The Cardiovascular System

anastomosis

creation of an opening between two normally separate structures

aneurysm

bulge in a blood vessel

aneurysmectomy

surgical removal of an aneurysm

angina pectoris

oppressive pain in the chest caused by irregular blood flow to the heart

angiocarditis

inflammation of the heart vessels

angioedema

swelling of the blood vessels

angiogenesis

development of blood vessels

angiogram

record of the blood vessels

angiography

procedure to describe the blood vessels

angiolith

stone forming in the wall of a blood vessel

angioma

blood vessel tumor

angioplasty

surgical reconstruction of a vessel

angiopoiesis

formation of blood vessels

angiorrhaphy

suture of a vessela

angiosclerosis

hardening of a blood vessel

angioscope

device for looking into a blood vessel

antianginal

drug that prevents or relieves the symptoms of angina pectoris

antiarrhythmic

drug that opposes an irregular heartbeat

anticoagulant

drug that opposes the coagulation of blood

antihypertensive

drug that opposes high blood pressure

aortalgia

pain in the aorta

aortectasia

dilation of the aorta

aortic aneurysm

bulging or swelling of the aorta

aortic regurgitation

flow of blood backward from the aorta into the heart; caused by a weak heart valve

aortic stenosis

narrowing of the aorta

aortitis

inflammation of the aorta

aortogram

record of the aorta

aortolith

stone deposit in the wall of the aorta

aortorrhaphy

suture of the aorta

aortotomy

incision into the aorta

arrythmia

irregular heartbeat

arteriectomy

surgical removal of an artery

arteriogram

record of an artery

arteriolith

stone in an artery

arteriopathy

disease of the arteries

arterioplasty

surgical reconstruction of an artery

arteriorrhaphy

suture of an artery

arteriorrhexis

rupture of an artery

arteriosclerosis

hardening of an artery

arteritis

inflammation of the arteries

atherectomy

surgical removal of fatty plaque within an artery

atherogenesis

formation of fatty plaque on the wall of an artery

atherosclerosis

hardening of an artery due to buildup of fatty plaque

atrial fibrillation

quivering or spontaneous contraction of muscle fibers in the heart’s atrium

atrial septal defect

flaw in the septum that divides the two atria of the heart

blood pressure

force exerted by blood on the walls of blood vessels

bradycardia

slow heartbeat

cardiac arrest

cessation of functional circulation

cardiac catheterization

the process of inserting a tube (catheter) into the heart

cardiologist

heart specialist

cardiology

branch of medicine dealing with the heart

cardiomegaly

enlarged heart

cardiomyopathy

disease of the heart muscle

cardiomyotomy

incision into the heart muscle

cardiopulmonary bypass

procedure that temporarily circulates and oxygenates a patient’s blood during a portion of heart surgery where the heart is stopped

cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

basic life support

cardiothoracic surgery

surgery that involves cutting through the patient’s chest to get to the heart

cardiotonic

a drug that increases the strength of heart contractions

cardiotoxic

poisonous to the heart

cardiovascular

pertaining to the heart and blood vessels

cardioversion

returning a heart to normal rhythm

carditis

inflammation of the heart

congenital heart defect

flaw in the structure of the heart, present at birth

congestive cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy

heart cavity is unable to pump all the blood out of it (congestive) and becomes stretched (dilated), which causes weak/slow pumping of blood

congestive heart failure

heart failure characterized by the heart cavity being unable to pump all the blood out of it (congestive)

coronary arterectomy

surgical removal of a coronary artery

coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)

borrow piece of blood vessel used to bypass a blocked artery in the heart

coronary artery bypass surgery

surgery to bypass a blocked artery in the heart

coronary circulation

circulation of blood from the heart to the heart muscle

coronary thrombosis

obstruction of a coronary artery by a clot

cyanosis

a bluish appearance to the skin; a sign that the tissue isn’t receiving enough oxygen

deep vein thrombosis

the formation of a blood clot deep in the body, most commonly in the leg

diaphoresis

profuse sweating

diastolic pressure

pressure exerted on blood vessels when the heart is relaxed; second number

dysrhythmia

irregular heartbeat

echocardiogram

image of the heart produced using sound waves; it is the same procedure as an ultrasound performed on pregnant women, but done on the heart

echocardiography

use of sound waves to produce an image of the heart

electrocardiogram

record of the electrical currents of the heart

electrocardiography

procedure for recording the electrical currents of the heart

embolectomy

surgical removal of an embolus

embolism

blockage in a blood vessel caused by an embolus

embolus

mass of matter present in the blood

endarterectomy

surgical removal of the inside of an artery

endocarditis

inflammation of the tissue lining the inside of the heart

endocardium

tissue lining the inside of the heart

epicardium

tissue lining the outside of the heart

hemorrhage

loss of blood

hypertension

high blood pressure

hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

heart muscle becomes enlarged and blocks blood flow

hypotension

low blood pressure

ischemia

blockage of blood flow to an organ

murmur

abnormal heart sound

myocardial infarction

death of heart muscle tissue

myocardial ischemia

blockage of blood to the heart muscle

myocarditis

inflammation of the heart muscle

myocardium

heart muscle tissue

normotension

normal blood pressure

occlusion

closing or blockage of a passage

palpitation

rapid or irregular beating of the heart

pectoralgia

chest pain