Medical Terminology Chapter 5

angiitis

Inflammation of a vessel.

angiospasm

An involuntary muscle contraction of the smooth muscle in the wall of a vessel.

angiostenosis

The narrowing of a vessel.

bradycardia

The condition of having a slow heart rate; typically less than 60 beats/minute.

infarct

An area of tissue within an organ that undergoes necrosis following the loss of its blood supply.

ischemia

The localized and temporary deficiency of blood supply due to an obstruction of the circulation.

murmur

A sound arising from blood flowing through the heart, which may indicate a heart abnormality.

orthostatic hypotension

The sudden drop in blood pressure a person experiences when standing straight up suddenly.

palpitations

Pounding, racing heartbeats.

plaque

A yellow, fatty deposit of lipids in an artery that is characteristic of atherosclerosis.

regurgitation

To flow backwards, particularly in reference to the backflow of blood through a valve.

tachycardia

The condition of having a fast heart rate; typically more than 100 beats per minute.

thrombus

A blood clot forming within a blood vessel that may occlude the vessel.

embolus

The obstruction of a blood vessel by a blood clot that has broken off from another site.

angina pectoris

Condition of severe pain around the heart due to oxygen deficiency.

arrhythmia

Irregularity in the heartbeat or action.

cardiac arrest

Complete stopping of heart activity.

cardiomegaly

An enlarged heart.

cardiomyopathy

A disease of the myocardium that can require heart transplant.

Congenital septal defect (CSD)

A hole present at birth in the septum between heart chambers.

Congestive heart failure (CHF)

A condition with reduced outflow of blood due to weak left ventricle myocardium.

Coronary artery disease (CAD)

Insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle due to obstruction of coronary arteries.

endocarditis

Inflammation of the lining membranes of the heart.

fibrillation

An arrhythmia characterized by abnormal quivering of heart fibers.

flutter

An arrhythmia with rapid but regular atrial beats.

heart valve prolapse

Condition where heart valve flaps are too loose, allowing backward blood flow.

myocardial infarction

Condition caused by occlusion of coronary arteries leading to heart muscle damage.

myocarditis

Inflammation of the muscle layer of the heart wall.

pericarditis

Inflammation of the pericardial sac around the heart.

Tetralogy of Fallot

Combination of four congenital heart anomalies requiring immediate surgery.

valvulitis

Inflammation of a heart valve.

aneurysm

Weakness in artery wall resulting in localized widening.

arteriorrhexis

A ruptured artery.

arteriosclerosis

Thickening and hardening of arterial walls.

atheroma

A deposit of fatty substance in arterial walls.

atherosclerosis

Caused by formation of plaques of cholesterol on artery walls.

Coarctation of the aorta (CoA)

Severe congenital narrowing of the aorta.

hemorrhoid

Varicose veins in the anal region.

hypertension

Blood pressure above the normal range.

hypotension

Decrease in blood pressure.

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)

Congenital heart anomaly where fetal artery fails to close.

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD)

Abnormal condition affecting blood vessels outside the heart.

Phlebitis

Inflammation of a vein.

Polyarteritis

Inflammation of several arteries.

Raynaud’s phenomenon

Ischemic attacks affecting extremities due to arterial constriction.

thrombophlebitis

Inflammation of a vein resulting in blood clots.

Varicose vein

Swollen and distended veins, usually in the legs.

auscultation

Process of listening to body sounds using a stethoscope.

sphygmomanometer

Instrument for measuring blood pressure.

stethoscope

Instrument for listening to body sounds.

cardiac enzymes

Blood test to determine heart muscle enzyme levels.

serum lipoprotein level

Blood test measuring cholesterol and triglycerides.

angiogram

X-ray record of a vessel.

angiography

X-ray imaging after injection of opaque material into blood vessels.

cardiac scan

Visualizing the heart with radioactive thallium.

Doppler ultrasonography

Measurement of sound-wave echoes to visualize blood vessel flow.

echocardiography

Ultrasound method to visualize internal cardiac structures.

catheter

Flexible tube for moving fluids into or out of the body.

cardiac catheterization

Passage of a thin tube through a blood vessel to the heart.

electrocardiogram

Record of the electrical activity of the heart.

electrocardiography

Process of recording heart's electrical activity.

Holter monitor

Portable ECG monitor for extended heart activity assessment.

stress testing

Method for evaluating cardiovascular fitness via exercise.

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Restoration of cardiac output and oxygenated air in cardiac arrest.

defibrillation

Procedure converting irregular heartbeats with electric shocks.

extracorporeal circulation (ECC)

Routing blood to a heart-lung machine during surgery.

implantable cardioverter defibrillator

Device implanted to restore normal heart rhythm.

pacemaker implantation

Device controlling heart beats with electrical impulses.

thrombolytic therapy

Process using drugs to dissolve clots and restore blood flow.

aneurysmectomy

Surgical removal of an aneurysmal sac.

arterial anastomosis

Surgical joining of two arteries.

atherectomy

Surgical removal of fatty deposits from arteries.

coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)

Open heart surgery rerouting blood around blocked coronary arteries.

embolectomy

Removal of an embolus from a blood vessel.

endarterectomy

Removal of inner lining of an artery.

heart transplant

Replacement of a diseased heart with a donor heart.

intracoronary artery stent

Placement of a stent within a coronary artery.

ligation and stripping

Surgical treatment for varicose veins involving tying and removing.

percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)

Method for treating narrowed coronary arteries.

stent

Tube placed in blood vessels to widen the lumen.

valve replacement

Removal and replacement of a diseased heart valve.

valvoplasty

Surgical procedure to repair a heart valve.

ACE inhibitor drugs

Drugs that produce vasodilation and lower blood pressure.

antiarrhythmic

Drugs that reduce or prevent cardiac arrhythmias.

anticoagulant

Drugs that prevent blood clot formation.

antilipidemic

Drugs that lower blood lipid levels.

antiplatelet agents

Drugs that prevent platelets from clumping.

beta-blocker drugs

Drugs that lower heart rate and treat hypertension.

calcium channel blocker drugs

Drugs that reduce force and frequency of heartbeats.

cardiotonic

Drugs that increase the force of cardiac muscle contraction.

diuretic

Drugs that increase urine production and lower blood pressure.

thrombolytic

Drugs that dissolve existing blood clots.

vasoconstrictor

Drugs that raise blood pressure by contracting blood vessels.

vasodilator

Drugs that relax blood vessel walls, increasing diameter.