cardiovascular system
angi/o
blood or lymph vessel
aort/o
aorta
arteri/o
artery
brady-
slow
cardi/o
heart
-crasia
a mixture or blending
-emia
blood, blood condition
erythr/o
red
hem/o hemat/o
blood, relating to the blood
leuk/o
white
phleb/o
vein
tachy-
fast, rapid
thromb/o
clot
ven/o
vein
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 (red blood cells) in the blood
aneurysm
a localized weak spot or balloon like enlargement of the wall of an artery
angina
a condition of episodes of severe chest pain due to inadequate blood flow to the myocardium
angioplasty
the technique of mechanically widening a narrowed or obstructed blood vessel
anticoagulant
medication that slows coagulation and prevents new clots from forming
aplastic anemia
a condition characterized by the absence of all formed blood elements caused by the failure of blood cell productionin the bone marrow
arrhythmia
the loss of the normal rhythm of the heartbeat
atherectomy
surgical removal of plaque buildup from the interior lining of an artery
atheroma
A deposit of plaque on or within the arterial wall
atherosclerosis
hardening and narrowing of the arteries due to buildup of cholesterol plaque on the interior walls of the arteries
atrial fibrillation
when the normal rhythmic contractions of the atria are replaced by rapid uncontrolled twitching of the muscular hard wall
automated external defibrillator
electronic equipment, that automatically samples, the hearts, electrical rhythms, and when necessary, externally, shocks, the heart to restore a normal cardiac rhythm
beta-blocker
medication that reduces the workload of the heart by slowing the rate of the heartbeat
blood dyscrasia
any pathological condition of the cellular elements of the blood
bradycardia
abnormally slow resting heart rate
cardiac arrest
an event in which they heart abruptly stops beating, or develops an arrhythmia that prevents it from pumping blood effectively
cardiac catheterization
a diagnostic and treatment procedure in which a catheter is passed into a vein or an artery and is guided into the heart
cardiomyopathy
The term used to describe all diseases of the heart muscle
carotid endarterectomy
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
chronic venous insufficiency
a condition in which venous circulation is inadequate due to partial vein, blockage or leakage of venous valves
coronary artery disease
Arthrosclerosis of the coronary arteries that reduce blood supply to the heart muscle
coronary thrombosis
damage to the heart muscle caused by a thrombus blocking coronary artery
defibrillation
The use of electrical shock to restore the hearts, normal rhythm, also known as cardioversion
diuretic
medication administered to stimulate the kidneys to increase the secretion of urine to read the body of excess sodium and water
electrocardiogram
a record of 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
inflammation of the inner lining of the heart
erythrocytes
mature red blood cells produced by the Redbone marrow
hemoglobin
The oxygen carrying blood protein pigment of the erythocytes
hemolytic anemia
A condition of an inadequate number of circulating red blood cells due to the premature destruction of the cells by the spleen
hemostasis
to stop or control bleeding
leukemia
A type of cancer characterized by a progressive increase in the number of abnormal leukocytes (white blood cells) found in blood, forming tissues, other organs, and in circulating blood
leukocytes
White blood cells that are involved in defending the body against infective organisms and foreign substance
leukopenia
A decrease in the number of disease fighting white blood cells circulating in the blood
megaloblastic anemia
A blood disorder characterized by anemia, in which red blood cells are larger than normal
myelodysplastic syndrome
A type of cancer in which there is insufficient production of one or more types of blood cells due to dysfunction of the bone marrow
myocardial infarction
the occlusion (blockage) of one or more coronary arteries caused by black buildup, commonly known as a heart attack
orthostatic hypotension
Low blood pressure that occurs upon standing up also known as postural hypotension
pericardium
The double walled membranous sac that encloses the heart
pernicious anemia
A form of anemia caused by lack of protein that helps the body absorb vitamin B 12, which is necessary for the formation of red blood cells
phlebitis
inflammation of a vein
raynauds disease
A peripheral arterial occlusive disease in which intermittent attacks are triggered by cold or stress
sepsis
A potentially life-threatening infection that results from bacteria or other infectious organisms entering the bloodstream
sickle cell anemia
A genetic disorder that causes abnormal hemoglobin resulting in some red blood cells, assuming an abnormal sickle shape that interferes with normal blood flow
tachycardia
an abnormally, rapid resting heart rate
temporal arteritis
a form of vasculitis that can cause headaches, visual impairment, jaw, pain, and other symptoms
thallium stress test
A diagnostic test performed to evaluate how well blood flows through the coronary arteries of the heart muscle during exercise
thrombocytopenia
A condition in which there is an abnormally small number of platelets circulating in the blood
thrombolytic
medication that dissolves or causes a thrombus to break up also known as a clotbusting drug
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 a vein or an artery
transfusion reaction
A serious and potentially fatal complication of a blood transfusion in which a severe immune response occurs because the patients blood and the donated blood do not match
valvulitis
inflammation of a heart valve
varicose veins
abnormally, swollen veins, usually occurring in the superficial veins of the legs
ventricular fibrillation
The rapid irregular and useless contractions of the ventricles
ventricular tachycardia
A very rapid heartbeat that begins within the ventricles
angi/o
blood vessel
Aort/o
Aorta
Arteri/o
artery
Ather/o
plaque, fatty substance
Cardi/o
heart
Coron/o
the heart
Erythr/o
red
Hem/o
blood
Hemat/o
the blood
leuk/o
white
my/o
muscle
phleb/o
vein
thromb/o
clot
Vascul/o
blood vessel
Ven/o
the vein
a-/an-
without, less than
anti-
against
brady-
slow
endo-
within, inside
hyper-
increased
hypo-
decreased
peri-
surrounding
tachy-
fast, rapid
-cyte
cell
-itis
inflammation
-lytic
destroy or dissolve
-penia
dificiency, too few
-sclerosis
abnormal hardening
-stenosis
abnormal narrowing
AAA
abdominal aortic aneurysm
AED
automated external defibrillator
AMI
Acute myocardial infarction
BP
blood pressure
CABG
coronary artery bypass graft
CAD
coronary artery disease
CCU
coronary care unit
CHF
congestive heart faliure
CPR
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
ECG or EKG
electrocardiogram
Echo
Echocardiogram
HDL
high density lipoprotine (good cholesterol)
HTN
Hypertension
ICD
implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
LDL
Low density lipoprotein (bad cholesterol)
MI
myocardial infarction
PVD
Peripheral vascular disease
epicardium
outermost layer. thin transparent layer protects inner heart layers. blood vessels that nourish the heart itself are nestled in.
aneurysm
localized enlargement of an artery caused by weakness in the arterial wall that can rupture and require emergency treatment
arteriosclerosis
hardening of arteries caused by cholesterol-like plaque
embolism
A blood clot , piece of plaque, or other substance that travels in the bloodstream and lodges in a blood vessel, causing a sudden blockage
thrombosis
The formation of a blood clot attached to the interior wall of a blood vessel (thrombus) that can prevent the flow of blood through the vessel
varicose veins
swollen enlarged veins, usually in the legs caused by faulty valves in the veins that allow the blood to pool.
iron deficiency anemia
without sufficient iron blood cannot produce enough of the substance in red blood cells to carry oxygen effectively
sickle cell disease
in sickle cell disease, red blood cells, change their shape from a normal disk shape to a crescent or sickle shape. These cells are no longer flexible and burst apart as they move through blood vessels.
pernicious anemia
decrease in red blood cells that occurs when the intestines cannot properly absorb vitamin B 12
leukemia
A type of cancer where the bone marrow produces abnormal white blood cells, which don't function properly
sepsis
A life-threatening condition that occurs when the body has an overwhelming immune response to an infectious organism that has entered the bloodstream
angiography
radiographic x-ray examination of blood vessels, after injection of a contrast, medium into the bloodstream
cardiac catheterization (cath)
A hollow tube is inserted into a large blood vessel that leads to the heart to determine how well the heart is functioning
doppler ultrasound
sound waves measure blood flow in vessels
echocardiography (Echo)
sound waves produce images of the heart.
electrocardiograghy (ECG or EKG)
produces a recording of the electrical activity of the heart.
holter monitor
abnormal heart rhythms are recorded with a compact ECG over a 24 hour period.
anticoagulants
commonly called blood thinners these drugs, slow coagulation of the blood and prevent new clots from forming
antiarrhythmics
these drugs are used to supress abnormal rhythms of the heart
antihypertensives
the class of drugs is used to treat hypertension
cholesterol-lowering drugs
these drugs reduce the undesirable cholesterol levels in the blood
diuretics
commonly called water pills these drugs treat, hypertension, and heart failure by increasing the excretion of water from the body
thrombolytic
drugs, such as tissue, plasminogen, activator, tPA and streptokinase are administered to some patients having a heart attack or stroke to dissolve clots quickly, and restored blood flow
angioplasty
balloon tipped catheter is inserted into a blocked blood vessel, and the balloon is inflated to open the vessel to restore blood flow. a metal mesh tube stent is often permanently placed into the artery to keep it open
cardiac ablation
flexible catheter is threaded through blood vessels into the heart to destroy (ablate) abnormal tissue that triggers arrhythmias
carotid endarterectomy
a procedure to remove a plaque deposit that is clogging a carotid artery
coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)
also called bypass surgery the segment of healthy blood vessels from another part of the body is connected to a coronary artery to make a detour around a blockage
pacemaker
A device that is implanted under the skin to shock the heart electronically into regular rhythm