MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY: Chapter 5

Cardiovascular system

cardivasclar system

a continuous, circular pathway that includes the heart and the blood vessels. such as arteries, capillaries, and veins

thoracic cavity

where heart is located

atrium

each small upper chamber

ventricle

each large lower chamber

endocardium

innermost layer that lines all four chambers

myocardium

lies beneath the epicardium and surrounds all four chambers

pulmonary circulation

where the blood pumps blood through the right ventricle to the lungs

systemic circulation

where blood pumps through the left ventricle to the body

acute coronary syndrome

a condition that occurs if the flow of oxygenated blood through a coronary artery is limited by a clot or atherosclerosis

angina pectoris

chest causes by ischemia; involves crushing, squeezing or pressure like pain in the chest that might extend to the jaw, teeth, neck, nack or left arm

cardiomegaly

enlargement of the heart, usually due to congestive heart failure (CHF)

\-megaly

enlargement

cardiomyopathy

condition of the heart muscle that includes cardiomegaly and heart failure

congestive heart failure (CHF)

inability of the heart to pump sufficient amounts of blood

CHF

congestive heart failure

endocarditis

infection and inflammation of the endocardium that lines a heart valve; occurs in patients who have a structural defect of the valve

end/o

innermost, within

\-itis

infection; inflammation

mitral valve prolapse (MVP)

structural abnormality in which the leaflets of the mitral valve do not close tightly; may be congenital or the result of infection

murmur

an abnormal heart sound that is heard as blood leaks through a defective valve; described by volume, when it occurs, and its sound

pericarditis

infection or inflammation of the pericardial sac; increase in pericardial fluid

myocardial infraction (MI)

death of tissue in the myocardium due to severe lack of oxygen; also known as heart attack and occurs when blood flow in coronary artery is blocked by a clot

angin/o

strangling

pector/o

chest

artery

carry blood away from heart

capillary

connect arteries and veins

vein

carry blood towards heart

aneurysm

an area of filiation and weakness in the wall of an artery; weakened areas balloon with each heartbeat and can rupture without warning

hypotension

decreased blood pressure (BP) of

orthostatic hypotension

a sudden, temporary decrease in systolic BP upon standing (often feeling dizzy)

arteriosclerosis

a progressive degenerative disease that produces narrowed, hardened artery walls

coronary artery disease (CAD)

arteriosclerosis tha occurs in coronary arteries

scler/o

hardening

peripheral artery disease

arteriosclerosis in the legs; may cause claudication and cyanosis in the toes and feet

claudication

intermittent calf pain

atherosclerosis

fatty deposits in the walls of arteries that can restrict blood flow; specific type of artieriosclerosis where cholesterol builds up in the tear

hyperlipidemia

presence of elevated fat levels in the blood

hypochlestrolemia

high cholesterol levels

hypertiglyceridemia

high triglyceride levels

hypertension (HTN)

elevated BP of >120/80 mm Hg

tens/o

pressure

phlebitis

inflection or inflammation of a vein; causes pain and possible red streak on skin over vein

raynaud disease

sudden, severe vasoconstriction of arterioles on the fingers and toes, causing them to turn white or cyanotic

varicose veins

condition in which damaged valves in a vein allow the backflow of blood, causing the vein to become distended and twisted

varic/o

enlarged, torturous vein

systole

the period where the heart contracts

diastole

the resting period between contractions

normal sinus rhythm (NSR)

when the SA node controls heart rate

tricuspid valve

has three cusps and lies between the right atrium and right ventricle

pulmonary valve

three cusps and lies between the right ventricle and the pulmonary arteries

mitral/bicuspid valve

has two cusps and is located between the left atrium and left ventricle

aortic valve/semilunar valve

has three cusps and located between the left ventricle and aorta

conduction system

controls a person’s heartbeat by initiating and transmitting electrical impulses throughout the heart

SA node

pacemaker

electrocardiogram

reflects the electrical activity of the heart

depoloraziation

excitation of heart muscle

repolarization

resting of heart muscle

P wave

atrial depolarization

QRS complex

ventricular depolarization

T wave

ventricular repolarization

arrhythmia

any type of irregular rate of rhythm of the heart

a-

without

\-ia

condition

my/o

muscle

\-pathy

disease

\-osis

abnormal condition

arther/o

soft fatty substance

bradycardia

an arrhythmia in which the heart beats too slowly

brady-

slow

fibrillation

an arrhythmia in which there is very fast, uncoordinated quivering of the myocardium

fibrill/o

muscle or nerve fiber

\-ation

process

flutter

arrhythmia that involves a very fast but regular rhythm of the atria or ventricles (up to 250 beats/min)

tachycardia

arrhythmia in which there is a fast but regular rhythm (up to 200 beats/min)

asystole

complete absence of a heartbeat; also known as cardiac arrest

\-systole

process of contraction

cardiac enzymes

blood test that measures levels of two enzymes released when myocardial cells die

c-reative protein

blood test that measures in the level of inflammation in the body; presence of inflammation increases the risk of clots and myocardial infarction

homocysteine

blood test that measures levels of the amino acid homocysteine; elevated levels increase the risk of arteriosclerosis, clots, heart attack, and stroke

lipid profile

blood test that measures levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and lipoproteins (HDL, LDL, and VLDL)

normal blood cholesterol

< 200 mg/dL

normal blood triglycerides

< 150 mg/dL

troponin

blood test that measures levels of two proteins released when myocardial cells die

cardiac catherization

procedure to study anatomy and pressures in the heart

catheter

inserted into the femoral or brachial vein and threaded to either side of the heart

catheter/o

catheter

\-ization

process of inserting, or creating

cardiac exercise stress test

procedure to evaluate the heart’s response to exercise in patients with chest pain, palpitations, or arrhythmias

\-graphy

process of recording

holter monitor

procedure to document infrequent arrhythmias involves use of a portable ECG monitor to continuously track a patient’s heart rate and rhythm for 24 hours

telemetry

procedure to monitor a patient’s heart rate and rhythm in the hospital

tele-/o

distance

\-metry

measuring

angiography

procedure in which contrast dye is injected into a blood vessel to outline it on an x-ray

arteriography

procedure in which contrast dye is injected into a artery to outline it on an x-ray

venography

procedure in which contrast dye is injected into a vein to outline it on an x-ray

echocardiography

procedure in which ultra high-frequency sound waves are bounces off the heart to create an image

auscultation

use of a stethoscope to listen to the heart sounds

auscult/o

listening

blood pressure reading

one of the four vital sings measured with a sphygmomanometer