Cardiovascular system Flashcards
Angi/o
Blood or lymph vessel
aort/o
Aorta
arteri/o
Artery
arther/o
Plaque or fatty substance
brady-
slow
cardi/o
heart
-crasia
A mixture or blending
-emia
Blood or blood condition
erythr/o
Red
hem/o
Blood, relating to the blood
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 enlargementof 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
anticoagulent
medication that slows coagulation and prevents new clots from forming
aplastic anemia
A conditon characterized by the absence of all formed blood elements caused by the failure of blood cell production in the bone marrow
arrythmia
The loss of 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 a 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 heart wall.
automated external defribrillator
Electronic equipment that automatically samples the heart’s electrical rhythms and when necessary, externally shocks the heart to restore a normal cardiac rhythm.
beta-blocker
A medication that reduces the workload of the heart by slowing the rate of the heartbeat.
Blood dyscrasia
Any pathologic condition of the cellular elements of the blood
bradycardia
An abnormally slow resting heart rate
cardiac arrest
An event in which the 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
cholestrol
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 leekage of venous valves
coronary artery disease
Atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries that reduces blood supply to the heart muscle
coronary thrombosis
Damage to the heart muscle caused by a thrombus blocking a 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 rid 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 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 red bone marrow
hemoglobin
the oxygen-carrying blood protein pigment of erythocytes
hemolytic anemia
A condition of an inadequate number of circulating red blood cells due to premature destruction of these 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 the circulating blood.
leukocytes
White blood cells that are involved in defending the body against infective organisms and foreign substances.
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 dysnfunction of the bone marrow
myocardial infarction
The occlusion (blockage) of one or more coronary arteries caused by plaque buildup; commonly known as a heart attack
orthostatic hypotension
Low blood pressure that occurs upon standing up; also known as a postural hypotension
pericardium
The double-walled membranous sac that encloses the heart
pernicious anemia
A form of anemia caused by a lack of the protein that helps the body absorb vitamin B12, which is necessary for the formation of red blood cells.
phlebitis
inflammation of a vein
Raynaud’s 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 thrombus to break up; also known as a clot-busting drug.
thrombosis
The abnormal condition of having a thrombus
thrombotic occulusion
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 patient’s blood and the donated blood does not match
valvulitis
Inflammation of a heart valve
varicose veins
Abnormally swollen veins, usually occuring in the superficial veins of the legs
ventricular fibrillation
the rapid, irregular, and useless contractions of the ventricles
ventricular tachy-cardia
A very rapid heart beat that begins within the ventricles.
