Lesson 7 Basic Medical Language

aden

gland

angi

(blood) vessel

arteri

artery

cardi

heart

electr

electrical activity

lymph

lymph

phleb, ven

vein

splen

spleen

thromb

(blood) clot

-ac

pertaining to

-graph

instrument used to record

-megaly

enlargement

-penia

abnormal reduction in number

-sclerosis

hardening

brady-

slow

tachy-

rapid, fast

erythr

red

leuk

white

plasty

surgical repair

rrhaphy

suturing of

rrhexis

rupture

hemat

blood

itis

inflammation

-tomy

incision

genic

causing

osis

abnormal condition

anemia

condition in which there is a reduction in the number of erythrocytes; may be caused by blood loss or decrease in production or increase in destruction of red blood cells

aneurysm

condition in which there is a ballooning of a weakened portion of an arterial wall

blood pressure (BP)

pressure by the blood against the blood vessel walls;

cardiac catheterization

diagnostic procedure performed by passing a catheter into the heart through a blood vessel to examine the condition of the heart and surrounding blood vessels; used to diagnose and treat cardiovascular conditions, such as coronary artery disease

cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

emergency procedure consisting of artificial ventilation and external cardiac compressions

complete blood count

laboratory test for basic blood screening that measures various aspects of erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets; this automated test quickly provides a tremendous amount of information about the blood

coronary artery bypass graft

surgical technique to bring a new blood supply to heart muscle by detouring around blocked arteries

embolus

blood clot or foreign material, such as air or fat, that enters the bloodstream and moves until it lodges at another point in the circulation

heart failure

condition in which there is an inability of the heart to pump enough blood through the body to supply the tissues and organs with nutrients and oxygen (congestive heart failure)

hemmorrhage

rapid loss of blood, as in bleeding

hypertension

blood pressure that is above normal

hypotension

blood pressure that is below normal

leukemia

malignant disease characterized by excessive increase in abnormal leukocytes formed in bone marrow

myocardial infarction

death of a portion of the myocardium caused by an interrupted blood supply (heart attack)

pulse

rhythmic expansion of an artery, created by the contraction of the heart, that can be felt with a fingertip; the pulse rate is most commonly felt over the radial artery (in the wrist); however, the pulsations can be felt over a number of sites, including the femoral (groin) and carotid (neck) arteries

sphygmomanometer

device used for measuring blood pressure

stethoscope

instrument used to hear internal body sounds; used for performing auscultation and blood pressure measurement

varicose veins

condition demonstrated by distended or tortuous veins usually found in the lower extremities

venipuncture

procedure used to puncture a vein with a needle to remove blood, instill a medication, or start an intravenous infusion