Medical Terminology for Health Professions: Chapter 5 (The Cardiovascular System)

card/o, cardi/o

Heart

angi/o, vas/o

Blood vessels

Purpose of the heart

Receives blood from the veins and pumps blood to the arteries.

Purpose of blood vessels

Transport blood to and from all areas of the body.

arteri/o

Arteries

Purpose of arteries

To carry blood AWAY from the heart.

capill/o

Capillaries

Purpose of capillaries

Permit the exchange of nutrients and waste products between the blood and the cells.

phleb/o, ven/o

Vein

Purpose of veins

Return blood from all body parts to the heart.

hem/o, hemat/o

Blood

Purpose of blood

Bring oxygen and nutrients to cells and carries away waste.

aort/o

Aorta (largest artery in the body)

arther/o

Plaque, Fatty substance

brady-

Slow

-crasia

A mixture or blending

-emia

Blood, Blood condition

erythr/o

Red

hem/o, hemat/o

Blood, relating to the blood

leuk/o

White

tachy-

Fast, rapid

thromb/o

Clot

ACE inhibitor

anemia

A deficiency of red blood cells

aneurysm

Ballooning of a weakened portion of an arterial wall

angina

Severe chest pain

angioplasty

Surgical repair of a blood vessel

anticoagulant

Prevents blood clotting

aplastic anemia

Failure of blood cell production in the bone marrow

arrythmia

Abnormal heart rhythm

atherectomy

Surgical removal of plaque buildup from the interior of an artery

atheroma

Fatty deposit within the wall of an artery

atherosclerosis

Hardening of the arteries

atrial fibrillation

Rapid, random, ineffective contractions of the atrium

automated external defibrillator (AED)

Electronic equipment that externally shocks the heart to restore a normal cardiac rhythm

beta-blocker

Reduces the workload of the heart by slowing the rate of the heart beat

blood dyscrasia

Abnormal or pathologic condition of the blood

bradycardia

Abnormally slow heartbeat

cardiac arrest

Sudden, unexpected stoppage of heart action

cardiomyopathy

Disease 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 type of fat made by the body from saturated fat; a minor part of fat in foods.

chronic venous insufficiency

A condition in which venous circulation is inadequate due to partial vein blockage or leakage of venous valves

coronary heart disease

The clogging of the vessels that nourish the heart muscle.

defibrillation

The use of electrical shock to restore the heart's normal rhythm

diuretic

An agent that increases urine output

electrocardiogram

Record of the electrical activity of the heart

embolism

The sudden blockage of a blood vessel by an embolus

embolus

A moving clot

endocarditis

Inflammation of the inner lining of the heart

erythrocytes

Red blood cells

hemoglobin

An iron-containing protein in red blood cells that reversibly binds oxygen.

hemolytic anemia

Reduction in red cells due to excessive destruction

hemostasis

To stop or control bleeding

leukemia

Cancer of white blood cells

leukocytes

White blood cells

leukopenia

Abnormally low white blood cell count

megaloblastic anemia

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

myelodysplastic syndrome

A group of bone marrow disorders that are characterized by the insufficient production of one or more types of blood cells.

myocardial infarction

Heart attack

orthostatic hypotension

Low blood pressure that occurs upon standing up

pericardium

Membrane surrounding the heart

pernicious anemia

Lack of mature red blood cells caused by inability to absorb vitamin B12 into the bloodstream

phlebitis

Inflammation of a vein

Raynauds disease

Characterized by exaggerated vasoconstriction in the extremities

sepsis

Dangerous infection of the blood

sickle cell anemia

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

tachycardia

Fast heart rate

temporal arteritis

thallium stress test

Evaluates how well blood flows through the coronary arteries of the heart muscle during exercise

thrombocytopenia