Medical Terminology Final

Chapters 11-20, difficult terms

Heart block

electrical conduction is delayed or blocked between atria and ventricles causing slow or irregular heartbeat

Fibrillation

chaotic uncoordinated heart contractions that reduce effective pumping

Congenital heart disease

structural heart defect present at birth

Congestive heart failure

heart cannot pump blood effectively causing fluid backup in lungs or body

Coronary artery disease

narrowing or blockage of coronary arteries due to plaque buildup reducing oxygen to heart muscle

Rheumatic heart disease

damage to heart valves caused by untreated streptococcal infection

Peripheral vascular disease

narrowing of peripheral blood vessels causing reduced blood flow especially to limbs

Raynaud disease

episodic vasospasm in fingers/toes triggered by cold or stress causing color changes

Lipoprotein electrophoresis

lab test separating lipoproteins to evaluate cholesterol disorders

Cardiac biomarkers

blood markers like troponin indicating heart muscle damage

Angiography

imaging using contrast dye to visualize blood vessels

Doppler ultrasound

test measuring direction and speed of blood flow

Echocardiography

ultrasound imaging of heart structure and function

Cardiac catheterization

catheter inserted into heart to measure pressures and view coronary arteries

Holter monitoring

continuous ECG recording over 24–48 hours

Stress test

evaluates heart function during exercise

BNP test

blood test measuring brain natriuretic peptide for heart failure

Coronary artery bypass graft

surgery rerouting blood around blocked coronary arteries

Endarterectomy

surgical removal of plaque from artery

Percutaneous coronary intervention

balloon or stent procedure to open coronary arteries

Thrombolytic therapy

medication that dissolves blood clots

Embolectomy

surgical removal of blood clot from vessel

Aneurysmorrhaphy

surgical repair of weakened blood vessel wall

Catheter ablation

destroys abnormal heart electrical pathways

Venule

small vessel carrying blood from capillaries to veins

Capillary

smallest vessel where exchange of gases and nutrients occurs

Sinoatrial node

natural pacemaker of the heart

Atrioventricular node

delays electrical signal between atria and ventricles

Bundle of His

pathway carrying impulses to ventricles

Angina

chest pain due to reduced blood flow to heart

Angina pectoris

formal term for ischemic chest pain

Thrill

vibration felt over chest due to turbulent blood flow

Bruit

abnormal sound over artery due to narrowing

Pericardial friction rub

scratchy sound from inflamed pericardium

Phlebitis

inflammation of a vein

CCU

coronary care unit

Deep vein thrombosis

blood clot in deep vein

Premature ventricular contraction

early extra heartbeat from ventricles

ST elevation myocardial infarction

severe heart attack with ECG changes

Auscultation

listening to internal body sounds with stethoscope

Percussion

tapping body surface to assess underlying structures

Croup

viral infection causing barking cough and airway swelling

Bronchiectasis

permanent widening of bronchi with mucus buildup

Atelectasis

collapse of part or all of lung

Emphysema

destruction of alveoli causing air trapping

Pulmonary edema

fluid in lungs

Pulmonary embolism

blockage of pulmonary artery by clot

Mesothelioma

cancer of pleura linked to asbestos

Pneumothorax

air in pleural space causing lung collapse

Hypercapnia

excess CO2 in blood

Orthopnea

difficulty breathing lying flat

Hemoptysis

coughing up blood

Dysphonia

difficulty producing voice

Epistaxis

nosebleed

Anosmia

loss of smell

Nasopharyngitis

inflammation of nose and throat

Diaphragmatic

relating to diaphragm

Glottis

opening of larynx

Diphtheria

bacterial throat infection with membrane formation

Pertussis

whooping cough

Infiltrate

fluid or cells seen in lung tissue on imaging

Asbestosis

lung fibrosis from asbestos exposure

Sarcoidosis

inflammatory granulomas in lungs

V/Q scan

compares ventilation and perfusion in lungs

Bronchoalveolar lavage

washing airways to collect fluid sample

Tube thoracostomy

chest tube insertion

Thoracentesis

removal of pleural fluid

Pulmonary function tests

measure lung volume and airflow

CT pulmonary angiography

CT scan for pulmonary embolism

Chest X-ray

imaging of chest structures

Adenocarcinoma

gland-forming lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer

common slower-growing lung cancer

AFB

test for tuberculosis bacteria

ARDS

acute respiratory distress syndrome

COPD

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CTPA

CT pulmonary angiography

CXR

chest X-ray

DPT

diphtheria pertussis tetanus vaccine

ICU

intensive care unit

PaCO2

arterial carbon dioxide level

PaO2

arterial oxygen level

PCP

pneumocystis pneumonia

PFT

pulmonary function test

RDS

respiratory distress syndrome

URI

upper respiratory infection

SOB

shortness of breath

Multiple myeloma

cancer of plasma cells in bone marrow

Apheresis

removal of blood components and return of remaining blood

Hematopoietic stem cell

stem cell that produces all blood cells

IgA

antibody in mucosal membranes

IgD

antibody involved in B cell activation

IgE

antibody involved in allergic reactions

IgG

most common antibody in blood

IgM

first antibody produced in infection

PT

prothrombin time clotting test

Heparin

anticoagulant preventing clot formation

Warfarin

anticoagulant blocking vitamin K clotting factors