The Cardiovascular System. Chapter 5. Medical Terminology For Health Professions (6Th Edition)

Front 1

angi/o

Back 1

blood or lymph vessle

Front 2

aort/o

Back 2

aorta

Front 3

arteri/o

Back 3

artery

Front 4

ather/o

Back 4

plaque, fatty substance

Front 5

brady-

Back 5

slow

Front 6

cardi/o

Back 6

heart

Front 7

-crasia

Back 7

a mixture or blending

Front 8

-emia

Back 8

blood, blood condition

Front 9

erythr/o

Back 9

red

Front 10

hem/o, hemat/o

Back 10

blood, relating to the blood

Front 11

leuk/o

Back 11

white

Front 12

phleb/o

Back 12

vein

Front 13

tachy-

Back 13

fast, rapid

Front 14

thromb/o

Back 14

clot

Front 15

ven/o

Back 15

vein

Front 16

ACE inhibitor

Back 16

(Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme) blocks the action of the enzyme that causes the blood vessles to contract resulting in hypertension. When this enzyme is blocked, the blood vessles enlarge, and this reduces the blood pressure.

Front 17

anemia

Back 17

A lower than normal number of erythrocytes in the blood.

Front 18

aneurysm

Back 18

Localized weak spot or balloon-like enlargement, of the wall of an artery.

Front 19

angina

Back 19

(angina pectoris); condition of episodes of severe chest pain due to inadequate blood flow to the myocardium. Caused by ischemia of the heart muscle.

Front 20

anticoagulant

Back 20

slows coagulation and prevents new clots from forming

Front 21

aplastic anemia

Back 21

Characterized by an absence of all formed blood elements caused by the failure of blood cell production in the bone marrow.

Front 22

arrhythmia

Back 22

abnormality, or the loss of the normal rhythm, of the heartbeat.

Front 23

atherectomy

Back 23

surgical removal of plaque buildup from the interior of an artery.

Front 24

atheroma

Back 24

(a characteristic of atherosclerosis), the deposit of plaque on or within the arterial wall.

Front 25

atherosclerosis

Back 25

the hardening and narrowing of the arteries caused by a buildup of cholesterol plaque on the interior walls of the arteries.

Front 26

automated external defibrillator

Back 26

(AED); designed for non-professionals in emergency situations when defibrillation is required. It will sample the heart beat, and shock the heart to restore normal cardiac rhythm.

Front 27

atrial fibrillation

Back 27

(A fib); occurs when teh normal rhythmic contractinos of the atria are replaced by a rapid irregular twitching of the muscular heart wall, and causes an irregular and quivering action of the atria.

Front 28

beta-blocker

Back 28

reduces the workload of the heart by slowing the rate of the heatbeat. Prescribed to lower blood pressure, relieve angina, or to treat heart failure.

Front 29

blood dyscrasia

Back 29

any pathologic condition of the cellular elements of the blood.

Front 30

bradycardia

Back 30

abnormally slow resting heart rate (<60 bpm).

Front 31

cardiac arrest

Back 31

an event in which the heart abruptly stops or develops a very abnormal arrhythmia that prevents it from pumping blood.

Front 32

cardiac catheterization

Back 32

diagnostic procedure in which a catheter is passed into a vein or artery and then guided into the heart. When the catheter is in place, a contrast medium is introduced to produce an angiogram to determin how well the heart is working.

Front 33

cardiomyopathy

Back 33

term used to describe all diseases of the heart muscle.

Front 34

carotid endarterectomy

Back 34

the surgical removal of the lining of a portion of a clogged carotid artery leading to the brain. Preformd to reduce the risk of a stroke caused by disrupted blood flow to the brain.

Front 35

cholesterol

Back 35

a fatty substance that travels throught the blood and is found in all parts of the body. Aids in the production of cell membranes, some hormones, and vitamin D. Some cholesterol comes from dietary sources, some is created by liver.

Front 36

chronic venous insufficiency

Back 36

condition in which venous circulation is inadequate due to partial vein blockage or leakage of venous valves. Generally affects feet and ankles. Leakage can cause discoloration of the skin.

Front 37

coronary thrombosis

Back 37

is damage to the heart muscle causd by a thrombus blocking a coronary artery.

Front 38

defibrillation

Back 38

(cardioversion); the use of electricial shock to restore the heart's normal rhythm. Shock is provided by a device known as a defibrillator.

Front 39

diuretic

Back 39

administered to stimulate the kidneys to increase the secretion of urine to rid the body of excess sodium and water. These medications are administered to treat hypertension and heart failure by reducing the amount of fluid circulating in the bood.

Front 40

electrocardiogram

Back 40

a record of the electrical adtivity of the myocardium

Front 41

embolism

Back 41

sudden blockage of a blood vessle by an embolus. Often named for the causative factor (air embolism/fat embolism).

Front 42

embolus

Back 42

foreign object (quantity of air, gas, or a bit of tissue or tumor that is circulating in the blood).

Front 43

endocarditis

Back 43

inflammation of the inner lining of the heart.

Front 44

erythrocytes

Back 44

(red blood cells/RBC's); are mature red blood cells produced by the red bone marrow. Primary role is to transport oxygen to the tissues (oxy. transported by hemoglobin).

Front 45

hemoglobin

Back 45

The iron-containing pigment of the erythrocytes that transports oxygen.

Front 46

hemolytic anemia

Back 46

condition of an inadequate number of circulating red blood cells due to the premature destruction of red blood cells by the spleen.

Front 47

hemostasis

Back 47

means to stop or control bleeding. Can be accomblished by the formation of a blood clot by the body or through the external application of pressure to block the flow of blood.

Front 48

ischemic heart disease

Back 48

a group of cardiac disabilities reulting from an insufficient supply of oxygenated blood to the heart. These diseases are usually associated with coronary artery disease. Ischemic means pertaining to the disruption of the blood.

Front 49

leukemia

Back 49

a type of cancer characterized by a progressive increase in the number of abnormal leukocytes found in blood forming tissues, other organs, and in the circulating blood

Front 50

leukocytes

Back 50

(white blood cells/WBC); blood cells involved in defending the body against infective organisms and foreign substances.

Front 51

leukopenia

Back 51

any situation in which the total number of leukocytes in the circulating blood in less than normal. This condition places patients at an increased risk of infection.

Front 52

megaloblastic anemia

Back 52

blood disorder characterized by anemin in which the red blood cells are larger than norma. This condition usually results from a deficiency of folic acid, or vitamin B12.

Front 53

myelodysplastic syndrome

Back 53

previously known as Preleukemia; group of disorders characterized by insufficient production of one or more blood cells due to dysfunction of the bone marrow.

Front 54

myocardial infarction

Back 54

(heart attack); occlusion (total blockage) of one or more coronary arteries caused by a plaque buildup.

Front 55

orthostatic hypotension

Back 55

(postural hypotension); low blood pressure that occurs upon standing up.

Front 56

paryoxysmal atrial tachycardia

Back 56

(PAT); episode that begins and ends abruptly, during which there are very rapid and regular heartbeats that originate in the atrium. Caused by an abnormality in the body's electrical system.

Front 57

pericardium

Back 57

(Pericardial Sac); double-walled membranous sac that encloses the heart.

Front 58

pernicious anemia

Back 58

caused by lack of the protein intriscic factor (IF), that helps the body absorb B12 from the gastrointestinal tract.

Front 59

phlebitis

Back 59

inflammation of a vein

Front 60

Raynaud's Phenomenon

Back 60

peripheral arterial occlusive disease in which intermittent attacks are triggered by cold or stress. The symptoms (due to constricted circulation) include pallor, cyanosis, redness of fingers and toes.

Front 61

septicemia

Back 61

(formerly blood poisioning); systemic condition caused by the spread of microorganisms and their toxins via the circulating blood.

Front 62

sickle cell anemia

Back 62

genetic disorder that causes abnormal hemoglobin, resulting in some red blood cells assuming an abnormal sickle shape. This interferes with normal blood flow, and results in damage to most body systems.

Front 63

thallium stress test

Back 63

preformed to evaluate how well blood flows through the coronary arteries of the heart muscle during excercise.

Front 64

tachycardia

Back 64

abnormally rapid resting heart rate (>100 bpm).

Front 65

thrombocytopedia

Back 65

condition in which there is an abnormally small number of platelets circulating in the blood. This condition is somtimes associated with abnormal bleeding.

Front 66

thrombolytic

Back 66

(clot-busting drug); dissolves or causes a thrombus to break-up.

Front 67

thrombotic occlusion

Back 67

the blocking of an artery by a thrombus.

Front 68

thrombosis

Back 68

the abnormal condition of having a thrombus.

Front 69

transfusion reaction

Back 69

a serious and potentially fatal, complication of a bood transfusion in which a severe immune response occurrs because the patient's blood and the donated blood do not match.

Front 70

valvulitis

Back 70

inflammation of the heart valve.

Front 71

varicose veins

Back 71

abnormally swollen veins, usually occurring in the supericial veins of the legs. They occur when the valves in the veins malfunction and allow blood to pool & causes them to enlarge.

Front 72

ventricular fibrillation

Back 72

(v Fib); the rapid, irregular, and useless contractions of the ventricles. Instead of pumping strongly, the hear muscle quivers ineffectivel. This condition is the cause of many sudden cardiac deaths.

Front 73

ventricular tachycardia

Back 73

(V tach); a very rapid heart-beat that begins with the ventricles. This condition is potentially fatal becaue the heart is beading so rapidly that it is unable to adequately pump blood through the body. This can be controlled wtih an implantable cardoiverter defibrillator.