Chapter 5 The Cardiovascular System Medical Terms Flashcards
medications administered to treat hypertension and congestive heart failure
ACE inhibitors (angiotensin-converting enzyme)
a disorder characterized by lower than normal level of red blood cells in the blood
anemia
a localized weak spot or balloon-like enlargement of the wall of an artery
aneurysm
the surgical removal of an aneurysm
aneurysmectomy
surgical suturing of an aneurysm
aneurysmorrhaphy (aneurysmoplasty)
episodes of severe chest pain due to inadequate blood flow to the myocardium
angina (angina pectoris)
the film produced by angiography
angiogram
a radiographic study of the blood vessels after the injection of a contrast medium
angiography
mechanically widening a narrowed or obstructed blood vessel
angioplasty
abnormal narrowing of a blood vessel
angiostenosis
medication administered to control irregularities of the heartbeat
antiarrhythmic
medication that slows coagulation and prevents new clots from forming
anticoagulant
medication administered to lower blood pressure
antihypertensive
a condition marked by the absence of all formed blood elements
aplastic anemia
a loss of the normal rhythm of the heart beat
arrhythmia
surgical removal of part of an artery
arteriectomy
abnormal narrowing of an artery or arteries
arteriostenosis
abnormal hardening of the walls of an artery or arteries
arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
electronic device used primarily as treatment for bradycardia or atrial fibrillation
artificial pacemaker
medication that may be recommended in a very small daily dose to reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke by slightly reducing the ability of the blood to clot
aspirin
complete lack of electrical activity in the heart
asystole (flat line)
surgical removal of plaque buildup from the interior lining of an artery
atherectomy
a deposit of fatty plaque on or within the arterial wall
atheroma
hardening and narrowing of the arteries due to a buidup of cholesterol plaque
atherosclerosis
rapid irregular twitching of the muscular wall of the atria
atrial fibrillation (A-fib)
electronic equipment that externally shocks the heart to restore a normal cardiac rhythm
automated external defibrillator
inflammation of the lining or valves of the heart caused by bacteria in the bloodstream
bacterial endocarditis
medications administered to reduce the workload of the heart by slowing the heartbeat
beta-blockers
any pathologic condition of the cellular elements of the blood
blood dyscrasia
an abnormally slow resting heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute
bradycardia
medications that cause the heart and blood vessels to relax by decreasing the movement of calcium into the cells of these structures
calcium channel blocker agents
an event in which the heart abruptly stops beating or develops an arrhythmia that prevents it from pumping blood
cardiac arrest
a diagnostic procedure in which a catheter is passed into a vein or artery and guided into the heart
cardiac catheterization
the puncture of a chamber of the heart for diagnosis or therapy
cardiocentesis
abnormal enlargement of the heart
cardiomegaly
all diseases of the heart muscle
cardiomyopathy
an emergency procedure for life support consisting of artificial respiration and manual external cardiac compression
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
an inflammation of the heart
carditis
surgical removal of the lining of a portion of a clogged carotid artery
carotid endarterectomy
an ultrasound study of the carotid artery that is performed to predict or diagnose an ischemic stroke
carotid ultrasonography
a fatty substance that travels through the blood and is found in all parts of the body
cholesterol
medications, such as statins, that are administered to reduce the undesirable cholesterol levels in the blood
cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins)
a condition in which venous circulation is inadequate due to partial vein blockage or leakage of venous valves
chronic venous insufficiency (venous insufficiency)
structure abnormalities caused by the failure of the heart to develop normally before birth
congenital heart defects
a surgical procedure in which a piece of vein from the leg is implanted on the heart to replace a blocked coronary artery
coronary artery bypass graft (bypass surgery)
atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries that reduces the blood supply to the heart muscle
coronary artery disease
damage to the heart muscle caused by a thrombus blocking a coronary artery
coronary thrombosis
the brand name for warfarin, an anticoagulant administered to prevent blood clots from forming or growing larger
coumadin (warfarin)
the condition of having a thrombus attached to the interior wall of a deep vein
deep vein thrombosis (deep venous thrombosis)
the use of electrical shock to restore the heart’s normal rhythm
defibrillation (cardioversion)
a diagnostic technique that combines angiography with computerized components to clarify the view of the area of interest by removing soft tissue and bone from the image
digital subtraction angiography
medication that strengthens the heart muscle contractions, slows the heart rate, and helps eliminate fluid from body tissues
digitalis (digoxin)
medication administered to increase urine secretion to rid the body of excess salt and water
diuretics
a diagnostic procedure to image the structures of the blood vessels and the flow of blood through these vessels
duplex ultrasound
a record of the electrical activity of the myocardium
electrocardiogram
the noninvasive process of recording the electrical activity of the myocardium
electrocardiography
the sudden blockage of a blood vessel by an embolus
embolism
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
embolus
inflammation of the inner lining of the heart
endocarditis
a rapid and uncontrolled heart beat
fibrillation
a chronic condition in which the heart is unable to pump out all the blood it receives
heart failure (congestive heart failure (CHF) )
an abnormal blowing or clicking sound heard when listening to the heart or neighboring large blood vessels
heart murmur
a benign tumor made up of newly formed blood vessels
hemangioma
a genetic disorder in which the intestines absorb too much iron
hemochromatosis (iron overload disease)
condition characterized by an inadequate number of circulating red blood cells due to their premature destruction by the spleen
hemolytic anemia
the loss of a large amount of blood in a short time
hemorrhage
to stop or control bleeding
hemostasis
the form of cholesterol that does not contribute to plaque buildup
high-density lipoprotein cholesterol
a portable electrocardiograph worn by an ambulatory patient to continuously monitor the heart rates and rhythms over a 24- or 48- hour period
Holter monitor
the general term used to describe elevated levels of cholesterol and other fatty substances in the blood
hyperlipidemia
a deficiency of blood passing through an organ or body part
hypoperfusion
lower than normal arterial blood pressure
hypotension
a decrease in the red cells of the blood that is caused by too little iron
iron-deficiency anemia
a condition in which there is an insufficient supply of oxygen in the tissue due to restricted blood flow to a part of the body
ischemia
a group of cardiac disabilities resulting from an insufficient supply of oxygenated blood to the heart
ischemic heart disease
removing plaque deposit in an artery using beams of light from a laser on the end of a catheter
laser angioplasty
a type of cancer characterized by a progressive increase in the number of abnormal white blood cells found in blood-forming tissues, other organs, and in circulating blood
leukemia
a decrease in the number of white blood cells circulating in the blood
leukopenia (low white blood cell count)
the form of cholesterol that contributes to plaque buildup in the arteries
low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
a blood disorder characterized by anemia in which red blood cells are larger than normal
megaloblastic anemia
a bypass procedure performed with the aid of a fiberoptic camera through small openings between the ribs
minimally invasive coronary artery bypass (keyhole bypass or buttonhole bypass)
a group of bone marrow disorders that are characterized by the insufficient production of one or more types of blood cells
myelodysplastic syndrome
the occlusion of one or more coronary arteries caused by plaque buildup
myocardial infarction (heart attack)
inflammation of the myocardium
myocarditis
a vasodilator that is prescribed to prevent or relieve the pain of angina
nitroglycerin
low blood pressure that occurs upon standing
orthostatic hypotension (postural hypotension)
a pounding or racing heart with or without irregularity in rhythm
palpitation
an episode that begins and ends abruptly during which there are very rapid and regular heartbeats that originate in the atria or AV node
paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT)
a treatment procedure to open a partially blocked coronary artery by flattening the plaque deposit and stretching the lumen
percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (balloon angioplasty)
inflammation of the pericardium
pericarditis
an example of a peripheral vascular disease caused by atherosclerosis. impaired circulation to the extremities and vital organs causes changes in the skin color and temperature, plus intermittent claudication
peripheral arterial occlusive disease (peripheral artery disease)
disorder of blood vessels outside the heart and brain
peripheral vascular disease
anemia caused by a lack of protein that helps the body absorb vitamin B12 from the gastrointestinal tract
pernicious anemia
inflammation of a vein
phlebitis (thrombophlebitis)
a radiographic test that provides an image of veins after contrast dye is injected
phlebography (venography)
a fatty deposit within the blood vessels; also a soft buildup of bacterial debris on the exterior of the teeth; also a scaly, solid, raised area of closely spaced papules on the skin
plaque
the removal of whole blood from the body, separation of its cellular elements, and reinfusion of these cellular elements suspended in saline or a plasma substitute
plasmapheresis (plasma exchange)
a form of vasculitis involving several medium and small arteries at the same time
polyarteritis
an abnormal increase in the number of red cells in the blood due to excess production of these cells by bone marrow
polycythemia
a peripheral arterial occlusive disease in which intermittent attacks are triggered by cold or stress
Raynaud’s disease
the condition when an artery that has been opened by angioplasty closes again
restenosis
caused by the presence of bacteria in the blood, symptoms include fever, tachypnea, and tachycardia
septicemia
a genetic disorder that causes abnormal hemoglobin, resulting in red blood cells that assume an abnormal sickle shape
sickle cell anemia
a wire-mesh tube that is implanted in a coronary artery to provide support to the arterial wall
stent
the use of electrocardiography to assess cardiovascular health and function during and after stress such as exercise on a treadmill
stress test
an abnormally rapid resting heartbeat usually at a rate of more than 100 beats per minute
tachycardia
a form of vasculitis with abnormally large cells, that can cause headache, visual impairment, or other symptoms
temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis)
an inherited blood disorder that causes mild or severe anemia due to reduced hemoglobin and fewer red blood cells that normal
thalassemia (Cooley’s anemia)
performed to evaluate blood flow to the heart during exercise by injecting a small amount of thallium into the blood
thallium stress test
a condition in which there is an abnormally small number of platelets circulating in the blood
thrombocytopenia
an abnormal increase in the number of platelets in the circulating blood
thrombocytosis
medication that dissolves or causes a thrombus to break up
thrombolytic (clot-busting drug)
the abnormal condition of having a thrombus
thrombosis
the blocking of an artery by a thrombus
thrombotic occlusion
a blood clot attached to the interior wall of an artery or vein
thrombus
a thrombolytic administered to some patients having a heart attack or stroke to dissolve damaging blood clots
tissue plasminogen activator
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
transfusion reaction
the surgical repair of a heart valve
valvoplasty (valvuloplasty)
the abnormal protrusion of a heart valve that results in the inability of the valve to close completely
valvular prolapse
a condition in which there is narrowing, stiffening, thickening, or blockage of one or more valves of the heart
valvular stenosis
an inflammation of a heart valve
valvulitis
abnormally swollen veins usually occuring in the superficial veins of the legs
varicose veins
inflammation of a blood or lymph vessel
vasculitis
medication that causes blood vessels to narrow
vasoconstrictor
medication that causes blood vessels to expand
vasodilator
rapid, irregular, and useless contractions of the ventricles
ventricular fibrillation (V-fib)
a very rapid heartbeat that begins within the ventricles
ventricular tachycardia (V-tach)
