Med Term Quiz 3: Chapters 7 - 9

Aneurysm

a ballooning out of the wall of a vessel, usually an artery, caused by a congenital defect or weakness of the wall of the vessel

Angiography

a general term for radiography of vessels

Angioplasty

a surgical repair of blood vessels that have become damaged by disease or injury

Antihypertensive

agents used to reduce high blood pressure

Aorta

the artery by which oxygen rich blood leaves the heart to be routed throughout the body; largest artery in the body

Aortic

pertaining to the aorta

Arrhythmia

irregularity or loss of rhythm of the heartbeat; less technically correct than dysrhythmia but more used

Arterial

pertaining to an artery or arteries

Arteriogram

the image produced by an arteriography

Arteriography

radiography of arteries after injection of radiopaque material into the blood stream

Arteriosclerosis

the hardening of the arteries

Artery

name of the blood vessel where oxygen rich blood leaves the heart to the parts of the body

Asystole

absence of a heartbeat

Atherosclerosis

characterized by the formation of fatty, cholesterol-like deposits on the walls of the arteries; a form of arteriosclerosis

Atria

plural form of atrium

Bradycardia

decreased pulse rate

Capillaries

where the arterioles branch even more to become tiny vessels with one-cell-thick walls; both arterial, venous, and lymphatic

Cardiomegaly

enlarged heart

Cardiopulmonary

pertaining to the heart and lungs

Cardiovascular

pertaining to the heart and blood vessels; one of the systems that makes the circulatory system

Catheter

a hollow, flexible tube that can be inserted into a body cavity or vessel for the purpose of instilling or withdrawing fluid, perform tests, or visualize a vessel or cavity; for heart it allows the collection of blood samples from different parts of the heart and determines pressure differences in various chambers (inserted through limb to heart chamber)

Cerebrovascular Accident

blood vessels in the brain become diseased or damaged; stroke; may be caused by blockage of cerebral artery by thrombus or embolus; accident involving the brain and vessels

Coronary

means encircling, in the manner of a crown, and refers to the way in which coronary arteries encircle the heart in a crownlike fashion

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)

sections of blood vessels (such as saphenous veins from patients leg or potentially arteries) are grafted onto the coronary arteries to bypass the blocked coronary arteries

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

abnormal condition that affects the heart's arteries and produces various pathologic effects, especially the reduced flow of blood to the myocardium

Defibrillation

the use of, or procedure of using, an electronic apparatus that delivers a shock to the heart, often through the placement of electrodes on the chest to reverse severe cardiac arrhythmia; may also be used to slow heart or restore its normal rhythm

Diuretic

used to reduce the blood volume through greater excretion of water by the kidneys

Dysrhythmia

irregularity or loss of rhythm of the heartbeat, more technically correct than arrhythmia

Echocardiogram

a record of the heart obtained by directing ultrasonic waves through the chest wall; record received from echocardiography procedure

Embolism

the sudden blocking of an artery or lymph vessel by foreign material that has been brought to the site of blockage by the circulating blood

Embolus

foreign material brought to the artery or lymph vessel

Heart Murmur

soft blowing or rasping sound that may be heard when listening to the heart with a stethoscope; not necessarily pathologic

Hemangioma

tumors consisting principally of blood vessels

Hemorrhage

loss of a large amount of blood in a short amount of time

Hypertension

elevated blood pressure above the normal values of 120/80 mm Hg in an adult over 18 years of age; in class said 140/90 mm Hg and up

Infarction

necrosis of a localized area of tissue caused by lack of blood supply to that area

Lymphatic

pertaining to structures involved in the conveyance of the fluid lymph; one of the systems that makes up the cardiovascular system

Lymphoma

a general term for cancer that originates in the lymphatic system

Myocardial Infarction (MI)

the death of an area of the heart muscle that occurs as a result of oxygen deprivation; also called acute myocardial infarcation

Occlusion

an obstruction (of the artery that supplies blood to that tissue)

Phlebitis

an inflammation of a vein or veins

Pulse

the periodic thrust felt over arteries; it is consistent with the heartbeat; arteries are used to measure the pulse rate

Shock

serious condition in which blood flow to the heart is reduced to such an extent that body tissues do not receive enough blood; may have various causes, including hemorrhage, infection, drug reaction, injury, poisoning, MI, and excessive emotional stress

Spleen

one of the organs that compose the lymphatic system; largest organ of the lymphatic system and functions primarily as a blood filter and a key component of the immune system.

Splenomegaly

enlarged spleen

Stenosis

a narrowing (of the artery that supplies blood to that tissue)

Tachycardia

increased pulse rate

Thrombosis

condition of a blood clot in a vessel or the heart cavity

Thymus

one of the organs that compose the lymphatic system; regresses after adolescence; primary function is to support the maturation of T cells

Triglyceride

fatty substance in the body; lipid

Aphasia

the inability to communicate through speech, writing, or signs; caused by improper functioning of the brain

Apnea

temporary absence of breathing

Asphyxiation

suffocation; requires immediate corrective measures to prevent loss of consciousness and, if not corrected, death

Asthma

paroxysmal dyspnea accompanied by wheezing; asthma is brought about by a spasm of the bronchial tubes or by swelling of their mucous membranes

Atelectasis

incomplete expansion of a lung or a portion of it; airlessness or collapse of a lung that had once been expanded

Bradypnea

breathing rate less than 12 breaths per minute

Bronchi

branch of the trachea

Bronchitis

inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bronchi

Bronchography

radiography of the bronchi after injection of a radiopaque contrast medium

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

disease process that decreases the lungs' ability to perform their ventilatory function; characterized by chronic airflow limitation and also called chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD); can result from chronic bronchitis, emphysema, chronic asthma, or chronic bronchiolitis

Diaphragm

a dome shaped partition that functions in respiration; a muscular wall that separates the abdomen from the thoracic cavity; contracts and relaxes with each inspiration and expiration

Dysphasia

a speech impairment resulting from a brain lesion; there is a lack of coordination and an inability to arrange words in their proper order

Dysphonia

difficulty speaking or a weak voice

Dyspnea

labored or difficult breathing

Effusion

escape of fluid; abnormal accumulation of fluid in a body cavity, typically without particular place or position

Emphysema

chronic pulmonary disease characterized by an increase in the size of alveoli and by destructive changes in their walls, resulting in difficulty in breathing, hypoventilation, and hypoxemia

Endotracheal Intubation

the insertion of an airway tube through the mouth or nose into the trachea; may be used to keep an airway open, prevent aspiration of material from the digestive tract in an unconscious or paralyzed patient, permit suctioning of secretions, or provide ventilation that cannot be accomplished with a mask

Exhalation

breathing air out of the lungs; same as expiration

Expiration

breathing air out of the lungs; same as exhalation

Heimlich Maneuver

a method of dislodging food or other obstructions from the windpipe

Hemothorax

means blood in the pleural cavity

Hyperventilation

increased aeration of the lungs reduces carbon dioxide levels in the body and can disrupt homeostasis

Hypoxemia

deficient oxygen in the blood

Hypoxia

a deficiency of oxygen which can be caused by respiratory disorders but can occur under other conditions as well; can result from reduced oxygen concentration in the air at high altitudes or from anemia; same as anoxia

Influenza

acute, contagious respiratory infection characterized by sudden onset, chills, headache, fever, and muscular discomfort; caused by several different types of viruses

Inhalation

breathing air into the lungs; same as inspiration

Inspiration

breathing air into the lungs; same as inhalation

Nasal

pertaining to the nose

Orthopnea

a condition in which breathing is uncomfortable in any position excepting sitting erect or standing

Oximeter

a device used for noninvasive photo+diagnostic methods of monitoring blood oxygen saturation in the arteries

Paracentesis

surgical puncture of the abdomen to remove fluid

Pharynx

the throat; serves as a shared passageway for both the respiratory and digestive systems

Phrenic

means pertaining to the diaphragm, but sometimes means pertaining to the mind (as in schizophrenic)

Pleura

the membrane that surrounds bodily structures like the lungs

Pneumonia

primarily caused by bacteria, viruses, or chemical irritants; infection that inflames the air sacs (alveoli) in one or both lungs, which may fill with fluid or pus

Pneumothorax

refers to air or gas in the chest cavity, specifically the pleural cavity

Pulmonary

pertaining to the lungs

Pulmonary Edema

escape of fluid into the air spaces and tissue spaces of the lungs; can have other causes like insufficient cardiac activity

Pulmonary Embolism

blockage of a pulmonary artery by foreign matter such as fat, air, tumor tissue, or a blood clot

Respiration

the combined activity of various processes that supply oxygen to all body cells and remove carbon dioxide; breathing is external respiration

Tachypnea

breathing rate exceeds 20 breaths per minute

Thoracentesis

surgical puncture of the chest cavity to remove fluid; also called thoracocentesis or thoracic paracentesis

Thrombus

a blood clot

Trachea

windpipe

Ventilator

a machine that is used for prolonged artificial ventilation of the lungs

Wheeze

a whistling sound made during respiration

Alimentary Tract

produces the substances needed for proper digestion and absorption of nutrients; also called the digestive tract; long, hollow passageway that extends from the mouth to the anus, through which food travels for digestion and elimination.

Anorexia

loss of appetite for food

Antiemetic

used to relieve or prevent vomiting

Appendectomy

surgical removal of the vermiform appendix; removed when it is acutely infected to prevent peritonitis, which can occur if the appendix ruptures