MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

itis

inflammation

-osis

abnormal condition

-ectomy

to cut out

-otomy

to cut into

-ostomy

to make a "mouth"

a/an

without, none

micro

small

macro

large

mega/megaly

enlarged

scopy/scopic

look, observe

-graphy; -graph

recording an image

gram

the image (X-ray)

-ology/-ologist

study, specialize in

stomato

mouth

dento

teeth

glossy/linguo

tongue

gingivo

gums

encephalo

brain

gastro

stomach

entero

intsetine

procto

anus and rectum

hepato

liver

nephro/rene

kidney

orchido

testis

oophoro

ovary

hystero/metro

uterus

salpingo

uterine tubes

dermo

skin

masto/mammo

breast

osteo

bones

cardio

heart

cysto

bladder

rhino

nose

phlebo/veno

veins

pneumo/pulmo

lung

hemo/emia

blood

leuk/o

white

melan/o

black

cyan/o

blue

xanth/o

yellow

aden/o

gland

lip/o

fat

my/o

muscle

lymph/o

lymph tissue

carcin/o

malignant

oseteo/o

bone

endo

within, inside of

peri

around

circum

around

retro

behind

epi-

upon on top

trans

through

intra-

within

sub

below

symptom

something you observe and complain about to the physician

a sign

is something the physician observes and/or can measure

brady

slow

tachy

fast

angi/o

vessel

stasis

to stop

-cyte

cell

Atherosclerosis

condition in which fatty deposits called plaque build up on the inner walls of the arteries

myocardial infarction (MI)

blockage of blood flow resulting in death of muscle tissue (heart attack)

Mitral prolapse, stenosis, regurgitation

Blood flows through four chambers in the heart separated by one-way valves. A major valve is the one separating the upper and lower chambers on the left side of the heart. The left side is especially important because freshly oxygenated blood returning from the lungs is circulated out of the heart to the rest of the body. The left valve, called atrioventricular, for the chambers it separates, is also called the mitral valve, because it is shaped like an upside down Bishop's hat, a miter. If the flaps of this valve tear away due to disease, the process is called prolapse, "a falling forward." This results in leakage and backward flow called "regurgitation" (get the picture?). Sometimes a valve is abnormally narrow causing partial obstruction constricting flow. Stenosis means "a narrowing."

angina pectoris

chest pain that results when the heart does not get enough blood

arrythmia/dysrhythmia

Abnormal heart rhythm

ischemia

Lack of blood supply

cardiologist

heart specialist

hematologist

physician who studies and treats diseases of the blood

Electrocardiagram (ECG)

A recording of the electrical activity of the heart

echocardiography (ECHO)

recording of sound waves through the heart to evaluate structure and motion

cardiac catheterization

a diagnostic procedure in which a catheter is passed into a vein or artery and then guided into the heart imaging the details of coronary arteries.

Phlebotomist/venipuncturist

the specially trained nurse or technician draws blood for lab tests and may also start IV's (intravenous fluids). The Greek and Latin versions of "cutting into a vein."

erythrocytes

gives the red color to the blood

ablation

using extreme heat or extreme cold to destroy cells in part of the heart which were causing abnormal rythyms

angiogram

x-ray of the coronary blood vessels

antihypertensives

class of medications used to treat high blood pressure

auscultation

Listening with a stethoscope

Atrioventricular

area of the heart where the atria and ventricles meet

atrioventricular valves

bicuspid and tricuspid valves

cardiac troponin

the regulatory protein for muscle contraction

compliance

the ability of the blood vessels to dilate and constrict as needed

congenital

present at birth

cyanosis

abnormal condition of blue

diaphoresis

sweating

dyspnea

difficult breathing

foramen ovale

connects the two atria in the fetal heart

HDL

high density lipoprotein (good cholesterol)

heart murmur

abnormal heart sound

Hypercholesterolemia

high levels of cholesterol in the blood

Hyoerlipidemia

excessive fat in the blood

implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)

electrical device implanted in chest cavity with electrodes to heart; applies shock to heart to stop potentially life-threatening arrhythmias such as fibrillation

inferior vena cava

One of the two largest veins in the body; carries blood from the lower extremities and the pelvic and the abdominal organs to the heart.

interatrial septum

the wall that separates the right and left atria in the heart

interventricular septum

the wall of myocardium that separates the right and left ventricles

LDL

low density lipoprotein (bad cholesterol)

MRI

magnetic resonance imaging

pacemaker

A device that delivers electrical impulses to the heart to regulate the heartbeat

palpitations

Feeling a heart-racing, pounding, or fluttering sensation in the chest

pericardial fluid

serous fluid between parietal & visceral pericardium; reduces friction when heart beats