Medical Terminology Chapter 9

angi/o, vas/o, vascul/o

vessel

aort/o

aorta

arteri/o

artery

ather/o

fatty (lipid) paste

atri/o

atrium

cardi/o

heart

coron/o

circle or crown

my/o

muscle

pector/o, steth/o

chest

phleb/o, ven/o

vein

sphygm/o

pulse

thromb/o

clot

varic/o

swollen, twisted vein

ventricul/o

ventricle (belly or pouch)

atrium

upper right or left chamber of the heart

endocardium

membrane lining the cavities of the heart

epicardium

membrane forming the outer layer of the heart

interatrial septum

partition between the right and left atria

interventricular septum

partrition between the right and left ventricles

myocardium

heart muscle

pericardium

protective sac enclosing the heart composed of two layers with fluid between

visceral pericardium

layer of the pericardial sac closest to the heart

visceral

pertaining to organ

parietal

pertaining to wall

parietal pericardium

outer layer

pericardial cavity

fluid-filled cavity between the pericardial layers

ventricle

lower right or left chamber of the heart

heart valves

structures within the heart that open and close with the heartbeat to regulate the one

aortic valve

heart valve between the left ventricle and the aorta

mitral valve, bicuspid valve

heart valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle

pulmonary valve

heart valve opening from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery; also called the pulmonary semilunar valve

tricuspid valve

valve between the right atrium and the right ventricle

valves of the veins

valves located at intervals within the lining of veins, especially in the legs that construct muscle action to move the blood returning to the heart

arteries

vessels that carry blood away from the heart to the arteries

aorta

large artery that is the main trunk of the arterial system branching fro the left ventricle

arterioles

small vessels that receive blood from the arteries

capillaries

tiny vessels that join arterioles and venules

venules

small vessels that gather blood from the capillaries into the veins

veins

vessels that carry blood to the heart from the venules

systemic circulation

circulation of blood throughout the body via body arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins to deliver oxygen and nutrients to body tissues

coronary circulation

circulation of blood through the coronary blood vessels to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle

pulmonary circulation

circulation of blood from the pulmonary artery through the vessels in the lungs and back to the heart via the pulmonary vein, providing for the exchange of gases

blood pressure

measure of the blood within the systemic arteries maintained by the force and rate of the heartbeat and the diameter and elasticity of aterial walls; measured with a cuff

diastole

to expand; period during the cardiac cycle when blood enters the relaxed ventricles from the atria

systole

to contract; period during cardiac cycle when the heart is in contraction and blood is ejected through the aorta and the pulmonary artery

normotension

normal blood pressure

hypotension

low blood pressure

hypertension

high blood pressure

sinoatrial node

the pacemaker; neurologic tissue embedded in the wall of the right atrium; initiates electrical conduction of the heartbeat causing atria to contract and fire conduction of impulses

atrioventricular node

neurologic tissue in the center of the heart that receives and amplifies the conduction of impulses from the SA node

atrioventricular bundle/ bundle of His

neurologic fibers extending from the AV node to the right and left bundle branches that fire the impulse from the AV node to the Purkinje fibers

Purkinje fibers

fibers in the ventricles that transmit impulses to the right and left ventricles, causing them to contract

polarization

resting; resting state of myocardial cell

depolarization

change of a myocardial cell from a resting state to a state of contraction

repolarization

recharging of the myocardial cell from a contracted state back to a resting state

normal sinus rhythm

regular rhythm of the heart cycle stimulated by the SA node; average rate of 60

aneurysm

a widening; a bulging of the wall of an artery caused by a congenital defect or acquired weakness

saccular aneurysm

a sac-like bulge on one side of an artery

fusiform aneurysm

a spindle-shaped bulge of an artery

dissecting aneurysm

a split or tear of the arterial wall

constriction

compression of a part that causes narrowing (stenosis)

angina pectoris

chest pain caused by a temporary loss of oxygenated blood to heart muscle; caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries

angina

to choke

arteriosclerosis

thickening, loss of elasticity, and hardening of arterial walls

atherosclerosis

a form of arteriosclerosis characterized by the buildup of fatty substances that harden within the walls of arteries

atheromatous plaque

a swollen area within the lining of an artery caused by the buildup of fat (lipids)

claudication

limping; pain in a limb (especially the calf) while walking that subsides after rest; caused by inadequate blood supply

diaphoresis

profuse sweating (perspiration)

thrombus

a stationary blood clot

embolus

a clot carried in the bloodstream that obstructs the flow of blood when it lodges

embolus

a stopper

heart murmur

am abnormal sound from the heart produced be defects in the chambers or valves

ischemia

decreased blood flow to tissue caused by obstruction or contraction of a blood vessel; to hold back blood

occlusion

plugging; an obstruction or a closing off

infarct

a localized area of necrosis (dead tissue cells) caused by ischemia resulting from occlusion of a blood vessel; to stuff into

perfusion deficit

lack of flow through a blood vessel caused by narrowing, occlusion or obstruction

palpitation

subjective experience of pounding, skipping, or racing heartbeats

stenosis

condition of narrowing of a part

vegetation

an abnormal growth of tissue around a valve, generally resulting from infection; to grow

acute coronary syndrome

symptoms indicating an active process of atherosclerosis plaque buildup or formation of a thrombus or spasm within a coronary artery; causes a reduction of blood flow to myocardial tissue

arrythmia or dysrhythmia

any of several kinds of irregularity or loss of rhythm of the heartbeat

bradycardia

slow heart rate; less than 60 bpm

fibrillation

irregular contractions of the heart, as in atrial or ventricular fibrillation

atrial flutter

rapid regular atrial contractions occurring at rates between 250 and 330 bpm

premature ventricular contraction

a ventricular contraction preceding the normal impulse initiated by the SA node; pace maker

tachycardia

fast heart rate (greater than 100 bpm)

bacterial endocarditis

a bacterial inflammation that affects the endocardium or the heart valves

cardiac tamponade

compression of the heart produced by the accumulation of fluid in the pericardial sac; resulting from pericarditis or trauma; causes rupture of blood vessel within the heart

cardiomyopathy

disease of the heart muscle, such as alcoholic cardiomyopathy

congenital anomaly of the heart

malformations of the heart that are present at birth

congenital

born with

anomaly

irregularity

atrial septal defect

an opening in the septum separating the atria

coarctation of the aorta

narrowing of the descending portion of the aorta, resulting in a limited flow of blood to the lower part of the body

patent ductus arteriosus

an abnormal opening between the pulmonary artery and the aorta caused by failure of the fetal ductus arteriosus

patent

to open

ventricular septal defect

an opening in the septum separating the ventricles

congestive heat failure

failure of the heart to pump an adequate amount of blood to meet the demands of the body resulting in congestion and edema in lower portions of the body

left ventricular failure

failure of the left ventricle to pump enough blood resulting in an increased pressure in the pulmonary circulation causing pulmonary congestion and edema; left

right ventricular failure

enlargement of the right ventricle resulting from chronic disease within the lungs causing congestion within the pulmonary circulation and resistance of blood flow to the lungs