Cardiovascular Terms For Medical Terminology

Front 1

angi/o
vas/o
vascul/o

Back 1

blood vessel

Front 2

aort/o

Back 2

aorta

Front 3

arteri/o

Back 3

artery

Front 4

ather/o

Back 4

fatty (lipid) paste

Front 5

atri/o

Back 5

atrium

Front 6

cardi/o

Back 6

heart

Front 7

coron/o

Back 7

circle or crown

Front 8

pector/o
steth/o

Back 8

chest

Front 9

thromb/o

Back 9

clost

Front 10

sphygm/o

Back 10

pulse

Front 11

ven/o
phleb/o

Back 11

vein

Front 12

varic/o

Back 12

swollen
twisted vein

Front 13

ventricul/o

Back 13

ventricle (belly or pouch)

Front 14

atrium

Back 14

upper right or left chamber of the heart

Front 15

endocardium

Back 15

membrane lining the cavities of the heart

Front 16

epicardium

Back 16

membrane forming the outer layer of the heart

Front 17

interatrial septum

Back 17

partition between the right and left atria

Front 18

interventricular septum

Back 18

partition between the right and left ventricles

Front 19

myocardium

Back 19

heart muscle

Front 20

pericardium

Back 20

protective sac enclosing the heart that open and close with the heartbeat to regulate the one-way flow of blood

Front 21

visceral pericardium

Back 21

layer closest to the heart
(visceral = pertaining to organ)

Front 22

parietal pericardium

Back 22

outer layer
(parietal = pertaining to wall)

Front 23

pericardinal cavity

Back 23

fluid-filled cavity between the pericardial layers

Front 24

ventricle

Back 24

lower right or left chamber of the heart

Front 25

heart valves

Back 25

structures within the heart that open and close with the heartbeat to regulate the one-way flow of blood

Front 26

aortic valve

Back 26

heart valve between the left ventricle and the aorta

Front 27

mitral valve
(bicuspid valve)

Back 27

heart valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle
(cuspis = point)

Front 28

pulmonary semilunar valve

Back 28

heart valve opening from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery (luna = moon)

Front 29

tricuspid valve

Back 29

valve between the right atrium and the right ventricle

Front 30

valves of the veins

Back 30

valves located at intervals within the lining of veins, especially in the legs, which constrict with muscle action to move the blood returning to the heart

Front 31

arteries

Back 31

vessels that carry blood from the heart to the arterioles

Front 32

aorta

Back 32

large artery that is the main trunk of the arterial system branching from the left ventricle

Front 33

arterioles

Back 33

small vessels that receive blood from the arteries

Front 34

capillaries

Back 34

tiny vessels that join arterioles and venules

Front 35

venules

Back 35

small vessels that gather blood from capillaries into the veins

Front 36

veins

Back 36

vessels that carry blood to the heart from the venules

Front 37

systemic circulation

Back 37

circulation of blood throughout the body via arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins to deliver oxygen and nutrients to body tissues

Front 38

coronary circulation

Back 38

circulation of blood through the coronary blood vessels to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle tissue

Front 39

pulmonary circulation

Back 39

circulation of blood from the pulmonary artery through the vessels in the lungs and back to the heart via the pulmonary vein, providing for the exchange of gases

Front 40

diastole

Back 40

to expand; period during the cardiac cycle when the blood enters the relaxed ventricles from the atria

Front 41

systole

Back 41

to contract; period during hte cardiac cycle when the heart is in contraction and blood is ejected through the aorta and the pulmonary artery

Front 42

normotension

Back 42

normal blood pressure

Front 43

hypotension

Back 43

low blood pressure

Front 44

hypertension (HTN)

Back 44

high blood pressure

Front 45

sinoatrial (SA) node

Back 45

pacemaker; highly specialized, neurological tissue impeded in the wall of the right atrium; responsible for initiating electrical conduction of the heartbeat, causing the atria to contract and firing conduction of impulses to the AV node

Front 46

atrioventricular (AV) node

Back 46

neurological tissue in the center of the heart and receives and amplifies the conduction of impulses from the SA node to the bundle of His

Front 47

bundle of His

Back 47

neurological fibers extending from the AV node to the right and left bundle branches that fire the impulse from the AV node to the Purkinje fibers

Front 48

Purkinje fibers
Purkinje network

Back 48

fibers int he ventricles that transmit impulses to the right and left ventricles, causing them to contract

Front 49

polarization

Back 49

resting; resting state of a myocardial cell

Front 50

depolarization

Back 50

change of a myocardial cell from polarized (resting) state to a state of contraction

Front 51

repolarization

Back 51

recharging of the myocardial cell from a contracted state back to a resting state

Front 52

normal sinus rhythm (NSR)

Back 52

regular rhythm of the heart cycle stimulated by the SA node

Front 53

aneurysm

Back 53

a widening; a bulging of the wall of the heart, aorta, or artery caused by a congenital defect or acquired weakness

Front 54

saccular aneurysm

Back 54

sac-like bulge on one side

Front 55

fusiform aneurysm

Back 55

spindle-shaped bulge

Front 56

dissecting aneurysm

Back 56

a split or tear of the vessel wall

Front 57

angina pectoris

Back 57

chest pain caused by a temporary loss of oxygenated blood to heart muscle; often caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries

Front 58

arteriosclerosis

Back 58

thickening; loss of elasticity, and calcification of arterial walls

Front 59

artherosclerosis

Back 59

a form of arteriosclerosis characterized by the buildup of fatty substances that harden within the walls of arteries

Front 60

artheromatous plaque

Back 60

swollen area within the lining of an artery caused by the building of fat (lipids)

Front 61

claudication

Back 61

to limp; pain in a limb (especially the calf) while walking that subsides after rest; caused by inadequate blood supply

Front 62

constriction

Back 62

compression of a part that causes narrowing (stenosis)

Front 63

diaphoresis

Back 63

profuse sweating (perspiration)

Front 64

embolus

Back 64

a clot carried in the bloodstream that obstructs the flow of blood when it lodges
(embolous = a stopper)

Front 65

heart murmur

Back 65

abnormal sound from the heart produced by defects in the chambers or valves

Front 66

infarct

Back 66

to stuff; a localized area of necrosis

Front 67

ischemia

Back 67

to hold back blood; decreased blood flow to tissue caused by constriction or occlusion of a blood vessel

Front 68

perfusion deficit

Back 68

lack of flow through a blood vessel caused by narrowing, occlusion

Front 69

occlusion

Back 69

plugging; an obstruction or a closing off

Front 70

palpitation

Back 70

subjective experience of pounding, skipping, or racing heartbeats

Front 71

stenosis

Back 71

condition of narrowing a joint

Front 72

thrombus

Back 72

a stationary blood clot

Front 73

vegetation

Back 73

to grow; an abnormal growth of tissue around a valve, generally as a result of infection

Front 74

acute coronary syndrome (ACS)

Back 74

signs and symptoms indicating an active process of artherosclerotic plaque buildup or formation of a thrombus, or spasm within a coronary artery, causing a reduction or loss of blood flow to the myocardial tissue; includes unstable angina and other pathological events leading to myocardial infarction (MI); early diagnosis and rapid treatment are critical to avoid or minimize damage to the heart muscle

Front 75

arrhythmia
dysrhythmia

Back 75

any of several kinds of irregularity or loss of rhythm of the heartbeat

Front 76

bradycardia

Back 76

slow heart rate (less than 60 beats/minute)

Front 77

fibrillation

Back 77

chaotic, irregular contracts of the heart, as in atrial or ventricular fibrillation

Front 78

premature ventricular contraction (PVC)

Back 78

a ventricular contraction preceding the normal impulse initiated by the SA node (pacemaker)

Front 79

tachycardia

Back 79

fast heart rate

Front 80

bacterial endocariditis

Back 80

a bacterial inflammation that affects the endocardium or the heart valves

Front 81

cardiac tamponade

Back 81

compression of the heart produced by the accumulation of fluid in the pericardial sac, as results from pericarditis or trauma, causing rupture of a blood vessel within the heart
(tampon = a plug)

Front 82

cardiomypathy

Back 82

a general term for disease of the heart muscle, such as alcoholic cadiomyopathy (damage to the heart muscle caused by excessive consumption of alcohol)

Front 83

congenital anomaly of the heart

Back 83

malformations of the heart that are present at birth
(congenital = born with
anomaly = irregularity)

Front 84

atrial septal defect (ASD)

Back 84

an opening in the septum separating the atria

Front 85

coarctation of the aorta

Back 85

narrowing of the descending portion of the aorta, resulting in a limited flow of blood to the lower party of the body

Front 86

patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)

Back 86

an abnormal opening between the pulmonary artery and the aorta caused by failure of the fetal ductus arteriosus to close after birth (patent = open)

Front 87

ventricular septal defect (VSD)

Back 87

an opening in the septum separating the ventricles

Front 88

congestive heart failure (CHF)
left ventricular failure

Back 88

failure of the left ventricle to pump an adequate amount of blood to meet the demands of the body, resulting in a "bottleneck" of congestion in the lungs that may extend to the veins, causing edema in lower portions of the body

Front 89

cor pulmonale
right ventricle failure

Back 89

enlargement of the right ventricle, resulting from chronic disease within the lungs.that causes congestion within the pulmonary circulation and resistance of blood flow to the lungs

Front 90

coronary artery disease (CAD)

Back 90

a condition affecting arteries of the heart that reduces the flow of blood and the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the myocardium; most often caused by atherosclerosis

Front 91

hypertension (HTN)

Back 91

persistently high blood pressure

Front 92

essential hypertension
primary hypertension

Back 92

high blood pressure attributed to no single cause; risks include smoking, obesity, increased salt intake, hypercholesterolemia, and hereditary factors

Front 93

secondary hypertension

Back 93

high blood pressure caused by the effects of another disease

Front 94

mitral valve prolapse (MVP)

Back 94

protrution of one or both cusps of the mitral valve back into the left atrium during ventricular contraction, resulting in incomplete closure and back flow of blood

Front 95

myocardial infarction (MI)

Back 95

heart attack; death of myocardial tissue (infarction) caused by ischemia (loss of blood flow) as a result of an occlusion (plugging) of a coronary artery; usually caused by artherosclerosis; symptoms include pain in the chest or upper body (shoulders, neck, and jaw), shortness of breath, diaphoresis, and nausea

Front 96

myocarditis

Back 96

inflammation of myocardium; most often cuased by viral or bacterial infection

Front 97

pericarditis

Back 97

inflammation of the pericardium

Front 98

rheumatic heart disease

Back 98

damage to heart muscle and heart valves by rheumatic fever (a stretococcal infection)

Front 99

sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)

Back 99

the abrupt cessation of any cardiac output (CO), most commonly as the result of ventricular fibrillation; causes sudden death unless defibrillation is initiated immediately

Front 100

deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

Back 100

formation of a clot in a deep vein of the body, occurnig most often ni the femoral and iliac veins

Front 101

phlebitis

Back 101

inflammation of a vein

Front 102

thrombophlebitis

Back 102

inflammation of a vein associated with a clot formation

Front 103

varicose veins

Back 103

abnormally swollen, twisted veins with defective valves, most often seen in the legs

Front 104

auscultation

Back 104

physical examination method of listening to sounds within the body with a stethoscope

Front 105

gallop

Back 105

abnormal heart sounds that mimics the gait of a horse; related to abnormal ventricular contraction

Front 106

electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG)

Back 106

an electrical picture of the heart represented by positive and negative deflections on a graph labeled with the letters P,Q,R,S, and T, which correspond to events of the cardiac cycle

Front 107

stress elctrocardiogram (stress ECG/EKG)

Back 107

electrocardiogram of the heart recorded during the induction of controlled physical exercise using a treadmill or ergometer

Front 108

Holter ambulatory moniter

Back 108

portable electrocardiograph worn by the patient that monitors electrical activity of the heart over 24 hours; useful in detecting periodic abnormalities

Front 109

intracardiac electrophysiological study (EPS)

Back 109

invasive procedure involving placement of catheter-guided electrodes within the heart to evaluate and map the electrical conduction of cardiac arrhythmias; intracardiac catheter ablation may be performed at the same time to treat the arrhythmia

Front 110

intracardiac catheter ablation

Back 110

use of radiofrequency waves sent through a catheter within the heart to treat arrhythmias by selectively destroying myocardial tissue at sites that generate abnormal electrical pathways

Front 111

magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)

Back 111

magnetic resonance imaging of the heart and blood vessels for evaluation of pathology

Front 112

nuclear medicine imaging

Back 112

radionuclide organ imaging of the heart after administratio of radioactive isotopes to visualize structures and to analyze functions

Front 113

myocardial radionuclide perfusion scan

Back 113

scan of the heart after an intravenous (IV) injection of an isotope as it is absorbed by myocardial cells in proportion to blood flow throughout the heart; useful in evaluating coronary artery disease (CAD)

Front 114

multiple-gated acquisiton (MUGA) scan

Back 114

nuclear image of the beating heart in motion made as radioactives are injected in the bloodstream and traced through the heart's chambers; useful in evaluating the pumping function of the ventricles

Front 115

position-emission tomography (PET) scan of the heart

Back 115

use of specialized nuclear isotopes and computed tomographic techniques to produce perfusion (blood flow) images and to study the cellular metabolism of the heart; can be performed at rest or with stress

Front 116

radiology

Back 116

x-ray imaging

Front 117

angiography

Back 117

process of x-ray imaging a blood vessel after injection of contrast medium, most commonly after catheter placement

Front 118

angiogram

Back 118

record obtained by angiography

Front 119

coronary angiogram

Back 119

x-ray image of the blood vessels of the heart using a catheter to inject contrast

Front 120

arteriogram

Back 120

x-ray image of a particular artery

Front 121

aortogram

Back 121

x-ray image of the aorta

Front 122

venogram

Back 122

x-ray image of a vein

Front 123

cardiac catheterization

Back 123

introduction of a flexible, narrow tube (or catheter) through a vein or artery into the heart to withdraw samples of blood, to measure pressures within the heart chambers or vessels, and to inject contrast media for fluoroscopic radiography and cine film (motion picture) imaging of the chambers of the heart and coronary arteries; often includes interventional procedures, such as angioplasty and artherectomy

Front 124

left heart catheterization

Back 124

x-ray imaging of the left ventricular cavity and coronary arteries

Front 125

right heart catheterization

Back 125

measurement of oxygen saturatioin and pressure readings of hte right side of the heart

Front 126

ventriculogram

Back 126

x-ray image of the ventricles

Front 127

stroke volume (SV)

Back 127

measurement of the amount of blood ejected from a ventricle in one contraction

Front 128

cardiac output (CO)

Back 128

measurement of the amount of blood ejected per minute from either ventricle of the heart

Front 129

ejection fraction

Back 129

measurement of the volume percentage of left ventricular contents ejected with each contraction

Front 130

computed tomographic angiography (CTA)

Back 130

specialized, noninvasive, three-dimensional (E-D) computed tomographic scan of the heart and circulation of the "greater" blood vessels, such as the coronary arteries, aorta, and pulmonary veins; performed with or without contrast

Front 131

sonography

Back 131

sonographic imaging

Front 132

echocardiography (echo)

Back 132

recording of sound waves through the heart to evaluate structure and motion

Front 133

stress echocardiogram (stress echo)

Back 133

echocardiogram of the heart recorded during the induction of controlled physical exercise or a pharmaceutical agent that produces the effect of exercise stress in patients who are unable to ambulate; useful in detecting conditions such as ischemia or infarction

Front 134

transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)

Back 134

echocardiogram of the heart after placement of an ultrasonic transducer at the end of an endoscope inside the esophagus

Front 135

Doppler sonography

Back 135

ultrasound technique used to evaluate blood flow to determine the presence of a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or carotid insufficiency, or to determine flow through the heart, chambers, valves, and so on

Front 136

coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)

Back 136

grafting a portion of a blood vessel retrieved from another party of the body (e.g., a length of saphenous vein from the leg or mammary artery from the chest wall) to bypass an occluded coronary artery, restoring circulation to myocardial tissue; the traditional method includes temporary arrest of the heart with circulation (bypass) of the patients' blood through a heart-lung machine during the procedure; an alternative, off-pump approach uses a stabilizer to perform the procedure on the beating heart; the abbreviation CABG is pronounced 'cabbage"

Front 137

endarterectomy

Back 137

surgical removal of the lining of an artery to clear a blockage caused by a clot or artheroscloeritc plaque buildup

Front 138

anastomosis

Back 138

opening; the joining of two blood vessels to allow flow from one to the other

Front 139

valvuloplasty

Back 139

surgical repair of a defective heart valve

Front 140

percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)

Back 140

interventional procedures used to treat coronary artery disease (CAD) performed at the time of cardiac catheterization in a specialized laboratory setting (or "cath lab" instead of the traditional operating room

Front 141

angioscopy
vascular endoscopy

Back 141

use of a flexible fiberoptic angioscope (accompanied by an irrigation system, camera, video recorder, and monitor) that is guided through a specific blood vessel to visually assess a lesion and to select the mode of therapy

Front 142

artherectomy

Back 142

excision of artheromatous plaque from within an artery utilizing a device housed in a flexible catheter that selectively cuts away or pulverizes tissue buildup

Front 143

percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)

Back 143

a method for treating the narrowing of a coronary artery by inserting a specialized catheter with a balloon attachment, then inflating the balloon to dilate and open the narrowed portion of the vessel and restore blood flow to the myocardium; most often includes the placement of a stent

Front 144

intravascular stent placement

Back 144

implantation of a device used to reinforce the wall of a vessel and assure its patency (openness); most often used to treat a stenosis or a dissection (a split or tear in the wall of a vessel) or to reinforce patency of a vessel after angioplasty

Front 145

defibrillation

Back 145

termination of ventricular fibrillation by delivering an electrical stimulus to the heart; most commonly, this is done by applying the electrodes of the defibrillator externally to the chest wall, but it can also be performed internally, such as during open heart surgery or via an implanted device

Front 146

defibrillator

Back 146

device that delivers the electrical stimulus in defibrillation

Front 147

cardioversion

Back 147

restoration of a fast or irregular heart rate to a normal rhythm, either by pharmaceutical means or by delivery of electrical energy

Front 148

implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)

Back 148

an implanted, battery-operated device with rate-sensing leads; the device monitors cardiac impulses an initiates an electrical stimulus as needed to stop ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia

Front 149

pacemaker

Back 149

a device used to treat slow heart rates (bradycardia) by electrically stimulating the hart to contract; most often, it is implanted with lead wires and battery circuitry under the skin, but it can be placed on a temporary basis externally with lead wires inserted into the heart via a vein

Front 150

angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor

Back 150

drug that suppresses the conversion of angiotensin in the blood by the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE); used int he treatment of hypertension

Front 151

antianginal

Back 151

drug that dilates coronary arteries, restoring oxygen to the tissues to relieve the pain of angina pectoris

Front 152

antiarrhythmic

Back 152

drug that counteracts cardiac arrhythmia

Front 153

anticoagulant

Back 153

drug that prevents clotting of the blood; commonly used in the treatment of thrombophlebitis and myocardial infaction

Front 154

antihypertensive

Back 154

drug that lowers blood pressure

Front 155

beta-adrenergic blocking agents
beta blockers

Back 155

agents that inhibit responses to sympathetic adrenergic nerve activity, causing a slowing of electrical conduction and heart rate and a lowering of the pressure within the walls of the vessels; used to treat angina pectoris and hypertension; the Greek letter beta is commonly used in the names of these agents (i.e., beta-blockers)

Front 156

calcium-channel blockers

Back 156

agents that inhibit the entry of calcium ions into heart muscle cells, causing a slowing of the heart rate, a lessening of the demand for oxygen and nutrients, and relaxing of the smooth muscle cells of the blood vessels to cause dilation; used to prevent or treat angina pectoris, some arrhythmias, and hypertension

Front 157

cardiotonic

Back 157

drug that increase the force of myocardial contractions in the heart; commonly used to treat congestive heart failure (CHF)

Front 158

diuretic

Back 158

drug that increases the secretion of urine; commonly prescribed in treating hypertension

Front 159

hypolipidermic

Back 159

drug that reduces serum fat and cholesterol

Front 160

thrombolytic agents

Back 160

drugs used to dissolve thombi (blood clots) (e.g., streptokinase or tissue plasminogen activator used in acute management or myocardial infarction (MI) and ischemic stroke; commonly called "clot busters"

Front 161

vasoconstrictor

Back 161

drug that causes a narrowing of the blood vessels, thereby decreasing blood flow

Front 162

vasodilator

Back 162

drug that causes dilation of the blood vessels, thereby increasing blood flow