Medical Terminology Cardiovascular System & Respiratory System

What is an aneurysm?

Localized abnormal dilation of a blood vessel, usually an artery.

What is angina?

Sharp pain in the chest resulting from a decrease in blood supply to the heart muscle.

What is asystole?

Absence of contractions of the heart.

What is atherosclerosis?

Hardening of the arteries caused by a collection of fatty deposits within the arteries.

What is atrial fibrillation?

An irregular and often rapid heart rate that increases a patient's risk of stroke.

What is auscultation?

The act of listening to sounds arising within organs as an aid to diagnosis and treatment.

What does benign mean?

Not progressive or noncancerous.

What is bradycardia?

Abnormally slow heart rate.

What are capillaries?

Tiny blood vessels that connect the ends of the smallest arteries with the beginnings of the smallest veins.

What is cardiac?

Pertaining to the heart.

What is cardiology?

The study of the heart.

What is carditis?

Inflammation of the heart.

What is cardiomegaly?

An abnormal enlargement of the heart.

What is claudication?

Cramp-like pains resulting from poor circulation in the muscles of the legs.

What is coronary artery disease?

Narrowing of the coronary arteries preventing adequate blood supply to the myocardium.

What is diastole?

The relaxation period of the heart, alternating with the contraction phase.

What is dyslipidemia?

A disorder of lipoprotein metabolism, including overproduction or deficiency.

What is edema?

Swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in your body's tissues.

What is endocarditis?

Infection or inflammation of the heart valves or lining.

What is epicardium?

Inner layer of the pericardium enclosing the heart.

What is hyperlipidemia?

An increase of lipids in the blood.

What is hypertension?

Elevated blood pressure.

What is hypotension?

Low blood pressure.

What is infarction?

Area of dead tissue caused by decreased blood flow.

What is ischemia?

Decreased supply of oxygenated blood to a body part.

What is a murmur?

Abnormal sound heard when listening to the heart.

What is a myocardial infarction?

Area of dead tissue in the heart muscle; also known as a heart attack.

What is myocardium?

The middle muscular layer of the heart.

What is a pacemaker?

An apparatus that stimulates the heart muscle to contract.

What is a palpitation?

Feelings of rapid, fluttering, or pounding heartbeats.

What is pericardium?

The double membranous sac that encloses the heart.

What is septum?

A partition that divides or separates two cavities.

What is systole?

The contraction phase of the heartbeat.

What is tachycardia?

Abnormal rapidity of the heart, usually over 100 beats per minute.

What is thrombosis?

An abnormal condition in which a clot develops in a blood vessel.

What is vasoconstriction?

Narrowing of the lumen of a blood vessel.

What is apnea?

Temporary cessation of breathing.

What is bradypnea?

Abnormally slow breathing.

What is bronchitis?

Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bronchial tubes.

What is croup?

An infection of the upper airway, causing a characteristic barking cough.

What is cyanosis?

Bluish discoloration of skin due to lack of oxygen.

What is dyspnea?

Labored or difficult breathing.

What is emphysema?

Destruction of air sacs in the lungs, leading to shortness of breath.

What is epistaxis?

Hemorrhage from the nose; nosebleed.

What is hemoptysis?

Spitting up blood.

What does hyperventilate mean?

Rapid and deep breathing lowering carbon dioxide.

What does hypoventilate mean?

Too slow or shallow breathing leading to carbon dioxide buildup.

What is hypoxemia?

Insufficient oxygenation of the blood.

What is hypoxia?

Deficiency of oxygen.

What does intercostal mean?

Between the ribs.

What is orthopnea?

Labored breathing when lying flat; improves when sitting up.

What is pertussis?

Acute upper respiratory infectious disease, also known as whooping cough.

What is pneumonia?

Inflammation of the lungs caused by various pathogens.

What does pulmonary mean?

Pertaining to the lungs.

What is pulmonary edema?

Excess fluid in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe.

What is pulmonary embolism?

Obstruction of pulmonary artery by a clot.

What are rales?

Abnormal sounds heard on auscultation of the chest.

What is rhinitis?

Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose.

What is rhinoplasty?

Surgical repair of the nose.

What is rhinorrhea?

Excessive mucous secretion from the nose.

What is tachypnea?

Abnormal rapid breathing.

What is tonsillitis?

Inflammation of the tonsils.

What is tuberculosis?

Infectious disease caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis.

What is wheeze?

A whistling or sighing sound from narrowed airways.

What is a bronchoscopy?

Exam of the interior of the bronchi using a bronchoscope.

What is a chest x-ray?

A radiology test producing an image of the chest.

What is laryngoscopy?

Exam of the interior larynx using a laryngoscope.

What are pulmonary function tests?

Tests to assess respiratory function.

What is thoracentesis?

Extraction of pleural fluid for analysis.

What does ABG stand for?

Arterial blood gas.

What does PaCO2 represent?

Partial pressure of carbon dioxide.

What does ARDS stand for?

Acute respiratory distress syndrome.

What does PaO2 represent?

Partial pressure of oxygen.

What does ARF stand for?

Acute respiratory failure.

What does PFT stand for?

Pulmonary function test.

What does CO2 stand for?

Carbon dioxide.

What does RDS stand for?

Respiratory distress syndrome.

What does COPD represent?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

What does RR stand for?

Respiratory rate.

What does SOB stand for?

Shortness of breath.

What does DOE represent?

Dyspnea on exertion.

What does TB stand for?

Tuberculosis.

What does HEENT stand for?

Head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat.

What does URI represent?

Upper respiratory infection.

What does O2 stand for?

Oxygen.