Glossary

Question 1

acute arterial occlusion

Answer 1

sudden or severe obstruction of an artery leading to lack of blood flow distal to the blockage

Question 2

angiogram

Answer 2

radiography of blood vessels

Question 3

angioplasty

Answer 3

using a balloon catheter to dilate a blood vessel to increase blood flow

Question 4

ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI)

Answer 4

ratio of ankle systolic blood pressure to brachial systolic blood pressure calculated to quantify arterial blood flow

Question 5

arteriosclerosis

Answer 5

hardening of the arteries and arterioles

Question 6

atherosclerosis

Answer 6

build-up of plaque inside arteries that leads to narrowing of the lumen

Question 7

biologic response modifiers (BRMs)

Answer 7

agent that changes a host’s response to a disease process

Question 8

by–pass surgery

Answer 8

creation of a new path for blood flow around an obstruction

Question 9

calf muscle pump

Answer 9

contraction of the calf muscle during walking applies pressure to the deep veins pushing the venous blood towards the heart

Question 10

chronic arterial insufficiency

Answer 10

decrease of arterial blood flow that develops over time

Question 11

chronic venous insufficiency

Answer 11

decrease of venous return that develops over time

Question 12

compression therapy

Answer 12

use of circumferential elastic bandages or garments to apply pressure to a body part. it can be used to treat edema, lymphedema venous stasis or decrease formation of scar tissue

Question 13

COX 2 inhibitors

Answer 13

are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that are modified to reduce gastric upset

Question 14

critical limb ischemia (CLI)

Answer 14

severe obstruction of blood flow leading to necrosis of tissue distal to obstruction

Question 15

deep vein thrombosis

Answer 15

blood clot in a deep vein of the leg

Question 16

degenerative arthritis

Answer 16

disease of erosion of cartilage in joints leading to pain, inflammation and destruction of joint function

Question 17

disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)

Answer 17

drugs that suppress inflammation and are used to prevent damage to the joints caused by persistent swelling

Question 18

edema

Answer 18

excess fluid in cells and tissue

Question 19

hemosiderin staining

Answer 19

brown pigment produced from the breakdown of red blood cells deposited in skin tissue

Question 20

inflammatory arthritis

Answer 20

swelling in joints brought about by a faulty immune response

Question 21

intermittent claudication

Answer 21

Consistent symptoms of pain, aching or heaviness in legs brought on by walking or climbing stairs that is relieved with rest

Question 22

lymph stasis

Answer 22

stagnation of lymph fluid

Question 23

lymphangitis

Answer 23

inflammation of lymph vessels

Question 24

lymphedema

Answer 24

accumulation of lymph fluid in tissue due to obstruction of the lymph drainage

Question 25

non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Answer 25

a group of drugs with properties to reduce swelling and usually reduce pain and fever as well

Question 26

peripheral arterial disease

Answer 26

blockage of the arteries that supply the limbs that impairs blood flow distally

Question 27

rheumatology

Answer 27

study of diseases that affect connective tissue causing pain, swelling and erosion in joints

Question 28

synovial fluid

Answer 28

thick viscous fluid that lubricates and nourishes cartilage in joints

Question 29

thrombophlebitis

Answer 29

swelling in a vein along with blood clot formation

Question 30

tophus, tophi

Answer 30

deposit of uric acid crystals in tissue caused by gout

Question 31

venous reflux

Answer 31

backward flow of venous blood due to damaged valves

Question 32

venous stasis

Answer 32

stagnation of venous blood