodstream, so AFP levels are measured by a simple maternal blood
test. AFP levels above or below normal can be indicative of
developmental problems. You can learn more about AFP testing here.
Apgar score - ANSWERS-A measure of the health of a newborn based
on an assessment of key metrics, such as breathing, heart rate, and
reflexes.
ASD - ANSWERS-An atrial-septal defect (ASD) is a hole in the wall
between the two atrial chambers of the heart, leading to less efficient
oxygen circulation in the blood. This is a congenital defect, meaning that
it is present at birth. Small defects can close up on their own, but larger
defects can require surgery to repair. You can learn more about ASD
here.
Tonsils and adenoids - ANSWERS-Lymphatic tissues that play a role in
circulation and immunity. Tonsils are located in the throat, while
adenoids are located behind the nose. Individuals who develop repeated
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infections of the tonsils and adenoids may have them removed to prevent
future infections.
Low tone - ANSWERS-Low muscle tone, or hypotonia, indicates that
the muscles have a decreased resistance, making them more stretchy.
Hypotonia can manifest as muscle weakness and increased flexibility.
You can learn more about hypotonia here.
Incidental finding - ANSWERS-An unintentional medical discovery,
unrelated to the condition being tested or treated.
Liposarcoma - ANSWERS-A cancer arising from fat tissue. You can
read more about liposarcoma here.
MRI - ANSWERS-MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, is an imaging
technique based on magnetic and radio waves that can be used to
examine structures in the body, such as organs and joints. You can read
more about MRI scans here.
Paraganglioma - ANSWERS-Paragangliomas are tumors that form in
the head and neck and produce excess adrenaline, potentially leading to
headaches and high blood pressure. You can read more about
paragangliomas here.
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