HTHRHSC 2500: Medical Terminology - Chapter 5

angi/o, vas/o

blood or lymph vessel

aort/o

aorta

ather/o

plaque, fatty substance

capill/o

hair

card/o, cardi/o

heart

-crasia

a mixture or blending

electr/o

electricity, electric

embol/o

something inserted or thrown in

-emia

blood, blood condition

erythr/o

red

fibrill/o

muscle fiber; nerve fiber; muscle twitching

hem/o, hemat/o

blood, relating to the blood

infarct/o

filled in, stuffed

leuk/o

white

occlus/o, occlud/o

eye

rhythm/o

rhythm

-sclerosis

abnormal hardening

sept/o

infection, partition

tachy-

fast, rapid

thromb/o

clot, thrombus

valv/o, valvul/o

valve

ven/o

vein

ACE inhibitor

medications administered to treat hypertension and congestive heart failure.

anemia(s)

a disorder characterized by lower than normal levels of red blood cells in the blood.

aneurysm(s)

a localized weak spot or balloon-like enlargement of the wall of an artery.

aneurysm clipping

a surgical method to isolate an aneurysm from the rest of the circulatory system by placing a small clip across its neck.

aneurysmectomy

the surgical removal of an aneurysm

aneurysmorrhaphy

surgical suturing of an aneurysm.

angina

episodes of severe chest pain due to inadequate blood flow to the myocardium.

angioplasty

mechanically widening a narrowed or obstructed blood vessel.

angiostenosis

"abnormal narrowing of a blood vessel.

"

antiarrhythmic

medication administered to control irregularities of the heartbeat.

anticoagulant

medication that slows coagulation and prevents new clots from forming.

antihypertensive

medication administered to lower blood pressure.

antiplatelet

prevent blood cells called platelets from clumping together to form a clot.

aplastic anemia

a condition marked by the absence of all formed blood elements.

arrhythmia(s)

a loss of the normal rhythm of the heartbeat.

arteriectomy

surgical removal of part of an artery.

asystole

complete lack of electrical activity in the heart.

atherectomy

surgical removal of plaque buildup from the interior lining of an artery.

atheroma(mata)

a deposit of fatty plaque on or within the arterial wall.

atherosclerosis

hardening and narrowing of the arteries due to a buildup of cholesterol plaque.

arteriosclerosis

abnormal hardening of the walls of an artery or arteries.

arteriostenosis

abnormal narrowing of an artery or arteries.

atrial fibrillation/A-fib

rapid irregular twitching of the muscular wall of the atria.

artificial pacemaker

electronic device used primarily as treatment for bradycardia or atrial fibrillation.

automated external defibrillator/AED

electronic equipment that externally shocks the heart to restore a normal cardiac rhythm.

beta-blocker drug

medications administered to reduce the workload of the heart by slowing the heartbeat.

blood dyscrasia(s)

any pathologic condition of the cellular elements of the blood.

bradycardia

an abnormally slow resting heart rate, usually at a rate of less than 60 beats per minute.

calcium channel blocker drug

medications that cause the heart and blood vessels to relax by decreasing the movement of calcium into the cells of these structures

cardiac ablation

a procedure using heat or extreme cold to scar or destroy the heart tissue triggering an abnormal heart rhythm.

cardiac arrest

an event in which the heart abruptly stops beating or develops an arrhythmia that prevents it from pumping blood.

cardiac catheterization/card cath/cc

a diagnostic procedure in which a catheter is passed into a vein or artery and guided into the heart.

carditis

an inflammation of the heart.

cardiomegaly(ies)

An enlarged heart,

cardiomyopathy(ies)

An acquired or hereditary disease of the heart muscle.

cardiologist(s)

a doctor who specializes in the study or treatment of heart diseases and heart abnormalities.

cardiopulmonary resuscitation/CPR

an emergency procedure that combines chest compressions often with artificial ventilation in an effort to manually preserve intact brain function until further measures are taken to restore spontaneous blood circulation and breathing in a person who is in cardiac arrest.

cardiotonic drug

a substance which acts as a stimulant of the heart

carotid endarterectomy

A procedure removing plaque from the carotid artery, improving blood flow to the brain.

cholesterol

a fatty substance that travels through the blood and is found in all parts of the body.

cholesterol-lowering drug

medications, such as statins, that are administered to reduce the undesirable cholesterol levels in the blood.

chronic venous insufficiency/CVI

medications, such as statins, that are administered to reduce the undesirable cholesterol levels in the blood.

congenital heart defect(s)/CHD

structural abnormalities caused by the failure of the heart to develop normally before birth.

congestive heart failure/CHF

A chronic condition in which the heart doesn't pump blood as well as it should.

coronary artery bypass graft/CABG

a surgical procedure in which a piece of vein from the leg is implanted on the heart to replace a blocked coronary artery.

coronary artery disease/CAD /ischemic heart disease

atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries that reduces the blood supply to the heart muscle.

coronary thrombosis(es)

damage to the heart muscle caused by a thrombus blocking a coronary artery.

deep vein thrombosis(es)/DVT

the condition of having a thrombus attached to the interior wall of a deep vein.

defibrillation

the use of electrical shock to restore the heart's normal rhythm.

digital subtraction angiography/DSA

a diagnostic technique that combines angiography with computerized components to clarify the view of the area of interest by removing soft tissue and bone from the images.

diuretic

medications administered to increase urine secretion to rid the body of excess salt and water.

duplex ultrasound

a diagnostic procedure to image the structures of the blood vessels and the flow of blood through these vessels.

electrocardiography, electrocardiogram/EKG/ECG

the noninvasive process of recording the electrical activity of the myocardium.

embolism

the sudden blockage of a blood vessel by an embolus.

embolus(i)

a foreign object, such as a blood clot, a quantity of air or gas, or a bit of tissue or tumor, that is circulating in the blood.

endocarditis

inflammation of the inner lining of the heart.

erythrocytes

red blood cells

fibrillation

a rapid and uncontrolled heart beat

fibrinogen

a glycoprotein that in vertebrates circulates in the blood.

heart block

a congenital or acquired arrhythmia caused by the electrical signal moving through the heart being partially or completely blocked from reaching the ventricles.

heart valve replacement

the surgeon opens your chest and heart to remove the damaged valve. The new artificial (prosthetic) valve is then sewn into place.

hematologist(s)

a specialist in hematology, the science or study of blood, blood-forming organs and blood diseases.

hematopoietic

The production of all types of blood cells including formation, development, and differentiation of blood cells.

hemochromatosis

a genetic disorder in which the intestines absorb too much iron.

hemolytic anemia

condition characterized by an inadequate number of circulating red blood cells due to their premature destruction by the spleen.

hemostasis

to stop or control bleeding

heparin

a common anticoagulant administered by injection or in an IV solution.

high density lipoprotein/HDL

the form of cholesterol that does not contribute to plaque buildup.

hypertension/HTN

the elevation of arterial blood pressure to a level that is likely to cause damage to the cardiovascular system.

hypoperfusion

a deficiency of blood passing through an organ or body part.

implantable cardioverter-defibrillator/ICD

a double-action pacemaker that regulates the heartbeat and acts as an automatic defibrillator.

ischemia

a condition in which there is an insufficient supply of oxygen in the tissues due to restricted blood flow to a part of the body.

leukopenia

a decrease in the number of white blood cells circulating in the blood.

leukemia(s)

a type of cancer characterized by a progressive increase in the number of abnormal white blood cells found in blood-forming tissues, other organs, and in the circulating blood.

leukocyte(s)

a colorless cell that circulates in the blood and body fluids and is involved in counteracting foreign substances and disease; a white (blood) cell.

leukopenia

a decrease in the number of white blood cells circulating in the blood.

low density lipoprotein/LDL

the form of cholesterol that contributes to plaque buildup in the arteries.