|
Information and advice on heart conditions & stroke disease, everything from prevention to illness for your wellbeing.
Read our glossary of related words with definitions by clicking on the alphabet below.
Heart Index - S
Saphenous vein
The long superficial vein that runs along the inner side of the leg.
Septum
Muscular wall dividing the left and right chambers of the heart.
Spectral Doppler echocardiography
A method of analysing the speed and direction of blood flow in a person’s cardiovascular system using sound waves.
Systole
A period of contraction of the heart muscle when the blood is expelled from the ventricles.
Saturated fat
Fat with a high proportion of fatty acids that tends to raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and contribute to atherosclerosis. It is usually found in animal products.
Sinus / Sinoatrial node
A small bundle of muscle fibres and nerves located in the right atria. It acts as the heart’s natural pacemaker.
Sphygmomanometer
An instrument for measuring blood pressure.
Systolic blood pressure
The higher of the two readings recorded when measuring blood pressure. It reflects the pressure with which the heart contracts and pumps blood to the rest of the body.
