Medical Terminology - A Living Language - Ch 5 - Vocabulary

cardiovascular system

� CV
� circulatory system
� maintains the distribution of blood throughout the body and is composed of the heart and the blood vessels
� composed of two parts: the pulmonary circulation and the systemic circulation

circulatory system

� cardiovascular system
� maintains the distribution of blood throughout the body and is composed of the heart and the blood vessels
� composed of two parts: the pulmonary circulation and the systemic circulation

pulmonary circulation

transports deoxygenated blood to the lungs to get oxygen, and then back to the heart

systemic circulation

carries oxygenated blood away from the heart to the tissues and cells, and then back to the heart

heart

� a muscular pump, located in the mediastinum, made up of cardiac muscle fibers
� has four chambers and beats an average of 60 to 100 bpm
� the wall of the heart is thick and composed of three layers: endocardium, myocardium, and epicardium
� regulated by

endocardium

� the inner layer of the heart, lining the heart chambers
� it is a very smooth, thin layer that serves to reduce friction as the blood passes through the heart chambers

myocardium

� thick muscular middle layer of the heart
� contraction of this muscles layer develops the pressure required to pump blood though the blood vessels.

epicardium

� the outer layer of the heart
� the heart is enclosed within the pericardium, the epicardium is the visceral pericardium

pericardium

a double-layered pleural sac that encloses the heart

visceral pericardium

� epicardium
� inner layer of the pericardium sac

parietal pericardium

outer layer of the pericardium sac

atria

� plural form of atrium
� the upper chambers of the heart
� the atria are the receiving chambers of the heart, collecting blood returning the heart via veins

ventricles

� the lower chambers of the heart
� ventricles are the pumping chambers which have much thicker myocardium and their contraction ejects blood out of the heart into the great arteries.

interatrial septum

wall that divides the atria into left and right sides

interventricular septum

wall that divides the ventricles into left and right sides

heart valves

� four valves (tricuspid, pulmonary, mitral or bicuspid, and aortic) act as restraining gates to control the direction of blood flow and are situated at the entrances and exits to the ventricles
� properly functioning valves allow blood to flow only in th

atrioventricular valve

� either of two heart valves through which blood flows from the atria to the ventricles
� tricuspid valve and mitral (or bicsupid) valve

tricuspid valve

� an atrioventricular valve that controls the opening between the right atrium and right ventricle; prevents blood from returning into the right atrium from the right ventricle
� this valve has three leaflets or cusps

pulmonary valve

a semilunar valve located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery that prevents blood that has been ejected into the pulmonary artery from returning to the right ventricle as it relaxes

semilunar valve

� valve that looks like a half moon
� pulmonary valve and aortic valve

mitral valve

� bicuspid valve
� an atroventricular valve between the left atrium and left ventricle that has two cusps and blood flows through the valve to the left ventricle and cannot go backup into the left atrium

bicuspid valve

� mitral valve
� an atroventricular valve between the left atrium and left ventricle that has two cusps and blood flows through the valve to the left ventricle and cannot go backup into the left atrium

aortic valve

� a semilunar valve located between the left ventricle and the aorta
� blood leaves the left ventricle through this valve and cannot return to the left ventricle

superior vena cava

� carries blood from the upper body to the heart
� one of two large veins where deoxygenated blood from all the tissues in the body enters a relaxed right atrium

inferior vena cava

� carries blood from the lower body to the heart
� one of two large veins where deoxygenated blood from all the tissues in the body enters a relaxed right atrium

right atrium

� the right upper chamber of the heart
� when relaxed, receives deoxygenated blood from the venae cavae
� when contracted, blood flows through the tricuspid valve into the relaxed right ventricle

pulmonary artery

carries carries blood to the lungs for oxygenation

right ventricle

� the right lower chamber of the heart
� when relaxed, receives deoxygenated blood from the the right atrium
� when contracted, blood is pumped through the pulmonary valve into the pulmonary artery

left atrium

� the left upper chamber of the heart
� when relaxed, receives oxygenated blood from the lungs via four pulmonary veins
� when contracted, blood flows through the mitral valve into the relaxed left ventricle

left ventricle

� the left lower chamber of the heart
� when relaxed, receives oxygenated blood from the left atrium
� when contracted, blood is pumped through the aortic valve and into the aorta

aorta

the largest artery in the body that carries blood to all parts of the body

diastole

the widening (relaxing) of the chambers of the heart between two contractions when the chambers fill with blood

systole

the contraction of the chambers of the heart (especially the ventricles) to drive blood into the aorta and pulmonary artery

conduction system of the heart

� part of the autonomic nervous system; special tissue within the heart responsible for conducting and electrical impulse stimulating the different chambers of the heart to contract in the correct order
� sinoatrial node (pacemaker), atrioventricular node

sinoatrial node

� SA node, S-A node
� pacemaker
� where the electrical impulses begin in the heart, electricity travels though the atria, causing them to contract, or go into systole

pacemaker

sinoatrial node

atrioventricular node

when stimulated by electrical signal from the sinoatrial node, atrioventricular node transfers the stimulation wave to the atrioventricular bundle (bundle of His)

bundle of His

atrioventricular bundle

atrioventricular bundle

� bundle of His
� when stimulated by electrical signal from the atrioventricular node, atrioventricular bundle transfers the electrical signal into the bundle branches

bundle branches

bundle branches passes electrical signal within the interventricular septum

Purkinje fibers

� located in the ventricular myocardium
� when stimulated, results in ventricular systole

P wave

� in an electrocardiogram, precedes atrial systole
� corresponds to contraction of the atria
� may show an abnormality in atria

QRS complex

� in an electrocardiogram, precedes ventricular systole
� correlates to ventricles contracting
� may show an abnormality in ventricles

T wave

� in an electrocardiogram, precedes ventricular diastole
� represents preparation for next series of complexes
� may show signs of MI

lumen

the channel within blood vessels through which blood flows

three types of blood vessels

arteries, capillaries, and veins

arteries

� large, thick-walled vessels that carry blood away from the heart
� walls contain a thick layer of smooth muscle that can contract or relax to change the size of the arterial lumen

coronary arteries

arteries that branch from the aorta and provide blood to the myocardium

arterioles

smallest of the arteries that deliver blood to the capillaries

capillaries

� a network of tiny blood vessels referred to as a capillary bed
� arterial blood flows into a capillary bed, and venous blood flows back out
� capillaries are very thin walled, allowing for the diffusion of the oxygen and nutrients from the blood into th

capillary bed

capillaries

veins

� blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart from capillaries
� veins have thinner walls than arteries, causing them to collapse easily
� veins have valves that allow the blood to move only toward the heart
� blood pressure is much lower in the vein

venules

small vessels that gather blood from the capillaries into the veins

blood pressure

� BP
� a measurement of the force exerted by blood against the wall of a blood vessel

systolic pressure

during ventricular systole, blood is under a lot of pressure giving the highest blood pressure reading

diastolic pressure

during ventricular diastole, blood is not being pushed by the heart at all and the blood pressure reading drops to its lowest point

auscultation

the process of listening to sounds with the body by using a stethoscope

infarct

an area of tissue within an organ or part that undergoes necrosis (death) following the loss of its blood supply

ischemia

the localized and temporary deficiency of blood supply due to an obstruction to the circulation

murmur

an abnormal heart sound such as a soft blowing sound or harsh click

bruit

heart murmur

orthostatic hypotension

the sudden drop in blood pressure a person experiences when standing up suddenly

palpitations

Pounding, racing heartbeats

plaque

a yellow, fatty deposit of lipids in an artery that are the hallmark of atherosclerosis

regurgitation

to flow backwards; in the cardiovascular system this refers to the backflow of blood through a valve

sphygmomanometer

instrument for measuring blood pressure

stent

a stainless steel tube placed within a blood vessel or duct to widen the lumen

angina pectoris

condition in which there is severe pain with a sensation of constriction around the heart; caused by deficiency of oxygen to the heart muscle

arrhythmia

irregularity in the heartbeat or action

bundle branch block

� BBB
� heart block
� occurs when the electrical impulse is blocked from traveling down the bundle of His or bundle branches; results in the ventricles beating at a different rate than the atria

heart block

� bundle branch block
� occurs when the electrical impulse is blocked from traveling down the bundle of His or bundle branches; results in the ventricles beating at a different rate than the atria

cardiac arrest

complete stopping of heat activity

cardiomyopathy

general term for a disease of the myocardium

congenital septal defect

� CSD
� a hole, present at birth, in the septum between two heart chambers; results in a mixture of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood
� there can be atrial septal defect (ASD) and a ventricular septal defect (VSD)

atrial septal defect

� ASD
� a congenital septal defect, an abnormal opening between the left and right atria of the heart

ventricular septal defect

� VSD
� a congenital septal defect, an abnormal opening between the left and right ventricles of the heart

congestive hart failure

� CHF
� pathological condition of the heart in which there is a reduced outflow of blood from the left side of the heart because the left ventricle myocardium has become too weak to efficiently pump blood
� results in weakness, breathlessness, and edema

coronary artery disease

� CAD
� insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle due to an obstruction of one or more coronary arteries
� may be caused by atherosclerosis and may cause angina pectoris and myocardial infarction

endocarditis

� inflammation of the lining membranes of the heart
� may be due to bacteria or to an abnormal immunological response; in bacterial endocarditis, the mass of bacteria that forms is referred to as vegetation

fibrillation

an extremely serious arrhythmia characterized by an abnormal quivering or contraction of heart fibers

flutter

an arrhythmia in which the atria beat too rapidly, but in a regular pattern

heart valve prolapse

condition in which the cusps or flaps of the heart valve are too loose and the fail to shut tightly, allowing blood to flow backward though the valve when the heat chamber contracts

myocardial infarction

� MI
� heart attack
� condition caused by the partial or complete occlusion or closing of one or more of the coronary arteries

myocarditis

inflammation of the muscle layer of the heart wall

pericarditis

inflammation of the pericardial sac around the heart

tetralogy of Fallot

combination of four congenital anomalies:
1. pulmonary stenosis
2. an interventricular septal defect
3. improper placement of the aorta
4. hypertrophy of the right ventricle

aneurysm

weakness in the wall of an artery resulting in localized widening of the artery

arteriosclerosis

thickening, hardening, and loss of elasticity of the walls of the arteries; often due to atherosclerosis

atherosclerosis

most common form of arteriosclerosis; caused by the formation of yellowish plaques of cholesterol on the inner walls of arteries

coarctation of the aorta

severe congenital narrowing of the aorta

embolus

the obstruction of a blood vessel by a blood clot that has broken off from a thrombus somewhere else in the body and traveled to the point of obstruction

hemorrhoid

varicose veins in the anal region

hypertension

� HTN
� blood pressure above the normal range
� essential or primary hypertension occurs directly from cardiovascular disease
� secondary hypertension refers to high blood pressure resulting from another disease such as kidney disease

patent ductus arteriosus

� PDA
� congenital heart anomaly in which the fetal connection between the pulmonary artery and the aorta fails to close at birth

peripheral vascular disease

� any abnormal condition affecting blood vessels outside the heart
� symptoms may include pain, pallor, numbness, and loss of circulation and pulses

polyarteritis

inflammation of several arteries

Raynaud's phenomenon

periodic ischemic attacks affecting the extremities of the body, especially the fingers, toes, ears, and nose

thrombophlebitis

inflammation of a vein resulting in the formation of blood clots within the vein

thrombus

a blood clot forming within a blood vessel, may partially or completely occlude the blood vessel

varicose veins

swollen and distended veins

vegetation

the mass of bacteria that forms in the case of bacterial endocarditis

angiography

� X-rays taken after the injection of an opaque material into a blood vessel
� can be performed on the aorta as an aortic angiogram, on the heart as an angiocardiogram, and on the brain as a cerebral angiogram

echocardiography

� ECG, EKG
� noninvasive diagnostic method using ultrasound to visualize internal cardiac structures

venography

� phlebography
� x-ray of the veins by tracing the venous pulse
� may be used to identify a thrombus

phlebography

� venography
� x-ray of the veins by tracing the venous pulse
� may be used to identify a thrombus

Doppler ultrasonography

� measurement of sound-wave echoes as they bounce off tissues and organs to produce an image
� used to measure velocity of blood moving though blood vessels to look for blood clot or deep vein thromboses

serum lipoprotein level

blood test to measure the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood; an indicator of atherosclerosis risk

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

� CPR
� procedure to restore cardiac output and oxygenated air to the lungs for a person in cardiac arrest

defibrillation

a procedure that converts serious irregular heartbeats, such as fibrillation, by giving electric shocks to the heart using an instrument called a defibrillator

extracorporeal circulation

� ECC
� during open-heart surgery, the routing of blood to a heart-lung machine so it can be oxygenated and pumped to the rest of the body

implantable cardioverterdefibrillator

a device implanted in the heart that delivers an electrical shock to restore a normal heart rhythm

pacemaker implantation

� electrical device that substitutes for the natural pacemaker of the heart
� it controls the beating of the heart by a series of rhythmic electrical impluses

thrombolytic therapy

process in which drugs, such as streptokinase (SK) or tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), are injected into a blood vessel to dissolve clots and restore blood flow

aneurysmectomy

the surgical removal of the sac of an aneurysm

arterial anastomosis

� the surgical joining together of two arteries
� performed if an artery is severed or if a damaged section of an artery is removed

coronary artery bypass graft

open-heart surgery in which a blood vessel from another location in the body (often a leg vein) is grafted to route blood around a blocked coronary artery

embolectomy

the removal of an embolus or clot from a blood vessel

endarterectomy

� removal of the diseased or damaged inner lining of an artery
� usually preformed to remove atherosclerotic plaques

intracoronary artery stent

placing of a stent within a coronary artery to treat coronary ischemia due to atherosclerosis

ligation and stripping

surgical treatment for varicose veins; the damaged vein is tied off (ligation) and removed (stripping)

percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

the method for treating localized coronary artery narrowing; a balloon catheter is inserted through the skin into the coronary artery and inflated to dilate the narrow blood vessel

valve replacement

removal of a diseased heart valve and replacement with an artificial valve

ACE inhibitor drugs

produce vasodilation and decrease blood pressure

antiarrhythmic

reduces or prevents cardiac arrhythmias

anticoagulant

prevent blood clot formation

antilipidemic

reduces amount of cholesterol and lipids in the bloodstream; treats hyperlipidemia

hyperlipidemia

excessive amounts of lipids (cholesterol, phospholipids, and triglycerides) in the blood

beta-blocker drugs

treats hypertension and angina pectoris by lowering he heart rate

calcium channel blocker drugs

treats hypertension, angina pectoris and congestive heart failure by causing the heart to beat less forcefully and less often

cardiotonic

increases the force of cardiac muscle contraction; treats congestive heart failure

diuretic

increases urine production by the kidneys, which works to reduce plasma and therefore blood volume, resulting in lower blood pressure

thrombolytic

dissolves existing blood clots

vasoconstrictor

contracts smooth muscle in walls of blood vessels; raises blood pressure

vasodilator

� relaxes the smooth muscle in the walls of arteries, thereby increasing diameter of the blood vessels
� used for two main purposes: increasing circulation to an ischemic area; reducing blood pressure

cardiac scan

patient is given radioactive thallium intravenously and then scanning equipment is used to visualize the heart; useful for determining myocardial damage

angiogram

record of a vessel

angiitis

inflammation of a vessel

angioplasty

surgical repair of a vessel

angiospasm

involuntary muscle contraction of vessel

angiostenosis

narrowing of a vessel

aortic

pertaining to the aorta

arterial

pertaining to the artery

arteriorrhexis

ruptured artery

atherectomy

removal of fatty substance

atheroma

fatty substance tumor/growth

atrial

pertaining to the atrium

interatrial

pertaining to between the atria

cardiac

pertaining to the heart

bradycardia

state of slow heart

electrocardiogram

record of heart electricity

cardiomegaly

enlarged heart

myocardial

pertaining to heart muscle

cardiorrhexis

ruptured heart

tachycardia

state of fast heart

coronary

pertaining to the heart

phlebitis

inflammation of a vein

valvoplasty

surgical repair of a valve

valvulitis

inflammation of a valve

valvular

pertaining to a valve

vascular

pertaining to a blood vessel

venous

pertaining to a vein

venogram

record of a vein

ventricular

pertaining to a ventricle

interventricular

pertaining to between the ventricles

autonomic nervous system

the part of the nervous system of vertebrates that controls involuntary actions of the smooth muscles and heart and glands

cardiac enzymes

� blood test to determine the level of enzymes specific to heart muscles in the blood
� an increase in the enzymes may indicate heart muscle damage such as myocardial infarction

pulse

� expansion and contraction produced by blood as it moves through an artery
� the pulse can be taken at several pulse points throughout the body where an artery is close to the surface