Chapter 12: The Cardiovascular System Vocabulary

A comprehensive vocabulary review of cardiovascular terms, word parts, conditions, and procedures from Chapter 12.

constrict/o

To draw together

dilat/o

To expand

angiography

Process of recording a blood vessel using x-rays following injection of a contrast medium

contrast medium

Substance that highlights internal structures, which are otherwise difficult to observe on an X-ray film

angioplasty

Surgical repair of stenosed (narrowed) blood vessels

stenosis

Narrowing caused by the accumulation of fatty debris on the artery wall

stent

A tiny support structure placed inside an artery to keep the artery open

angiospasm

Sudden, involuntary contraction of a blood vessel; vasospasm

aortostenosis

Narrowing of the aorta

aortotomy

Incision into the aorta

transaortic

Pertaining to across the aorta

arteriography

Process of recording the arteries using x-rays and following injection of a contrast medium

arteriole

Small arteries

arteriosclerosis

Hardening of the arteries (due to the loss of elasticity of the arterial walls)

arteriostenosis

Narrowing of an artery

endarterectomy

Removal of the inner lining of the arterial wall

atheroma

Fatty mass or debris

atherosclerosis

Accumulation of fatty debris on the inner arterial wall; a type of arteriosclerosis

atherectomy

Excision or removal of fatty debris (from an arterial wall)

interatrial septum

Wall between the atria

cardiologist

Specialist in the study of the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease and disorders

cardiology

The study of the heart, including the diagnosis and treatment of heart disorders

cardiomegaly

Enlarged heart

electrocardiogram

Record of the electrical activity of the heart

myocardial

Pertaining to the heart muscle

cardiomyopathy

Disease of the heart muscle

pancarditis

Inflammation of all the walls of the heart

pericarditis

Inflammation of the pericardium

pericardium

Structure surrounding the heart

coronary arteries

The arteries that supply the heart with blood

echocardiogram

Record of the heart produced by high-frequency sound waves

embolus

A plug of clotted blood that is transported through the bloodstream by the blood current

myocardial ischemia

A hold back of blood to the heart muscle

angina pectoris

Severe chest pain, defined as a common symptom of myocardial ischemia

phlebothrombosis

Abnormal condition of clots in a vein

thrombophlebitis

Inflammation of a vein with clot formation

arrhythmia

Deviation from the normal heart rhythm

sclerotherapy

Injection of a solution into a vein for the purpose of destroying the vein's inner lining by hardening

thrombus

A blood clot that obstructs a blood vessel

valvuloplasty

Surgical repair of a valve

varicose veins

Twisted, swollen superficial veins, typically of the saphenous vein of the lower leg

avascular

Pertaining to no blood vessels

cerebrovascular accident (CVA)

Disturbance in the flow of blood to one or more parts of the brain; commonly known as a stroke

extravasation

Escape of fluid into the surrounding tissue

vasoconstriction

Narrowing of a vessel; vasospasm

vasodilation

Widening of the vessel; angiectasis

venous

Pertaining to a vein

venule

Small vein

interventricular septum

Pertaining to the wall between the ventricles

angiectasis

Dilation of a blood vessel; vasodilation

bradycardia

Slow heartbeat

tachycardia

Fast heartbeat

aneurysm

An abnormal bulge in the wall of an artery

cardiac arrest

When the heart suddenly stops pumping blood, primarily caused by dysfunction of electrical activity through the heart

myocardial infarction (MI)

Death of the heart muscle, also called a heart attack

coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)

Procedure performed to re-establish adequate circulation to one or more segments of the heart by using a grafted vein segment to reroute blood around a blockage

ASHD

Arteriosclerotic heart disease (damage to the heart due to the obstruction of a coronary artery)

CHF

Congestive heart failure (failure of the heart to pump blood effectively, resulting in pooling of blood in the veins)

HHD

Hypertensive heart disease (heart damage caused over time by working harder to pump blood due to high blood pressure)

MVP

Mitral valve prolapse (incomplete closure of the mitral valve resulting in backflow of blood into the left atrium)