Circulatory System

Medical Terminology

Cardi/o

heart

brady

slow

tachy

fast

angi/o

vessel

veno/phlebo

vein

-stasis

to stop

-cyte

cell

hem/o-, -emia

blood

Atherosclerosis

Formation of fatty plaques in the blood vessels

Arteriosclerosis

Hardening of the arteries

Myocardial Infarction

Heart attack, blockage of blood flow in the coronary artery leading to death of the cardiac tissue

Prolapse

Falling forward

Regurgitation

Leakage and backwards flow

Stenosis

narrowing

Angina pectoris

chest pain, not enough blood is getting to the heart tissue

Arrhythmia

no rhythm

Dysrhythmia

Abnormal rhythm

Ischemia

Not enough blood

Cardiologist

physician specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the circulatory system, does not do surgery

Cardiovascular surgeon

Does surgery on the heart and blood vessels

Hematologist

Physican specializing in the diseases of the blood

Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG)

Printout recording of the electrical activity of the heart

Echocardiography

Using ultra high frequency sound waves to form an image inside of the heart, can demonstrate valve damage, congenital defects, etc

Cardiac Catherization

Catheter that can be threaded into an artery up into the heart, opaque to X-rays, can be used to identify blockage and location in coronary circulation

Phelbotomist/Venipuncturist

specially trained nurse or technician who draws blood for lab tests and can start IVs