Cardiovascular System Terminology & Conditions

angi/o

vessel

aort/o

aorta

arter/o, arterio

artery

ather/o

yellowish plaque

atri/o

atrium, upper heart chamber

brachi/o

arm

cardi/o

heart

cholesterol/o

cholesterol, a lipid substance

coron/o

heart, coronary arteries

cyan/o

blue

myx/o

mucus

ox/o, O

oxygen

pericardi/o

pericardium

phleb/o

vein

rrhythm/o

rhythm

sphygm/o

pulse

steth/o

chest

thromb/o

clot

valvul/o, valv/o

valve

vas/o

vessel

vascul/o

vessel

ven/o, ven/i

vein

ventricul/o

ventricle, lower heart chamber

angiogram

X-ray image of blood vessels

angioplasty

Procedure to widen a blocked blood vessel

aortic stenosis

Narrowing of the aorta

arteriosclerosis

Hardening of the arteries

arterial anastomosis

Connecting two arteries

arteriography

X-ray imaging of arteries

endarterectomy

Surgical removal of plaque from an artery

atherectomy

Surgical removal of plaque from an artery

cardiomegaly

Enlarged heart

cardiomyopathy

Disease of heart muscle

bradycardia

Slower than 60 beats per minute

tachycardia

Faster than 100 beats per minute

cardiogenic shock

Shock caused by heart failure

hypercholesterolemia

High cholesterol in the blood

cyanosis

Bluish skin from low oxygen

hypoxia

Inadequate oxygen in tissues

anoxia

Complete lack of oxygen

pericardiocentesis

Removal of fluid from pericardial space

phlebotomy

Opening a vein to withdraw blood

thrombophlebitis

Inflammation of a vein with a clot

arrhythmia

Abnormal heart rhythm

thrombolysis

Breakdown of blood clots

valvuloplasty

Procedure to repair a valve

mitral valvulitis

Inflammation of the mitral valve

valvotomy

Surgical incision into a valve

vasoconstriction

Narrowing of a blood vessel

vasodilation

Widening of a blood vessel

venous

Relating to veins

venipuncture

Puncture of a vein for drawing blood

interventricular septum

Wall between the ventricles