Med Term 3

Aneurysm

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

general term for radiography of vessels

Angioplasty

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

Antihypertensive

agent that are used to reduce high blood pressure

Aorta

the artery by which blood leaves the heart to be routed throughout the body

Aortic

pertaining to the aorta

Arrhythmia

Irregularity or loss of rhythm of the heartbeat

Arterial

pertaining to an artery or arteries

Arteriogram

radiographic image of an artery (after an injection of radiopaque material) produced by areriography

Arteriography

radiography of arteries after injection of radiopaque material into the bloodstream

Arteriosclerosis

hardening of the arteries

Artery

Blood vessel carrying blood away from the heart

Asystole

absence of a heartbeat

Atherosclerosis

characterized by the formation of fatty, cholesterol-like deposits on the walls of the inner wall of arteries

Atria

2 upper chambers of the heart

Bradycardia

decreased pulse rate, but its literal translation is "a slow heart condition"

Capillaries

tiny vessels with one-cell thick walls that branch from the arterioles

Cardiomegaly

enlarged heart

Cardiopulmonary

pertaining to the heart and lungs

Cardiovascular

pertaining to the heart and blood vessels

Catheter

hollow flexible tube that can be inserted into a cavity of the body to withdraw or instill fluids, perform tests, or visualize a vessel or cavity

cerebrovascular accident (CVA)

blood vessels in the brain have become diseased or damaged

Coronary

means encircling, in the manner of a crown

coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)

Sections of blood vessels are grafted onto the

coronary arteries to bypass the blocked coronary arteries

Coronary artery disease

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

Defibrillation

use of electronic apparatus to deliver shock to the heart, used to slow the heart or restore its normal rhythm

Diuretic

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

Dysrhythmia

Abnormal heart rhythm

Echocardiogram

record of the heart obtained by directing ultrasonic waves through the chest wall

Embolism (cardiovascular)

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

The foreign material brought to the vessel that causes blockage

Heart murmur

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

Hemangioma

a benign tumor consisting principally of blood vessels

Hemorrhage

abnormal internal or external bleeding, It often refers to the loss of a large amount of blood

Hypertension

Elevated blood pressure above the normal values of

120/80 mm Hg in an adult over 18 years of age

Infarction

Necrosis (death) of a localized area of tissue caused

by lack of blood supply to that area

Lymphatic

pertaining to lymph or the lymphatic system

Lymphoma

cancer of the lymph nodes

Myocardial infarction

is the death of an area of the heart muscle that

occurs as a result of oxygen deprivation (heart attack)

Occlusion

obstruction of blood vessel due to blockage

Phlebitis

inflammation of a vein

Pulse

The rhythmic expansion and recoil of arteries resulting from heart contraction; can be felt from the outside of the body

Shock

Serious condition in which blood flow to the heart is reduced to such an extent that body tissues do not receive enough blood

Spleen

Organ near the stomach that produces, stores, and eliminates blood cells, part of lymphatic system

Splenomegaly

enlargement of the spleen

Stenosis

narrowing of the artery that causes death of tissue

Tachycardia

fast heart rate

Thrombosis

formation of internal blood clots

Thymus

An immune organ located near the heart, site of T cell maturation and is larger in children and adolescents

Triglyceride

a lipid made of three fatty acid molecules and one glycerol molecule

Aphasia

inability to speak

Apnea

absence of breathing

Asphyxiation

stoppage of breathing or the lack of air reaching the lungs; synonym for suffocation

Asthma

paroxysmal dyspnea characterized by episodes of severe breathing difficulty, coughing, and wheezing, caused by spasm of bronchial tubes or swelling of mucous membranes

Atelectasis

Incomplete expansion of a lung or a portion of it; collapse of lung

Bradypnea

abnormally slow breathing

Bronchi

two branches located at the lower end of the trachea that carry air into the lungs

Bronchitis

inflammation of the mucous membranes that line the bronchial tube

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

Diaphragm

divides the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities

Dysphasia

difficulty or impairment of speech

Dysphonia

weak voice

Dyspnea

difficulty breathing

Effusion

escape of fluid into a cavity

Embolism (respiratory)

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

pulmonary embolism

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

Emphysema

destructive changes occur in the alveolar walls, interferes with the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, destroys lung tissue

Endotracheal intubation

the insertion of an airway tube through the mouth or nose into the trachea

Exhalation

expiration is called

Expiration

moving air out of the lungs

Heimlich maneuver

method of dislodging food or other obstructions from the windpipe

Hemothorax

blood in the pleural cavity

Hyperventilation

the condition of taking abnormally fast, deep breaths

Hypoxemia

Low oxygen levels in the blood

Hypoxia

Low oxygen saturation of the body

Influenza

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

Inhalation

inspiration

Inspiration

movement of air into the lungs

Nasal

pertaining to the nose

Orthopnea

difficulty breathing when lying down

Oximeter

instrument used to measure oxygen

Paracentesis

surgical procedure that is performed to remove excess fluids from the abdominal cavity or to inject a therapeutic agent

Pharynx

throat

Phrenic

pertaining to the diaphragm

Pleura

Membrane surrounding the lungs

Pneumonia

inflammation of the lungs

Pneumothorax

air or gas in the chest cavity

Pulmonary

pertaining to the lungs

Pulmonary edema

abnormal fluid buildup in the lungs

Pulmonary embolism

clot or obstruction in pulmonary artery

Respiration

the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide within the body

Tachypnea

rapid breathing

Thoracentesis

Surgical puncture of the chest wall for aspiration (removal) of fluids

Thrombus

blood clot

Trachea

windpipe

Ventilator

machine that is used for prolonged artificial ventilation of the lungs

Wheeze

whistling sound made during respiration

Alimentary tract

The digestive tract, long and muscular tube that is lined with mucous membrane, begins at the mouth and ends at the anus

Anorexia

ed, loss of appetite for food