Medical Terminology for Health Professions: Chapter 5

angi/o

blood or lymph vessel

aort/o

arota

arteri/o

artery

ather/o

plaque, fatty substance

brady-

slow

cardi/o

heart

-crasia

a mixture or blending

blood, blood condition

erthr/o

red

hem/o, hemat/o

blood, relating to the blood

leuk/o

white

phleb/o

vein

tachy-

fast, rapid

thromb/o

clot

ven/o

vein

ACE inhibitor

blocks the action of the enzyme that causes the blood vessels to contract, resulting in hypertensions

anemia

a lower-than-normal number of erythrocytes (red blood cells) in the blood causing fatigue and shortness of breath

aneurysm

a localized weak spot or baloon-like enlargement of the wall of an artery

angina

also known as angina pectoris, is a condition in which severe episodes of chest pain occur due to an inadequate blood flow to the myocardium

angioplasty

the technique of mechanically widening a narrowed or obstructed blood vessel

anticoagulant

slows coagulation and prevents new clots from forming

aplastic anemia

characterized by an absence of all formed blood elements caused by the failure of blood cell production in the blood marrow

arrhthmia

the loss of the normal rhythm of the heartbeat

atherectomy

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

atheroma

a characteristic of atherosclerosis, is a deposit of plaque on or within the arterial wall

atherosclerosis

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

atrial fibrillation

also known as A-fib, is the most common type of tachycardia; occurs when the normal rhythmic contractions of the atria are replaced by rapid, uncontrolled twitching of the muscular heart wall, which causes an irregular and quivering action of the atria

automated external defibrillator (AED)

designed for use by nonprofessionals in the emergency situations when defibrillation is required; automatically samples the electrical rhythms of the heart and, if necessary, externally shocks the heart to restore a normal cardiac rhythm

beta-blocker

reduces the workload of the heart by slowing the rate of the heartbeat

blood dyscrasia

any pathologic condition of the cellular elements of the blood

bradycardia

an abnormally slow resting heart rate

cardiac arrest

an event in which the heart abruptly stops beating or develops an arrhythmia that prevents it from pumping blood effectively

cardiac catheterization

a diagnostic and treatment procedure in which a catheter is passed into a vein or artery and then guided into the heart

cardiomyopathy

the term used to describe all diseases of the heart muscle

carotid endarterectomy

the surgical removal of the lining of a portion of a clogged carotid artery leading to the brain

cholesterol

a fatty substance that travels through the blood and is found in all parts of the body; aids in the production of cell membranes, some hormones, and vitamin D

chronic venous insufficiency

also known as venous insufficiency, is a condition in which venous circulation is inadequate due to partial vein blockage or to the leakage of venous valves

coronary artery disease (CAD)

also known as coronary heart disease (CHD) and ischemic heart disease, is atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries that reduces the bloody supply to the heart muscle

coronary thrombosis

damage to the heart muscle caused by a thrombus blocking a coronary artery

defibrillation

also known as cardioversion, is the use of electrical shock to restore the heart's normal rhythm

diuretic

administered to stimulate the kidneys to increase the secretion of urine to rid the body of excess odium and water

electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)

a record of the electrical activity of the myocardium

embolism

the sudden blockage of a blood vessel by an embolus

embolus

a foreign object, such as a blood clot, a quantity of air or gas, or a bit of tissue or tumor, that is circulating in the blood

endocarditis

an inflammation of the inner lining of the heart

erythrocytes

also known as blood cells (RBCs), are mature red blood cells produced by the red bone marrow

hemoglobin

the oxygen-carrying blood protein pigment of the erythrocytes

hemolytic anemia

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

hemostasis

to stop or control bleeding

leukemia

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

leukocytes

also known as white blood cells (WBCs), are the blood cells involved in defending the body against infective organisms and foreign substances

leukopenia

a decrease in the number of disease-fighting white blood cells circulating in the blood

megaloblastic anemia

a blood disorder characterized by anemia in which the red blood cells are larger than normal

myelodystplastic syndrome

a type of cancer in which there is insufficient production of one or more types of blood cells due to the dysfunction of the bone marrow

myocardial infarction

commonly known as a heart attack, is the occlusion (blockage) of one or more coronary arteries caused by plaque buildup

orthostaitc hyptension

also known as postural hypotension, is low blood pressure that occurs upon standing up

pericardium

also known as the pericardial sac, is the double-walled membranous sac that encloses the heart

pernicious anemia

caused by a lack of the protein intrinsic factor (IF) that helps the body absorb vitamin B12 (necessary for the formation of red blood cells) from the gastrointestinal tract

phlebititis

the inflammation of a vein

Raynaud's disease

a peripheral arterial occlusive disease in which intermittent attacks are triggered by cold or stress

sepsis

also known as septicemia, is a potentially life-threatening infection that results from bacteria or other infectious organisms entering the bloodstream

sickle cell anemia

a serious genetic disorder that causes abnormal hemoglobin, resulting in some red blood cells assuming an abnormal sickle shape

tachycardia

an abnormally rapid resting heart rate

temporal arteritis

also known as giant cell arteritis, is a form of vasculitis can cause headaches, visual impairment, jaw pain, and other symptoms

thallium stress test

performed to evaluate how well blood flows through the coronary arteries of the heart muscle during exercise by injecting a small amount of thallium into the bloodstream

thromboicytopenia

a condition in which there is an abnormally small number of platelets circulating in the bloodF

thrombolytic

also known as a clot-busting drug, dissolves or causes a thrombus to break up

thrombosis

the abnormal condition of having a thrombus

thrombotic occlusion

the blocking of an artery by a thrombus

thrombus

a blood closet attached to the interior wall of an artery or vein

transfusion reaction

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

valvulitis

an inflammation of a heart valve

varicose veins

abnormally swollen veins that usually occur in the superficial veins of the legs

ventricular fibrillation

also known as V-fib, consists of rapid, irregular, and useless contractions of the ventricles

ventricular tachycardia

also known as V-tach, is a very rapid heartbeat that begins within the ventricles

parietal pericardium

fibrous sac that surrounds and protects the heart

pericardial fluid

serous fluid between parietal & visceral pericardium; reduces friction when heart beats

viceral pericardium

inner layer of pericardium and touches the heart

heart

A hollow, muscular organ that pumps blood throughout the body.

epicardium

the external layer of the heart and the inner layer of the pericardium

Myocardium

Thick middle muscle layer of the heart

endocardium

consists of epithelial tissue, is the inner lining of the heart

myocardial muscle

Specialized cardiac muscle tissue that is capable of constant contraction and relaxation that creates the pumping movement necessary to maintain proper blood flow

coronary arteries

blood vessels that branch from the aorta and carry oxygen-rich blood to the myocardium

atria

the two upper chambers of the heart and is divided by the interatrial septum.

septum

wall that sepsrates two chambers

interatrial septum

partition between the right and left atria

Ventricles

the two lower chambers of the heart, and they pump blood out to the lungs and body. Divided by the interventricular septum

interventricular septum

partition between the right and left ventricles

ventricle

normal hollow chamber of the brain

tricuspid valve

controls the opening between the right atrium and the right ventricle

tricuspid

having 3 cups

Pumonary semilunar valve

located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery.

Pulmonary

pertaining to the lungs

semilunar

half moon

mitral valve

between left atrium and left ventricle. Also known as the bicuspid valve

Mitral

shaped like a bishop's mitre (hat)

cuspid

point

bicuspid

2 points

aortic semilunar valve

located between the left ventricle and the aorta