Cardiovascular Medical Terms Lesson 3

anemia

a lower-than-normal number of red blood cells in the blood.

aneurysm

a localized weak spot, or balloon-like enlargement, of the wall of an artery.

angina

aka angina pectoris, is a condition of episodes of severe chest pain due to inadequate blood flow to the myocardium.

atrial fibrillation

occurs when the normal rhythmic contractions of the atria are replaced by rapid irregular twitching of the muscular heart wall.

cardiac catheterization

a diagnostic or treatment procedure in which a catheter is passed into a vein or artery and then guided into the heart

carotid endarterectomy

the surgical removal of the lining of a portion of a clogged carotid artery leading to the brain.

chronic venous insufficiency

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

defibrillation

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

electrocardiogram

a record of the electrical activity of the myocardium.

embolism

the sudden blockage of a blood vessel by an embolus.

embolus

a foreign object such as a blood clot, quantity of air or gas, or a bit of tissue or tumor that is circulating in the blood.

hemoglobin

the iron-containing pigment of the erythrocytes that transports oxygen from the lungs to all of the body tissues.

myocardial infarction

also known as a heart attack, is the blockage of one or more coronary arteries resulting in an infarct of the affected myocardium.

sickle cell anemia

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

thallium stress test

stress test is performed to evaluate how well blood flows through the coronary arteries to the heart muscle during exercise.

thrombolytic

also known as a clot-busting drug, causes a thrombus to dissolve or break up.

thrombosis

the abnormal condition of having a thrombus that can prevent the flow of blood through the vessel.

thrombotic occlusion

the blocking of an artery by a thrombus.

thrombus

a blood clot attached to the interior wall of an artery or vein.

ventricular tachycardia

a very rapid heartbeat that begins within the ventricles. This condition is potentially fatal because the heart is beating so rapidly that it is unable to adequately pump blood through the body.

Hematology is the study of what?

Blood

What is an erythrocyte?

Red blood cell

What would a thrombolytic destroy?

Blood clot

What word means inflammation of a vein?

Phlebitis

What is tachycardia?

Fast heart rate

Pulmonary circulation

takes the deoxygenated blood into the right side of the heart, which pumps it to the lungs to pick up oxygen.

Systemic circulation

returns the oxygenated blood to the left side of the heart, which pumps it to all of the tissues of the body.

Arteries

carry oxygen-rich blood away from the heart.

Arterioles

branch off from the ends of arteries and carry blood to capillaries.

Capillaries

the smallest and thinnest of the blood vessels and the most common. connect to arterioles on one end and venules on the other. carry blood very close to the cells in order to exchange gases, nutrients, and waste products.

Venules

small vessels that pick up blood from the capillaries and deposit it into larger veins for transport back to the heart.

Veins

carry oxygen-depleted blood to the lungs to receive oxygen.

Aorta

the largest artery in the body and carries blood away from the heart to the rest of the body. It runs from the heart through the center of the chest and abdomen.

Superior Vena Cava

the large vein that brings blood from the head and arms into the heart.

Inferior Vena Cava

the large vein that brings blood from the abdomen and legs into the heart.

Hypercholesterolemia

a condition caused by high cholesterol, a fatty substance that the body uses to protect nerves, make cell membranes, and produce hormones. High cholesterol levels can increase a person's risk of coronary artery disease.

Heart disease

the leading cause of death in the United States. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking are the main risk factors for developing this disease

Angioplasty

involves inserting a balloon-tipped catheter into a blocked blood vessel, then inflating the balloon to open the vessel and restore blood flow. A metal mesh tube (stent) is often permanently placed into the artery or vein to keep it open.

Cardiac Ablation

threads a flexible catheter through blood vessels into the heart to destroy (ablate) abnormal tissue that triggers arrhythmias.

Carotid Endarterectomy

a procedure to remove a plaque deposit that is clogging a carotid artery.

Pacemaker

a device that is implanted under the skin to shock the heart electronically into a regular rhythm.

thrombocytes

aka platelets, which help the blood to clot when injuries occur.