Medical Terminology, Chapter 5 Terms, The Cardiovascular System
About this set
Created by:
Lefty66 on April 29, 2009
Classes:
HCM 210 1A1, Medical Terminology for Health Careers, EMT, medical terminology MTC, Health Informatics Meridian, Cardiovascular
Log in to favorite or report as inappropriate.
Order by
178 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 ACE inhibitor | blocks the action of the enzyme that causes the blood vessels to contract resulting in hypertension |
| anemia | a lower than normal number of erythrocytes in the blood |
| aneurysm | a localized weak spot, or balloon-like enlargement, of the wall of an artery |
| aneurysmectomy | the surgical removal of an aneurysm |
| aneurysmorrhaphy | the surgical suturing of an aneurysm |
| angiitis | the inflammation of a blood or lymph vessel |
| angina | a condition of episodes of severe chest pain due to inadequate blood flow to the myocardium |
| angiography | a radiographic study of the blood vessels after the injection of a contrast medium |
| angiostenosis | the abnormal narrowing of a blood vessel |
| antiarrhythmic | a medication administered to control irregularities of the heartbeat |
| anticoagulant | slows coagulation and prevents new clots from forming |
| antihypertensive | a medication administered to lower blood pressure |
| aorta | the largest blood vessel in the body; the main trunk of the arterial system and begins from the left ventricle of the heart |
| aortic semilunar valve | located between the left ventricle and the aorta |
| aplastic anemia | characterized by an absence of all formed blood elements caused by the failure of blood cell production in the bone marrow |
| arrhythmia | describes an abnormality, or the loss of the normal rhythm, of the heart |
| arteriectomy | the surgical removal of part of an artery |
| arteries | large blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart to all regions of the body |
| angioplasty | a procedure in which a small balloon is used to open a partially blocked coronary artery by flattening the plaque deposit and stretching the lumen |
| arterioles | the smaller, thinner branches of arteries that carry blood to the capillaries |
| arteriosclerosis | any of a group of diseases characterized by thickening and the loss of elasticity of arterial walls |
| artificial pacemaker | used primarily as treatment for bradycardia or atrial fibrillation |
| aspirin | recommended to reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke by slightly reducing the ability of the blood to clot |
| atherectomy | the surgical removal of plaque buildup from the interior of an artery |
| atheroma | a deposit of plaque on or within the arterial wall |
| atherosclerosis | hardening and narrowing of the arteries caused by a buildup of cholesterol plaque on the interior walls of the arteries |
| atria | the two upper chambers of the heart |
| atrial fibrillation | occurs when the normal rhythmic contractions of the atria are replaced by rapid irregular twitching of the muscular heart wall |
| atrioventicular node | located on the floor of the right atrium near the interatrial septum |
| automated external defibrillator | designed for use by nonprofessionals in emergency situations when defibrillation is required |
| bacterial endocarditis | an inflammation of the lining or valves of the heart caused by the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream |
| basophils | the least common type of WBC |
| beta-blocker | reduces the workload of the heart by slowing the rate of the heart beat |
| blood | the fluid tissue in the body |
| blood dyscrasia | any pathologic condition of the cellular elements of the blood |
| blood gases | gases that are normally dissolved in the liquid portion of blood |
| blood pressure | the measurement of the amount of systolic and diastolic pressure exerted against the walls of the arteries |
| blood types | classified according to the presence, or absence, of certain antigens; four major blood types are A, AB, B, and O |
| bradycardia | an abnormally slow resting heart rate |
| bundle of His (HISS) | a group of fibers located within the interventricular septum |
| calcium channel blocker agents | cause the heart and blood vessels to relax by decreasing the movement of calcium into the cells of these structures |
| capillaries | the smallest blood vessels in the body |
| cardiac arrest | an event in which the heart abruptly stops or develops a very abnormal arrhythmia that prevents it from pumping blood |
| cardiac catheterization | a diagnostic procedure in which a catheter is passed into a vein or artery and then guided into the heart |
| cardiologist | a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating abnormalities, diseases, and disorders of the heart |
| cardiomegaly | the abnormal enlargement of the heart |
| cardiomyopathy | the term used to describe all diseases of the heart muscle |
| cardiopulmonary resuscitation | an emergency procedure for life support consisting of artificial respiration and manual external cardiac compression |
| cardiovascular | pertaining to the heart and blood vessels |
| cardiovascular system | consists of the heart, blood vessels, and blood |
| carditis | an inflammation of the heart |
| carotid arteries | the major arteries that carry blood upward to the head |
| carotid endarterectomy | the surgical removal of the lining of a portion of a clogged carotid artery leading to the brain |
| cholesterol | a fatty substance that travels through the blood and is found in all parts of the body |
| cholesterol-lowering drugs | used to combat hyperlipidemia by reducing the undesirable cholesterol levels in the blood |
| chronic venous insufficiency | a condition in which venous circulation is inadequate due to partial vein blockage or leakage of venous valves |
| congenital heart defects | structural abnormalities caused by the failure of the heart to develop normally before birth |
| coronary arteries | supply oxygen-rich blood to the myocardium |
| coronary artery bypass graft | a piece of vein from the leg or chest is implanted on the heart to replace a blocked coronary artery and to improve the flow of blood to the heart (AKA bypass surgery) |
| coronary artery disease | atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries that reduces the blood supply to the heart muscle |
| coronary thrombosis | damage to the heart muscle caused by a thrombus blocking a coronary artery |
| Coumadin | an anticoagulant administered to prevent blood clots from forming or growing larger |
| deep vein thrombosis | the condition of having a thrombus attached to the wall of a deep vein |
| defibrillation | the use of electrical shock to restore the heart's normal rhythm |
| diastolic pressure | occurs when the ventricles are relaxed; the lowest pressure against the walls of an artery |
| digital subtraction angiography | combines angiography with computerized components to clarify the view of the area of interest by removing the soft tissue and bones from the images |
| digitalis | strengthens the contraction of the heart muscle, slows the heart rate, and helps eliminate fluid from body tissues |
| diuretic | administered to stimulate the kidneys to increase the secretion of urine to rid the body of excess sodium and water |
| duplex ultrasound | a diagnostic procedure to image the structures of the blood vessels and the flow of blood through these vessels |
| electrocardiogram | a record of the electrical activity of the myocardium |
| electrodardiography | the noninvasive process of recording the electrical activity of the myocardium |
| embolism | the sudden blockage of a blood vessel by an embolus |
| embolus | a foreign object, such as a blood clot, quantity of air or gas, or a bit of tissue or tumor that is circulating in the blood |
| endocarditis | an inflammation of the inner lining of the heart |
| endocardium | the inner lining of the heart |
| eosinophils | destroy parasitic organisms and play a major role in allergic reactions |
| epicardium | the external layer of the heart and the inner layer of the pericardium |
| erythrocytes | mature red blood cells produced by the red bone marrow (red blood cells - RBC) |
| fibrinogen | clotting protein found in the plasma |
| heart | a hollow, muscular organ located between the lungs |
| heart failure | a chronic condition in which the heart is unable to pump out all of the blood that it receives |
| heart murmur | an abnormal sound heard when listening to the heart or neighboring large blood vessels |
| hemangioma | a benign tumor made up of newly formed blood vessels |
| hematologist | a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating abnormalities, diseases, and disorders of the blood and blood-forming tissues |
| hemochromatosis | a genetic disorder in which the intestines absorb too much iron |
| hemoglobin | the iron-containing pigment of the erythrocytes |
| hemolytic anemia | a condition o fan inadequate number of circulating red blood cells due to the premature destruction of red blood cells by the spleen |
| hemorrhage | the loss of a large amount of blood in a short time |
| hemostasis | to stop or control bleeding |
| Holter monitor | a portable electrocardiograph that is worn by an ambulatory patient to continuously monitor the heart rates and rhythms over a 24-hour period |
| hyperlipidemia | the general term used to describe elevated levels of cholesterol and other fatty substances in the blood |
| hypertension | the elevation of arterial blood pressure to a level that is likely to cause damage to the cardiovascular system |
| hypoperfusion | a deficiency of blood passing through an organ or body part |
| hypotension | lower than normal arterial blood pressure |
| implantable cardioverter defibrillator | a double action pacemaker |
| iron-deficiency anemia | the most common form of anemia |
| ischemia | a condition in which there is an insufficient oxygen supply due to a restricted blood flow to a part of the body |
| ischemic heart disease | a group of cardiac disabilities resulting from an insufficient supply of oxygenated blood to the heart |
| left atrium | receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs through the four pulmonary veins |
| left ventricle | receives oxygen-rich blood from the left atrium |
| leukemia | a type of cancer characterized by a progressive increase in the number of abnormal leukocytes found in blood forming tissues, other organs, and in the circulating blood |
| leukocytes | the blood cells involved in defending the body against infective organisms and foreign substances (white blood cells - WBC) |
| leukopenia | describes any situation in which the total number of leukocytes in the circulating blood is less than normal |
| lymphocytes | identify foreign substances and germs in the body and produce antibodies that specifically target them |
| megaloblastic anemia | a blood disorder characterized by anemia in which the red blood cells are larger than normal |
| minimally invasive coronary artery bypass | procedure performed with the aid of a fiber optic camera through small openings between the ribs |
| mitral valve | located between the left atrium and left ventricle |
| monocytes | provide immunological defenses against many infectious organisms |
| myelodysplastic syndrome | a group of bone marrow disorders that are characterized by the insufficient production of one or more types of blood cells due to dysfunction of the bone marrow |
| myocardial infarction | the occlusion of one or more coronary arteries caused by plaque buildup (heart attack) |
| myocarditis | an inflammation of the myocardium |
| myocardium | the middle and thickest of the heart's three layers and consists of specialized cardiac muscle tissue |
| neutrophils | the most common type of WBC |
| nitroglycerin | a vasodilator that is prescribed to prevent or relieve the pain of angina by dilating the blood vessels to the heart |
| orthostatic hypotension | low blood pressure that occurs upon standing up |
| palpitation | a pounding or racing heart with or without irregularity in rhythm |
| paroxysmal atrial tachycardia (PAT) | an episode that begins and ends abruptly during which there are very rapid and regular heartbeats that originate in the atrium |
| percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty | a procedure in which a small balloon on the end of a catheter is used to open a partially blocked coronary artery by flattening the plaque deposit and stretching the lumen (AKA angioplasty) |
| pericarditis | an inflammation of the pericardium that causes an accumulation of fluid within the pericardial sac |
| pericardium | the double-walled membranous sac that encloses the heart |
| peripheral arterial occlusive disease | an example of a peripheral vascular disease caused by atherosclerosis |
| peripheral vascular disease | refers to disorders of the blood vessels located outside the heart and brain |
| pernicious anemia | caused by a lack of the protein intrinsic factor that helps the body absorb vitamin B-12 from the gastrointestinal tract |
| phlebitis | the inflammation of a vein |
| phlebography | a radiographic test that provides an image of the leg veins after a contrast dye is injected |
| plaque | a fatty deposit that is similar to the buildup of rust inside a pipe |
| plasma | a straw-colored fluid that contains nutrients, hormones, and waste products |
| plasmapheresis | the removal of whole blood from the body and separation of the blood's cellular elements |
| polyarteritis | a form of angiitis involving several medium and small arteries at the same time |
| polycythemia | an abnormal increase in the number of red cells in the blood due to excess production of these cells by the bone marrow |
| prothrombin | clotting protein found in the plasma |
| pulmonary arteries | carry deoxygenated blood out of the right ventricle and into the lungs |
| pulmonary circulation | the flow of blood only between the heart and lungs |
| pulmonary semilunar valve | located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery |
| pulmonary veins | carry the oxygenated blood from the lungs into the left atrium of the heart |
| pulse | the rhythmic pressure against the walls of an artery caused by the contraction of the heart |
| Purkinje fibers | specialized conductive fibers located within the walls of the ventricles |
| Raynaud's phenomenon | a peripheral arterial occlusive disease in which intermittent attacks are triggered by cold or stress |
| restenosis | describes the condition when an artery that has been opened by angioplasty closes again |
| Rh factor | refers to the presence, or absence of the Rh antigen on red blood cells |
| right atrium | receives oxygen-poor blood from all tissues, except the lungs, through the superior and inferior venae cavae |
| right ventricle | pumps the oxygen-poor blood through the pulmonary semilunar valve and into the pulmonary artery, which carries it to the lungs |
| septicemia | a systemic condition caused by the spread of microorganisms and their toxins via the circulating blood |
| serum | plasma fluid after the blood cells and the clotting proteins have been removed |
| sickle cell anemia | a genetic disorder that causes abnormal hemoglobin, resulting in some red blood cells assuming an abnormal sickle shape |
| sinoatrial node | located in the posterior wall of the right atrium near the entrance of the superior vena cava |
| stent | a wire-mesh tube that is commonly placed after the artery has been opened |
| stress test | performed to assess cardiovascular health and function during and after stress |
| sudden cardiac death | results if treatment is not provided within a few minutes |
| systemic circulation | includes the flow of blood to all parts of the body except the lungs |
| systolic pressure | occurs when the ventricles contract; the highest pressure against the walls of an artery |
| tachycardia | an abnormally rapid resting heart rate |
| thalassemia | an inherited blood disorder that causes mild or severe anemia due to reduced hemoglobin and few red blood cells than normal |
| thallium stress test | performed to evaluate how well blood flows through the coronary arteries of the heart muscle during exercise |
| thrombocytes | the smallest formed elements of the blood (platelets) |
| thrombocytopenia | a condition in which there is an abnormally small number of platelets circulating in the blood |
| thrombocytosis | an abnormal increase in the number of platelets in the circulating blood |
| thrombolytic | dissolves or causes a thrombus to break up |
| thrombosis | the abnormal condition of having a thrombus |
| thrombotic occlusion | the blocking of an artery by a thrombus |
| thrombus | a blood clot attached to the interior wall of an artery or vein |
| tissue plasminogen activator | a thrombolytic that is administered to some patients having a heart attack or stroke |
| transfusion reaction | a serious, and potentially fatal, complication of a blood transfusion in which a severe immune response occurs because the patient's blood and the donated blood do not match |
| tricuspid valve | controls the opening between the right atrium and the right ventricle |
| valvoplasty | the surgical repair or replacement of a heart valve |
| valvular prolapse | the abnormal protrusion of a heart valve that results in the inability of the valve to close completely |
| valvular stenosis | a condition in which there is narrowing, stiffening, thickening, or blockage of one or more valves of the heart |
| valvulitis | an inflammation of a heart valve |
| varicose veins | abnormally swollen veins, usually occurring in the superficial veins of the legs |
| vascular surgeon | a physician who specializes in the diagnosis, medical management, and surgical treatment of disorders of the blood vessels |
| vasoconstrictor | causes blood vessels to narrow |
| vasodilator | causes blood vessels to expand |
| veins | form a low pressure collecting system to return oxygen-poor blood to the heart |
| venae cavae | the two largest veins in the body; return blood into the heart |
| ventricles | the two lower chambers of the heart |
| ventricular fibrillation | the rapid, irregular, and useless contractions of the ventricles |
| ventricular tachycardia | a very rapid heartbeat that begins within the ventricles |
| venules | the smallest veins that join to form the larger veins |
First Time Here?
Welcome to Quizlet, a fun, free place to study. Try these flashcards, find others to study, or make your own.
Set Champions
Scatter Champion
20.1 secs by colton_lacy
Space Race Champion
1,090 points by colton_lacy