MED TERM EXAM 2 (pathology)

regurgitation 

to flow backwards; in CV system refers to backflow of blood through a valve

endocarditis

inflammation of membranes lining the heart; if cause is bacterial, a bacterial colony called vegetation may form

congestive heart failure

left ventricle muscle is too weak to efficiently pump blood; results in weakness, breathlessness, and edema.

cardiology

the branch of medicine involving diagnosis and treatment of conditions and diseases of the cardiovascular system. Physician is a cardiologist

sphygmomanometer

blood pressure cuff; measures BP

palpitations

pounding, racing heartbeats

polyarteritis

inflammation of several arteries

stethoscope

instrument for listening to body sounds

murmur

a sound in addition to normal heart sounds; may or may not indicate an abnormality

myocarditis

inflammation of heart muscle layer

peripheral vascular disease

abnormal condition affecting any blood vessel outside the heart; symptoms may include pain, pallor, and blocked circulation

premature atrial contraction

atria contract earlier than they should

cardiomyopathy

myocardial disease; may be caused by viral infection, congestive heart failure, or alcohol abuse; common reason for heart transplant

patent ductus arteriosus

congenital heart anomaly where fetal connection between pulmonary artery and aorta fails to close at birth

heart valve stenosis

cusps are too stiff; unable to shut tightly; allows regurgitation

coronary artery disease

poor blood supply to heart muscle due to obstruction of coronary arteries; may cause angina pectoris and heart attack

orthostatic hypotension

sudden drop in blood pressure when standing up suddenly

valvulitis

inflammation of a heart valve

bundle branch block

electrical impulse is blocked from traveling down the bundle of HIS or bundle branches

thrombophlebitis

inflammation of vein resulting in blood clots within a vein

arrhythmia

irregularity in heart beat or action

atheroma

deposit of fatty substance in wall of artery, bulges into and narrows artery; also called a plaque

fibrillation

serious arrhythmia characterized by abnormal quivering or contraction of heart fibers; may result in cardiac arrest

bradycardia

condition of having a slow heart rate

Raynaud's phenomenon

periodic ischemic attacks affecting extremities; especially fingers, toes, ears, and nose; extremities become cyanotic; triggered by cold exposure

plaque

yellow, fatty deposit of lipids in an artery; hallmark of atherosclerosis

pericarditis

inflammation of pericardial sac

cardiomegaly

an abnormally enlarged heart

tachycardia

condition of having a fast heart rate

arteriorrhexis

a ruptured artery

cardiac arrest

complete stopping of heart activity

coarctation of the aorta

severe congenital narrowing of aorta

infarct

area of necrotic tissue due to loss of blood supply

flutter

atria beat too rapidly but maintain a regular pattern

heart valve prolapse

cusps are too loose and fail to shut tightly; allows regurgitation

atherosclerosis

most common form of arteriosclerosis; lipid plaques form in arterial wall

phlebitis

inflammation of a vein

arteriosclerosis

hardening and loss of elasticity of arterial walls; often due to atherosclerosis

angina pectoris

severe pain and sensation of constriction around heart; caused by myocardial ischemia

varicose veins

swollen and distended veins; often in the legs

auscultation

listening to sounds within body using a stethoscope

tetralogy of Fallot

combination of four congenital anomalies; pulmonary stenosis, interventricular septal defect, improper placement of aorta, hypertrophy of right ventricle; requires immediate surgery

premature ventricular contraction

ventricles contract earlier than they should

hemorrhoid

varicose veins in anal region

hypotension

decrease in blood pressure; may be due to shock or anemia

ischemia

local and temporary deficiency of blood supply due to a circulatory obstruction

hypertension

high blood pressure; essential or primary hypertension is due to CV disease; secondary hypertension results from another disease

thrombus

blood clot within a blood vessel; may partially or completely occlude blood vessel

myocardial infarction (MI)

occlusion of coronary artery; results in a myocardial infarct; a heart attack

congenital septal defect

hole, present at birth, in heart septum; allows mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood

aneurysm

weakness and ballooning of arterial wall; commonly seen in abdominal and cerebral arteries

septicemia

having bacteria or their toxins in the bloodstream; also called blood poisoning

urticaria

severe itching associated with hives; linked to food allergies, stress, or drug reactions

thrombocytopenia

condition of having too few platelets

tonsillitis

inflammation of the tonsils

carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae

infection by a group of bacteria with resistance to antibiotics called carbapenems; occurs in healthcare settings

splenomegaly

an enlarged spleen

iron-deficiency anemia

results from an insufficient amount of iron to make hemoglobin for RBCs

thrombus

a hard collection of fibrin, blood cells, and tissue debris that is the result of the blood-clotting process

elephantiasis

inflammation and obstruction of lymph vessels; results in enlarged tissues due to edema

severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome

genetic disorder; individuals are born without a functioning immune system

hemophilia

genetic disorder; blood fails to clot due to lack of one clotting factor

allergic asthma

inflammation and narrowing of airways triggered by inhaling allergens

leukemia

cancer of white blood cell-forming portion of red bone marrow; results in large number of abnormal and immature WBCs circulating in bloodstream

contact dermatitis

skin irritation caused by the skin coming in direct contact with an allergen

AIDS

defect in cell-mediated immunity; result of final stages of HIV infection

sickle cell anemia

genetic disorder where RBCs take on abnormal sickle shape; become more fragile leading to hemolytic anemia

lymphadenopathy

general term for lymph node disease

allergy

hypersensitivity to a common substance; substance is called an allergen

Hodgkin’s disease (HD)

cancer of the lymphatic cells found in concentration in lymph nodes

thymoma

tumor of the thymus gland

autoimmune disease

disease resulting from immune system attacking its own body; examples include rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus

thrombocytosis

condition of having too many platelets

anaphylactic shock

life-threatening condition from severe allergic reaction; circulatory and respiratory problems occur

polycythemia vera

condition of having too many RBCs; blood is too thick and flows sluggishly

Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS)

skin cancer seen in AIDS patients; brownish-purple skin lesions that spread to organs

leukocytosis

condition of having too many WBCs

hypochromic anemia

results from insufficient amount of hemoglobin in RBCs; RBCs are unable to transport sufficient oxygen

pernicious anemia (PA)

insufficient absorption of vitamin B12; unable to make enough RBCs

allergic rhinitis

an allergic reaction caused by inhaling an allergen

immunocompromised

immune system does not function properly; also called immunodeficiency disorder

erythropenia

condition of having too few RBCs

lymphadenitis

inflammation of lymph nodes; commonly called swollen glands

dyscrasia

general term for disease affecting blood

lymphocytic leukemia

type of leukemia in which the abnormal WBCs are lymphocytes

AIDS-related complex (ARC)

early stage of AIDS; mild symptoms include weight loss, fatigue, and anorexia

hemolytic reaction

destruction of RBCs when a patient receives an incompatible blood transfusion

pancytopenia

having too few of all blood cells

aplastic anemia

severe anemia; red bone marrow stops making sufficient blood cells; may require bone marrow transplant

hematoma

collection of blood under the skin as a result of blood escaping into tissue from damaged blood vessels

mononucleosis (mono)

acute viral infection with a large number of atypical lymphocytes

HIV

virus that causes AIDS; known as a retrovirus

hemorrhage

blood flowing out of a vessel

anemia

group of conditions characterized by a reduction in number of RBCs or the amount of hemoglobin; results in less oxygen reaching tissues

coagulate

to convert a liquid to a solid, as in blood clotting

C.diff infection

infection causes inflammation of the colon; symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, fever, and abdominal pain

opportunistic infection

infection appearing in an immunocompromised person

sarcoidosis

autoimmune disease; forms fibrous lesions in multiple organs of body

lymphangioma

tumor in a lymphatic vessel

leukopenia

condition of having too few WBCs