Exploring Medical Language Chapter 10

heart

muscular cone-shaped organ the size of a fist, located behind the sternum and between the lungs. The pumping action of the heart circulates blood throughout the body. The heart consists of two upper chambers, the right atrium and the left atrium, and two lower chambers, the right ventricle and the left ventricle. The atria receive blood returning from the body through the veins. The ventricles pump blood through the arteries from the heart back to the body tissue. The atrial septum separates the atria and the ventricular septum separates the ventricles. The tricuspid and the mitral valves are referred to as the atrioventricular valves. Valves of the heart keep the blood flowing in one direction

tricuspid valve

located between the right atrium and the right ventricle

mitral valve

located between the left atrium and left ventricle

semilunar valves

pulmonary and aortic valves located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery and between the left ventricle and the aorta

pericardium

two-layer sac consisting of an external fibrous and an internal serous layer. The serous layer secretes a fluid that facilitates movement of the heart. This layer also covers the heart and is called the epicardium

epicardium

layer that covers the heart

myocardium

middle, thick, muscular layer

endocardium

inner lining of the heart

blood vessels

tubelike structures that carry blood throughout the body

arteries

blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. All arteries, with the exception of the pulmonary artery, carry oxygen and other nutrients from the heart to the body cells. The pulmonary artery, in contrast, carries carbon dioxide and other waste products from the heart to the lungs

arterioles

smallest arteries

aorta

largest artery in the body, originating at the left ventricle and descending through the thorax and abdomen

veins

blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart. All veins, with the exception of the pulmonary veins, carry blood containing carbon dioxide and other waste products. The pulmonary veins carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart

venules

smallest veins

venae cavae

largest veins in the body. The inferior vena cava carries blood to the heart from the body parts below the diaphragm, and the superior vena cava returns the blood to the heart from the upper part of the body

capillaries

microscopic blood vessels that connect arterioles with venules. Materials are passed between the blood and tissue through the capillary walls

blood

composed of plasma and formed elements, such as erythrocytes, leukocytes, and thrombocytes

plasma

clear, straw-colored, liquid portion of blood in which cells are suspended. Plasma is approximately 90% water and comprises approximately 55% of the total blood vollume

erythrocytes

red blood cells that carry oxygen. Erythrocytes develop in bone marrow

leukocytes

white blood cells that combat infection and respond to inflammation. There are five types of white blood cells

platelets

one of the formed elements in the blood that is responsible for aiding in the clothing process

serum

clear, watery fluid portion of the blood that remains after a clot has formed

lymph

transparent, colorless, tissue fluid that, on entering the lymphatic system, is called lymph. Lymph contains lymphocytes and monocytes and flows in a one-way direction to the heart. Lymph is similar to blood plasma

lymphatic vessels

similar to veins, lymphatic vessels transport lymph from body tissues to the chest, where it enters the cardiovascular system. The vessels begin as capillaries spread throughout the body then merge into larger tubes that eventually become ducts in the chest. They provide a one-way flow for lymph gathered from the tissues to ducts in the chest, where lymph enters through veins into the circulatory system

lymph nodes

small, spherical bodies composed of lymphoid tissue. They may be singular or grouped together along the path of the lymph vessels. The nodes filter lymph to keep substances such as bacteria and other foreign agents from entering the blood. They also produce lymphocytes

spleen

located in the left side of the abdominal cavity between the stomach and the diaphragm. In adulthood, the spleen is the largest lymphatic organ in the body. Blood, rather than lymph, flows through the spleen. Blood is cleansed of microorganisms in the spleen. The spleen stores blood and destroys worn out red blood cells

thymus gland

one of the primary lymphatic organs, it is located anterior to the ascending aorta and posterior to the sternum between the lungs. It plays an important role in the development of the body's immune system, particularly from infancy to puberty. Around puberty the thymus gland atrophies so that most of the gland is connective tissue

angi/o

vessel (usually refers to blood vessel)

aort/o

aorta

arteri/o

artery

atri/o

atrium

cardi/o

heart

lymphaden/o

lymph node

lymph/o

lymph, lymph tissue

myel/o

bone marrow

phleb/o

ven/o

vein

plasm/o

plasma

splen/o

spleen

thym/o

thymus gland

valv/o

valvul/o

valve

ventricul/o

ventricle

ather/o

yellowish, fatty plaque

ech/o

sound

electr/o

electricity, electrical activity

isch/o

deficiency, clockage

therm/o

heat

thromb/o

clot

brady-

slow

-ac

pertaining to

-apheresis

removal

-graph

instrument used to record; record

-odynia

pain

-penia

abnormal reduction in number

-poiesis

formation

-sclerosis

hardening

angioma

tumor composed of blood vessels

angiostenosis

narrowing of a blood vessel

aortic stenosis

narrowing pertaining to aorta

arteriosclerosis

hardening of the arteries

atherosclerosis

hardening of fatty plaque

bradycardia

condition of a slow heart

cardiodynia

pain in the heart

cardiomegaly

enlargement of the heart

cardiomyopathy

disease of the heart muscle

cardiovalvulitis

inflammation of the valves of the heart

endocarditis

inflammation of the inner (lining) of the heart (particularly heart valves)

ischemia

deficiency of blood (flow)

myocarditis

inflammation of the muscle of the heart

pericarditis

inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart

phlebitis

inflammation of a vein

polyarteritis

inflammation of many arteries

tachycardia

abnormal state of rapid heart

thrombophlebitis

inflammation of a vein associated with a clot

hematoma

tumor of blood (collection of blood resulting from a broken blood vessel)

multiple myeloma

tumors of the bone marrow

pancytopenia

abnormal reduction of all (blood) cells

thrombosis

abnormal condition of a (blood) clot

thrombus

(blood) clot (attached to the interior wall of an artery or vein)

lymphadenitis

inflammation of the lymph nodes

lymphadoenopathy

disease of the lymph nodes (characterized by abnormal enlargement of the lymph nodes associated with an infection or malignancy)

lymphoma

tumor of lymphatic tissue (malignant)

splenomegaly

enlargement of the spleen

thymoma

tumor of the thymus gland

acute coronary syndrome

sudden symptoms of insufficient blood supply to the heart indicating unstable angina or acute myocardial infarction

aneurysm

ballooning of a weakened portion of an arterial wall

angina pectoris

chest pain, which may radiate to the left arm and jar, that occurs when there is an insufficient supply of blood to the heart muscle

arrhythmia

any disturbance or abnormality in the heart's normal rhythmic pattern

artial fibrillation

a cardiac arrhythmia characterized by chaotic, rapid electrical impulses in the atria. The atria quiver instead of contracting, causing irregular ventricular response and the ejection of a reduced amount of blood. The blood that remains in the atria becomes static, increasing the risk of clot formation, which may lead to a stroke.

cardiac arrest

sudden cessation of cardiac output and effective circulation, which requires cardiopulmonary resuscitation

cardiac tamponade

acute compression of the heart caused by fluid accumulation in the pericardial vacity

coarctation of the aorta

congenital cardiac condition characterized by a narrowing of the aorta

congenital heart disease

heart abnormality present at birth

congestive heart failure

inability of the heart to pump enough blood through the body to supply the tissues and organs with nutrients and oxygen

coronary artery disease

a condition that reduces the flow of blood through the coronary arteries to the myocardium, denying the myocardial tissue of sufficient oxygen and nutrients to function fully; most often caused by coronary atherosclerosis

coronary occlusion

obstruction of an artery of the heart, usually from atherosclerosis. Coronary occlusion can lead to acute myocardial infarction

deep vein thrombosis

condition of thrombus in a deep vein of the body. Most often occurs in the lower extremities. A clot can break off and travel to he lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism

hypertensive heart disease

disorder of the heart brought about by persistent high blood pressure

intermittent claudication

pain and discomfort in calf muscles while walking; a condition seen occlusive artery disease

mitral valve stenosis

a narrowing of the mitral valve from scarring, usually caused by episodes of rheumatic fever

myocardial infarction

death (necrosis) of a portion of the myocardium caused by lack of oxygen resulting from an interrupted blood supply