Medical Terminology - Chapter 6 - The Cardiovascular and Circulatory Systems

cardiac

pertaining to the heart

cardiologist

a medical specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of the heart (cardiology)

cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

the attempt to restore cardiac and pulmonary function

cardiovascular

pertaining to the heart and blood vessels

diaphoresis (noun)

sweat, perspiration, or sweaty

diaphoretic (adj)

pertaining to sweat or perspiration

electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)

record of the electrical signals of the heart

electrocardiograph

machine that produces the electrocardiogram

electrocardiography

the method of recording and the interpretation of electrocardiograms

electrode

a device for conducting electricity

mediastinum

area between the lungs containing the heart, aorta, venae cavae, esophagus, and trachea

perfusion

the act of forcing blood to flow through a lumen or a vascular bed

phlebotomist

person skilled in taking blood from veins

phlebotomy

withdrawing blood from a vein through a needle or catheter

sternum

long, flat bone forming the center of anterior wall of the chest

thoracic cavity

space within the chest containing the lungs, heart, esophagus, trachea, aorta, venae cavae, and pulmonary vessels

aorta

main trunk of the systemic arterial system

aortic (adj)

pertaining the aorta

coronary circulation

blood vessels supplying the heart muscle

endocardium

the inside lining of the heart

endocardial (adj)

pertaining to the endocardium

infarct

area of cell death resulting from an infarction

infarction

sudden blockage of an artery

ischemia

lack of blood supply to a tissue

ischemic (adj)

pertaining to or affected by the lack of blood supply to a tissue

myocardium

muscular layer of the heart

myocardial (adj)

pertaining to the heart muscle

necrosis

pathologic death of cells or tissue

necrotic (adj)

pertaining to or affected by necrosis (death)

pericardium (noun)

a double layer of membranes surrounding the heart

pericardial (adj)

pertaining to the pericardium

pulmonary

pertaining to the lungs and their blood supply

atrium

atria (pl)

atrial (adj)

pertaining to the atrium

bicuspid

having two points; a bicuspid heart valve has two flaps

interatrial

between the atria of the heart

interventricular (IV)

between the ventricles of the heart

mitral

shaped like the headdress of a Catholic bishop

septum

a thin wall dividing two cavities

septa (pl)

(pl) a thin wall dividing two cavities

tricuspid

having three points; a tricuspid heart valve has three flaps

ventricle

chamber of the heart (pumps blood) or a cavity in the brain (produces cerebrospinal fluid)

arrhythmia

condition when the heart rhythm is abnormal

atrioventricular (AV)

pertaining to both the atrium and the ventricle

bradycardia

condition of slow heart beat

diastole (noun)

dilation of heart cavities, during which they fill with blood

diastolic

pertaining to diastole

dysrhythmia

an abnormal heart rhythm

murmur

abnormal heart sound heard with a stethoscope when a valve closes or opens abnormally

sinoatrial (SA) node

the center of modified cardiac muscle fibers in the wall of the right atrium that acts as the pace-maker for the heart rhythm

sinus rhythm

the normal (optimal) heart rhythm arising from the sinoatrial node

systole (noun)

contraction of the heart muscle

systolic (adj)

pertaining to systole

tachycardia

condition of rapid heart beat

vital sounds (VS)

a procedure during a physical examination in which temperature (T), pulse (P), respirations (R), and blood pressure (BP) are measured to assess general health and cardiorespiratory function

cardioversion

restoration of a normal heart rhythm by electric shock or medications

defibrillation

restoration of normal cardiac activity in life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias

difibrillator

instrument for defibrillation

fibrillation

uncontrolled quivering or twitching of the heart muscle

implantable

a device that can be inserted into tissues

pacemaker

device that regulates cardiac electrical activity

palpitation

forcible, rapid beat of the heart felt by the patient

cardiomegaly

enlargement of the heart

cardiomyopathy

diseases of the heart muscle, the myocardium

cor pulmonale

right-sided heart failure arising from chronic lung disease

endocaritis

inflammation of the lining of the heart

exudate

fluid that has passed out of a tissue or capillaries as a result of inflammation or injury

hypertrophy (can be a noun or a verb)

increase in size, but not in number, of an individual tissue element

incompetence

failure of a valve to close completely

insufficiency

lack of completeness of function

myocarditis

inflammation of the heart muscle

pericarditis

inflammation of the pericardium, the covering of the heart

prolapse

an organ slips out of its normal position

prosthesis (noun)

a manufactured substitute for a missing or diseased part of the body

prosthetic (adj)

pertaining to a prothesis

regurgitate

to flow backward

stenosis

narrowing of a canal or passage

tamponade

pathologic compression of an organ, such as the heart

anoxia

without oxygen

anoxic (adj)

pertaining to or suffering from lack of oxygen

arteriosclerosis

hardening of the arteries

arteriosclerotic (adj)

pertaining to or affected by arteriosclerosis

asystole

absence of contractions of the heart

atheroma (plaque)

fatty deposit in the lining of an artery

atherectomy

surgical removal of the atheroma

atherosclerosis

hardening of the arteries due to atheroma (plaque)

cardiogenic

of cardiac origin

hypovolemia

decreased blood volume in the body

hypovolemic

pertaining to a decreased blood volume in the body

occlude

to close, plug, or completely obstruct

occlusion (noun)

a complete obstruction

substernal

under (behind) the sternum or breastbone

coarctation

constriction, stenosis, particularly of the aorta

congenital

present at birth, either inherited or due to an event during gestation up to the moment of birth

cyanosis

blue discoloration of the skin, lips, and nail beds due to low blood oxygen

hypertension

persistent high arterial blood pressure

hypotension

persistent low arterial blood pressure

idiopathic

pertaining to a disease of unknown etiology

patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)

an open, direct channel between the aorta and the pulmonary artery in the newborn

syndrome

combination of signs and symptoms associated with a particular disease process