Chapter 11; The language of medicine

angi/o

vessel

aort/o

aorta

arter/o

artery

arteri/o

artery

ather/o

yellowish plaque

atri/o

atrium

brachi/o

arm

cardi/o

heart

cholesterol/o

cholesterol

coron/o

heart

cyan/o

blue

myx/o

mucus

ox/o

oxygen

pericardi/o

pericardium

phleb/o

vein

rrhythm/o

rhythm

sphygm/o

pulse

steth/o

chest

thromb/o

clot

valvul/o valv/o

valve

vas/o

vessel

vascul/o

vessel

ven/o ven/i

vein

ventricul/o

ventrile

arrhythmias

abnormal heart rhythms (dysrhythmias); problems with the conduction or electrical system of the heart

bradycardia and heart block (atrioventricular block)

type of arrhythmias; failure of proper conduction of impulses from the SA node through the AV node to the atrioventricular bundle (bundle of His)

flutter

type of arrhythmias; rapid but regular contractions, usually of the atria.

fibrillation

a type of arrhythmias; very rapid, random, inefficient, and irregular contractions of the heart (350+ beats per minute)

congenital heart disease

abnormalities in the heart at birth

coarctation of the aorta (CoA)

type of congenital heart disease; narrowing(coarctation) of the aorta

patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)

type of congenital heart disease; passageway (ductus arteriosus) between the aorta and the pulmonary artery remains open (patent) after birth

septal defects

small holes in the wall between the atria (atrial septal defects) or the ventricles (ventricular septal defects)

tetralogy of Fallot

congenital malformation involving four (tetra-) distinct heart defects

Pulmonary artery stenosis

type of tetralogy of Fallot defect; pulmonary artery is narrow or obstructed

ventricular septal defect

type of tetralogy of Fallot defect; large hole between two ventricles lets venous blood pass from the right to the left ventricle and out to the aorta w/o oxygenation

shift of the aorta to the right

type of tetralogy of Fallot defect; aorta overrides the interventricular septum. Oxygen-poor blood passes from the right ventricle to the aorta

hypertrophy of the right ventricle

type of tetralogy of Fallot defect; myocardium works harder to pump blood through a narrowed pulmonary artery

Congestive heart failure (CHF)

heart is unable to pump its required amount of blood

coronary artery disease (CAD)

disease of the arteries surrounding the heart

endocarditis

inflammation of the inner lining of the heart

hypertensive heart disease

high blood pressure affecting the heart

mitral valve prolapse (MVP)

improper closure of the mitral valve

murmur

extra heart sound, heard between normal beats

pericarditis

inflammation of the membrane (pericardium) surrounding the heart

rheumatic heart disease

heart disease caused by rheumatic fever

aneurysm

local widening (dilation) of an arterial wall

deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

blood clot (thrombus) forms in a large vein, usually in a lower limb

hypertension (HTN)

high blood pressure, 140/90+

peripheral arterial disease (PAD)

blockage of arteries carrying blood to the legs, arms, kidneys, and other organs

Raynaud’s disease

recurrent episodes of pallor and cyanosis primarily in the fingers and toes

varicose veins

abnormally swollen and twisted veins, usually occurring in the legs

acute coronary syndromes (ACSs)

unstable angina and myocardial infarction (heart attack), which are consequences of plaque rupture in coronary arteries

angina (pectoris)

chest pain resulting from myocardial ischemia. Stable angina occurs predictably with exertion; unstable angina is chest pain that occurs more often and with less exertion

angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor

antihypertensive drug that blocks the conversion of anigotensin I to angiotensin II, causing blood vessels to dilate. It prevents heart attacks, CHF, stroke, and death

auscultation

listening for sounds in blood vessels or other body structures, typically using a stethoscope

beta blocker

drug used to treat angina, hypertension, and arrhythmias. It blocks the action of epinephrine (adrenaline) at receptor sites on cells, slowing the heartbeat and reducing the workload on the heart

biventricular pacemaker

device enabling ventricles to beat together (in synchrony) so that more blood is pumped out of the heart

bruit

abnormal blowing or swishing sound heard during auscultation of an artery or organ

calcium channel blocker

drug used to treat angina and hypertension. It dilates blood vessels by blocking the influx of calcium into muscle cells lining vessels

cardiac arrest

sudden, unexpected stoppage of heart action, often leading to sudden cardiac death

cardiac tamponade

pressure on the heart caused by fluid in the pericardial space

claudication

pain, tension, and weakness in a leg after walking has begun, but absence of pain at rest.

digoxin

drug that treats arrhythmias and strengthens the heartbeat

embolus

clot or other substance that travels to a distant location and suddenly blocks a blood vessel

infarction

area of dead tissue

nitrates

drugs used in treatment of angina; dilate blood vessels, increasing blood flow/oxygen to myocardial tissue

nitroglycerin

nitrate drug used in the treatment of angina

occlusion

closure of a blood vessel due to blockage

palpitations

uncomfortable sensations in the chest related to cardiac arrhythmias, such as premature ventricular contractions (PVCs)

patent

open

pericardial friction rub

scraping or graphing noise heard on auscultation of the heart; suggestive of pericarditis

petechiae

small, pinpoint hemorrhages

statins

drugs used to lower cholesterol in the bloodstream

thrill

vibration felt over an area of turmoil in blood flow

vegetations

clumps of platelets, clotting proteins, microorganisms, and red blood cells on diseased heart valves

BNP test

measurement of brain natriuretic peptide in blood; usually elevated in patients with heart failure

cardiac biomarkers

chemicals are measured in the blood as evidence of a heart attack

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C-reactive protein (CRP)

cardiac biomarker of inflammation. High sensitivity CRP or Hs-CRP is useful in predicting risk for heart attack or stroke

troponin

substance tested in cardiac biomarker that is a heart muscle protein released into circulation after myocardial injury

lipid tests (lipid profile)

measurement of cholesterol and triglycerides (fats) in a blood sample; general guideline for total cholesterol is less than 200mg/dL

lipoprotein electrophoresis

lipoproteins (combinations of fat and protein) are physically separated and measured in a blood sample

computed tomography angiography (CTA)

three-dimensional x-ray images of the heart and coronary arteries using computed tomography

digital subtraction angiography (DSA)

video equipment and a computer produce x-ray images of blood vessels

electron beam computed tomography (EBCT or EBT)

electron beams and CT identify calcium deposits in and around coronary arteries to diagnose early CAD

doppler ultrasound studies

sound waves measure blood flow w/in blood vessels

echocardiography (ECHO)

echoes generated by high-frequency sound waves produce images of the heart

positron emission tomography (PET) scan

images show blood flow and myocardial function following uptake of radioactive glucose

technetium TE 99m sestamibi scan

technetium Tc 99m sestamibi injected intravenously is taken up in cardiac tissue, where it is detected by scanning

thallium 201 scan

concentration of radioactive thallium is measured to give info about blood supply to the heart muscle

cardiac MRI

images of the heart are produced using radiowave energy in a magnetic field

cardiac catheterization

thin, flexible tube is guided into the heart via a vein or an artery

electrocardiography (ECG)

recording of electricity flowing through the heart

Holter monitoring

an ECG device is worn during a 24-hour period to detect cardiac arrhythmias

stress test

exercise tolerance tests (ETT) determines the heart’s response to physical exertion (Stress)

catheter ablation

brief delivery of radiofrequency energy to destroy areas of hear tissue that may be causing arrhythmias

coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)

arteries and veins are anastomosed to coronary arteries to detour around blockages

defibrillation

brief discharges of electricity are applied across the chest to stop dysrhythmias (ventricular fibrillation)

endarterectomy

surgical removal of plaque from the inner layers of an artery

extracorporeal circulation

heart-lung machine diverts blood from the heart and lungs while the heart is repaired

heart transplantation

donor heart is transfored to a recipient