Chapter 6: Essentials of Medical Language

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CPR

cardiovascular technologist

CVT

elctrocardiogram

ECG/EKG

emergency department

ED

difficulty of breathing

DOB

immediately

STAT

cardiac

Pertaining to the heart

-ac

pertaining to

cardiologist

A medical specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of the heart (cardiology)

cardiology

Medical specialty of diseases of the heart

cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

The attempt to restore cardiac and pulmonary function

-ation

a process

resuscit-

revive from apparent death

-ary

pertaining to

cardiovascular

Pertaining to the heart and blood vessels

-vascul-

blood vessel

diaphoresis

Sweat, perspiration, or sweaty

diaphoretic

Pertaining to sweat or perspiration

-esis

condition

diaphor-

sweat

-etic

pertaining to

electrocardiogram (ECG, EKG)

Record of the electrical signals of the heart

electrocardiograph

Machine that produces the electrocardiogram

electrocardiography

The method of recording and the interpretation of electrocardiograms

-gram

a record

electr/o-

electricity

-graph

to record

-graphy

process of recording

electrode

A device for conducting electricity

-ode

way, road

mediastinum

Area between the lungs containing the heart, aorta, venae cavae, esophagus, and trachea

-um

structure

media-

middle

-stin-

partition

perfusion

The act of forcing blood to flow through a lumen or a vascular bed

-ion

action

perfus-

to pour

phlebotomist

Person skilled in taking blood from veins

phlebotomy

Withdrawing blood from a vein through a needle or catheter

-ist

specialist in

phleb/o-

vein

-tom-

incise, cut

-tomy

surgical incision

sternum

Long, flat bone forming the center of the anterior wall of the chest

thoracic cavity

Space within the chest containing the lungs, heart, esophagus, trachea, aorta, venae cavae, and pulmonary vessels

cardiac sonographers/echocardiographers

Technologists who use ultrasound to observe the heart chambers, valves, and blood vessels

myocardial infarction

MI

aorta

Main trunk of the systemic arterial system

aortic

Pertaining to the aorta

aort-

aorta

coronary circulation

Blood vessels supplying the heart muscle

coron-

crown, coronary

circulat-

circular route

endocardium

The inside lining of the heart

endocardial

Pertaining to the endocardium

endo-

inside

epicardium

The outer layer of the heart wall

epicardial

Pertaining to the epicardium

epi-

upon, above

infarct

Area of cell death resulting from an infarction

infarction

Sudden blockage of an artery

-farct-

area of dead tissue

ischemia

Lack of blood supply to a tissue

ischemic

Pertaining to or affected by the lack of blood supply to a tissue

-emia

a blood condition

isch-

to keep back

-emic

(pertaining to) a condition of the blood

myocardium

Muscular layer of the heart

myocardial

Pertaining to heart muscle

necrosis

Pathologic death of cells or tissue

necrotic

Pertaining to or affected by necrosis (death)

-osis

condition

necr/o-

death

pericardium

A double layer of membranes surrounding the heart

pericardial

Pertaining to the pericardium

peri-

around

pulmonary

Pertaining to the lungs and their blood supply

atrium/atria (pl)

Chamber where blood enters the heart on both the right and left sides

atrial

Pertaining to the atrium

atri-

entrance, atrium

bicuspid

Having two points; heart valve with two flaps

-id

having a particular quality

-cusp-

point

interatrial

Between the atria of the heart

inter-

between

interventricular (IV)

Between the ventricles of the heart

-ventricul-

ventricle

mitral

Shaped like the headdress of a Catholic bishop

septum/septa (pl)

A thin wall dividing two cavities

tricuspid

Having three points; heart valve with three flaps

ventricle

Chamber of the heart (pumps blood) or a cavity in the brain (produces cerebrospinal fluid)

atrioventricular

AV

blood pressure

BP

pulse

P

respiration

R

sinoatrial

SA

temperature

T

vital signs

VS

arrhythmia

Condition when the heart rhythm is abnormal

atrioventricular (AV)

Pertaining to both the atrium and the ventricle