Chapter 10: Terms Not Built from Word Parts (Cardiovascular, Blood, Lymphatic, and Immune Systems)

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering medical terminology not built from word parts across the cardiovascular, blood, lymphatic, and immune systems.

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS)

Sudden symptoms of insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle.

Aneurysm

Ballooning of a weakened portion of an artery wall.

Angina pectoris

Chest pain that can radiate to the left arm and jaw, occurring when there is an insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle.

Arrhythmia

Any disturbance or abnormality in the heart's normal rhythm.

Cardiac arrest

Sudden cessation of cardiac output and circulation, requiring CPR.

Cardiac tamponade

Acute compression of the heart caused by fluid accumulation in the pericardial cavity.

Coronary artery disease (CAD)

Condition that reduces blood flow through the coronary arteries to the myocardium, often caused by atherosclerosis.

Cor pulmonale

Enlargement of the heart's right ventricle due to pulmonary disease.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

Condition of a thrombus in a deep vein, often in the lower extremities; the clot can break off and travel to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism.

Heart failure (HF)

Inability of the heart to pump enough blood through the body to supply organs and tissues with nutrients and oxygen (also called congestive heart failure [CHF]).

Fibrillation

Rapid, quivering, uncoordinated contractions of the atria or ventricles causing cardiac arrhythmia.

Hypertensive heart disease (HHD)

Disorder of the heart brought about by persistent high blood pressure.

Intermittent claudication

Pain and discomfort in calf muscles while walking, seen in occlusive artery disease.

Mitral valve stenosis

Narrowing of the mitral valve from scarring.

Myocardial infarction (MI)

Death (necrosis) of a portion of heart muscle caused by lack of blood supply; also called a heart attack.

Rheumatic heart disease

Damage to the heart muscle or heart valves caused by one or more episodes of rheumatic fever.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD)

Disease of the arteries in the arms and legs, resulting in narrowing or complete obstruction of the artery.

Varicose veins

Distended or tortuous veins usually found in the lower extremities; also called varices or varicosities.

Artificial cardiac pacemaker

Battery-powered apparatus implanted under the skin with leads placed on the heart, or in the chamber of the heart, used to regulate heart rate.

Automatic implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD)

A device implanted that continuously monitors heart rhythm; if a life-threatening arrhythmia occurs, it delivers an electric shock to convert the arrhythmia back to normal rhythm.

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)

Surgical technique to bring a new blood supply to the heart muscle by detouring around blocked arteries.

Catheter ablation

Destruction of abnormal cells that trigger abnormal heart rhythm, using a device that heats or freezes cells.

Coronary stent

A supportive scaffold device implanted in the coronary artery; used to prevent closure of the artery after angioplasty or atherectomy.

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)

Procedure where a balloon is passed into a coronary artery to the site of plaque and inflated to compress plaque against the wall, opening the diameter of the blood vessel; also called balloon angioplasty.

Thrombolytic therapy

An injection of an intravenous medication to dissolve blood clots in coronary vessels.

Bypass (ICD-10-PCS Root Operation)

Altering the route of passage of contents of a tubular body part by rerouting contents around an area to a distal area, another similar route, or a dissimilar body part; includes one or more concurrent anastomoses with or without autografts, tissue substitutes, or synthetic substitutes.

Dilation (ICD-10-PCS Root Operation)

Expanding an orifice or the lumen of a tubular body part by stretching using intraluminal pressure or by cutting part of the orifice or wall.

Removal (ICD-10-PCS Root Operation)

Taking out or off a device from a body part without putting in a similar device using an external approach (which would be coded as change).

Revision (ICD-10-PCS Root Operation)

Correcting, to the extent possible, a malfunctioning or displaced device, which may include taking out or putting in components of the device such as a screw or pin.

Doppler ultrasound

A study that uses sound for detection of blood flow within vessels; used to assess intermittent claudication and deep vein thrombosis.

Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)

Ultrasound test that examines cardiac function and structure by using an ultrasound probe placed in the esophagus to provide views of heart structures.

Cardiac catheterization

An exam to determine the condition of the heart and blood vessels where a catheter is placed into the heart via a blood vessel to record pressures and inject contrast medium for visualization.

Exercise stress test

A study that evaluates cardiac function during physical stress by riding a bike or walking on a treadmill, utilizing electrocardiography, echocardiography, or nuclear medicine scanning.

Blood pressure (BP)

Pressure exerted by the blood against the blood vessel walls, written as systolic pressure over diastolic pressure (e.g., recorded as 120/80).

Pulse

Rhythmic expansion of an artery that can be felt with the finger, most commonly over the radial artery, but also over the femoral and carotid arteries.

Sphygmomanometer

Device used for measuring blood pressure.

Creatine phosphokinase (CPK)

Blood test measuring a heart and skeletal muscle enzyme released into the blood after muscle injury or necrosis; useful in evaluating patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Lipid profile

Blood test measuring the amount of lipids (providing cholesterol levels) in a sample, used to evaluate cardiovascular disease risk and monitor therapy.

Troponin

Heart muscle enzyme measured by a blood test; released approximately 3 hours after necrosis of the heart muscle and may remain elevated for 7 to 10 days, aiding in myocardial infarction diagnosis.

Anemia

Condition characterized by a reduction in the number of erythrocytes (red blood cells).

Bleeding disorder

Disease characterized by an inability to form proper blood clots, such as hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, and bleeding factor deficiencies.

Leukemia

Malignant disease characterized by an excessive increase in abnormal leukocytes formed in the bone marrow.

Sepsis

Condition in which pathogenic microorganisms, usually bacteria, enter the bloodstream causing a systemic inflammatory response to the infection; also called septicemia.

Bone marrow aspiration

Procedure where a syringe is used to aspirate a sample of the liquid portion of bone marrow, usually from the ilium, to diagnose, stage, and monitor blood cell disorders.

Bone marrow biopsy

Needle puncture procedure used to obtain a sample of bone marrow, usually from the ilium, to diagnose, stage, and monitor blood cell diseases.

Hematocrit (Hct)

Blood test used to measure the volume of red blood cells, utilized in diagnosing and evaluating anemic patients.

Hemoglobin (Hgb)

Blood test used to determine the concentration of oxygen-carrying components in red blood cells.

Prothrombin time (PT/INR)

Blood test used to determine coagulation activity defects and to monitor anticoagulation therapy for patients taking Coumadin.

Bone marrow transplant (BMT)

Infusion of normal bone marrow cells from a donor with matching cells/tissue into a recipient with a certain type of leukemia or anemia.

Venipuncture

Procedure used to puncture a vein with a needle to remove blood, instill medication, or start an intravenous infusion; also called phlebotomy.

Anticoagulant

An agent that slows down the blood clotting process.

Blood dyscrasia

An abnormal or pathologic condition of the blood.

Infectious mononucleosis

Acute infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, affecting mostly young people and often transmitted through saliva.

Lymphedema

Swelling of tissue, usually in one arm or leg, caused by faulty lymphatic drainage.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

Advanced, chronic immune system suppression caused by HIV infection, manifested by opportunistic infections, neurologic disease, and secondary neoplasms.

Allergy

Hypersensitivity to a substance, resulting in an inflammatory immune response.

Anaphylaxis

An exaggerated, life-threatening reaction to a previously encountered antigen (such as bee venom, peanuts, or latex), with symptoms ranging from mild to severe.

Autoimmune disease

A disease caused by the body's inability to distinguish its own cells from foreign bodies, leading to antibody production against its own tissue (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus).

Immunodeficiency

Disorder caused by an inability to produce an adequate immune response due to a lack of functioning antibodies, lymphocytes, or both (also called immunocompromised).

Opportunistic infections

Illnesses caused by microorganisms that are not usually pathogenic but cause disease due to a weakened immune system.

Sarcoidosis

Disease caused by clumps of inflammatory cells forming in one or more organs of the body, particularly the lungs and lymph nodes.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)

Blood test determining the time it takes for red blood cells to settle at the bottom of a tube; a faster rate may indicate an inflammatory immune response (also known as sed rate).

Allergist

Physician who studies and treats allergic conditions.

Allergen

An environmental substance capable of producing an immediate hypersensitivity in the body (e.g., house dust, pollen, animal dander, various foods).

Antibody

Protective protein produced by the immune system in response to the presence of a foreign substance (antigen).

Antigen

Substance that triggers an immune response when introduced into the body.

Immunity

The state of being resistant to specific invading pathogens, which may be inherited or acquired.

Immunosuppression

State in which the body's ability to fight infection or disease is reduced, caused by disease processes or treatment side effects (such as drugs preventing organ rejection or treating autoimmune diseases).

Vaccine

Suspension of activated microorganisms administered by injection, mouth, or nasal spray to prevent infectious diseases by inducing immunity.