The Cardiovascular System

Medical Terminology: Unit 2, Chapter 5 (RTerry)

ACE inhibitor

Blocks the action of the enzyme that causes the blood vessels to contract, resulting in hypertension.

anemia

A lower-than-normal number of erythrocytes in the blood causing fatigue and shortness of breath.

aneurysm

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

angina

A condition of severe episodes of chest pain that occur due to an inadequate blood flow to the myocardium.

angioplasty

The technique of mechanically widening a narrowed or obstructed blood vessel.

aplastic anemia

Characterized be an absence of ALL formed blood elements cause by the failure of blood cell production in the bone marrow.

arrythmia

The loss of the normal rhythm of the heartbeat.

atherectomy

The surgical removal of plaque buildup from the interior of the artery.

atherosclerosis

Hardening and narrowing of the arteries caused by a buildup of cholesterol plaque on the interior walls of the arteries.

atrial fibrillation

The most common type of tachycardia, occurs when the normal rhythmic contractions of the atria are replaces by rapid, uncontrolled twitiching of the muscular heart wall.

bradycardia

An abnormally slow resting heart rate.

cardiac arrest

An event in which the heart abruptly stops beating or develops an arrythmia that prevents it from pumping blood effectively.

cardiac catheterization

A diagnostic and treatement procedure in which a catheter is passes into a veiw or artery and then guided into the heart.

cardiomyopathy

The term used to describe ALL diseases of the heart muscle.

carotid endarterectomy

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