Cardiovascular System Medical Terminology

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary terms related to the cardiovascular system, useful for medical terminology studies.

Ablation

The removal or destruction of a body part or tissue or its function.

Aneurysm

Weakening of the wall of a blood vessel, causing it to thin and balloon out, and possibly burst.

Angina pectoris

Chest pain that may indicate coronary artery disease.

Angiogram

An x-ray or computer image of blood vessels and blood flow in the body.

Antihypertensives

A class of medications used to treat high blood pressure.

Arrhythmia

A deviation from the normal pattern of impulse conduction and contraction of the heart.

Asymptomatic

Having no signs or symptoms of disease.

Atherosclerosis

A hardening of the arteries involving plaque accumulation.

Auscultation

Listening to the heart using a stethoscope.

Atrioventricular (AV)

The area of the heart where the atria and ventricles meet.

Bradycardia

A condition in which the heart beats slower than 50 beats per minute.

Cardiac

Pertaining to the heart.

Cardiac troponin

A regulatory protein for muscle contraction.

Cardiogenic

Originating from the heart.

Cardiologist

A physician who studies and treats heart diseases.

Cardiology

The study of the heart.

Cardiomegaly

Enlarged heart.

Cardiomyopathy

Disease of the heart muscle.

Compliance

The ability of blood vessels to dilate and constrict.

Congenital

Present at birth.

Diabetes mellitus

A disease involving uncontrolled blood glucose levels.

Dyspnea

Difficulty breathing.

Echocardiogram

A computer picture of the heart using ultrasound.

Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG)

The record of the heart's electrical activity.

Endocarditis

Inflammation of the tissues lining the heart and valves.

Foramen ovale

An opening between right and left atria, normal in fetal heart.

Heart murmur

An abnormal heart sound.

Ischemia

Lack of blood flow to body tissues.

Myocardial infarction (MI)

Medical term for a heart attack.

Pacemaker

An electronic device that monitors and regulates heart rate.

Pericarditis

Inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart.

Systole

The period when the heart muscle contracts.

Tachycardia

Condition where resting heart rate is above 100 bpm.

Valvuloplasty

The widening of a stenosed heart valve using a balloon catheter.