Health Sciences 1101

Medical TerminologyModule 5The Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems

Basic Cardiovascular Terms

Cardi/o or coron/o: Pertaining to the heart

Vascul/o: Pertaining to the vessels

Vas/o: Pertaining to a vessel, the vas deferens or ducts

Cardiovascular: The heart and the vessels

Phleb/o ven/o: Pertaining to a vein

A Brief Explanation of the Cardiovascular System

Excellent YouTube Video

The Conducting System of the Heart

The conducting system of the heart video

Cardiac TermsEndocardium: The thin layer that lines the

inside of the heart and the heart valves

Myocardium: The muscle layer of the heart

Pericardium: The fibrous sac that encloses the heart

Atri/o: Pertaining to the atrium (atria)

Ventricul/o: Pertaining to the ventricles

Cardiac Function Terms

Systole: The state of contraction of the heart

Diastole: The state of relaxation of the heart

-cardia: Condition of the heart

Review terms: brady, tachy

Arrhythmia: Irregularity or loss of rhythm of the heartbeat; dysrhythmia

Cardiac Pathology Terms

Fibrillation: Abnormal quivering or contraction of heart fibers. Can lead to cardiac arrest and then death.

Heart Failure: Condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs.

Congestive Heart Failure: Reduced outflow of blood from the left side of the heart. Results in lung congestion, dyspnea, and fatigue.

Cardiac Pathology Terms

Prolapse: to fall out of place

Mitral valve prolapse: Condition in which the leaflets of the mitral valve prolapse into the left atrium during systole

Rheumatic heart disease: Damage to the heart muscle and valves as a sequela to streptococcal infection.

Murmur: Abnormal sound heard on auscultation, caused by defects in the valves or chambers of the heart

Cardiac Pathology Terms

Coronary artery disease (CAD): Condition that affects the arteries of the heart, resulting in decreased blood flow to the myocardium.

Myocardial Infaction (MI): Heart muscle damaged by partial or complete occlusion of one or more of the coronary arteries. AKA: Heart attack.

Angina pectoris: Chest pain due to ischemia. Can be a symptom of MI.

Vascular Function Terms

Angi/o: Pertaining to the vessels

Aneurysm/o: Widening of the vessels

Aort/o: Pertaining to the aorta

Arteri/o: Pertaining to the arteries

Ateriol/o: Pertaining to the arterioles

Ather/o: Fatty plaque

Thromb/o: blood clot

Varic/o: dilated vein

Vascular Pathology Terms

Embolus: A mass of undissolved matter present in a blood or lymphatic vessel brought there by the blood or lymph current. May be solid, liquid or gas and can cause infarcts

Deep vein thrombosis: Formation of a blood clot in a deep vein of the body. Occur most frequently in the iliac and femoral veins

Aneurysm: Localized dilation of a vessel wall due to weakness. Can lead to arteriorrhexis or phleborrhexis

Vascular Pathology TermsTransient ischemic attack (TIA):

Temporary interference with blood supply to the brain. No long term damage.

Stroke: Damage to brain due to interruption of blood supply. AKA: Cerebrovascular accident (CVA)

Strokes are caused by hemorrhage in the

brain or emboli and thrombi that occlude arteries.

Vascular Pathology Terms

Hypertension: Consistently elevated blood pressure that is higher than normal

Raynaud Disease: Vascular disorder in which the fingers and toes become cold, numb and painful

Varicose veins: Swollen, distended veins caused by incompetent venous valves.

Vascular Pathology Terms

Arteriosclerosis: Thickening, hardening, or loss of elasticity of the arterial walls. Can lead to altered tissue and organ function.

Atherosclerosis: A type of arteriosclerosis characterized by the build up of fatty plaque.

Random Other CV Pathology Terms

Kaposi Sarcoma: A malignancy of connective tissue including bone, fat, muscle and fibrous tissue.

Cardiovascular DiagnosticsBruit: Soft blowing sound heard

on auscultation caused by turbulent blood flow.

Cardiac enzyme studies: Blood tests to assess cardiac damage.

CKMB and troponin-I: Blood tests that measure proteins specific to the heart that are relased as a result of recent MI.

Echocardiography: The visualization of the heart through ultrasonography.

Cardiovascular Diagnostics

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): Measurement of the electric activity of the heart muscle.

Holter monitor: Monitoring device used to record 24 hours worth of ECG.

Stress test: Method used to evaluate CV fitness by monitoring ECG while a patient is exercising.

Cardiovascular Treatment

Statins: Drugs that reduce low density lipoproteins

Thrombolytic therapy: Drugs used to dissolve blood clots

Anticoagulation therapy: Drugs used to reduce blood clotting

Cardiovascular Treatment

Cardiac catheterization: A catheter is threaded through a large blood vessel until it reaches into the heart

Angioplasty: Any endovascular procedure that reopens narrowed blood vessels and restores forward blood flow

Cardiovascular Treatment

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG): Surgery that bypasses blocked coronary arteries using grafted vessels taken from other parts of the body

Valvuloplasty: Restorative surgery on a valve, especially cardiac valves

Cardiovascular Treatment

Automatic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (AICD): implanted electric source with wires into heart. Senses rhythm and zaps if fibrillation is sensed.

Pacemaker: implanted electric source with wires into heart. Provides low-level stimulation to maintain normal heart rhythm.

Immunology and the Lymphatic System

Lymphatic system Terms

Aden/o: A gland

Immun/o: The immune system

Lymph/o: Cells and tissues of the lymphatic system

Lymphaden/o: The lymph nodes

Lymphangi/o: The vessels of the lymphatic system

Splen/o: The spleen

Thym/o: The thymus

Phag/o: Swallowing or eating

-phylaxis: Protection

Immune System Pathology

Mononucleosis: Acute infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), characterized by a sore throat, fever, fatigue, and enlarged lymph nodes

Lymphadenitis: Inflammation and enlargement of the lymph nodes usually as a result of infection

Hodgkin Disease: Disease causing malignant solid tumors that may originate in lymphoid tissue. Can invade other organs if left untreated.

Immune System Pathology

Lymphosarcoma: Malignant disorder of lymphatic tissue that is not related to Hodgkin disease. Also called non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Kaposi Sarcoma: Connective tissue malignancy associated with HIV infections

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS): Systemic loss of immunity due to destruction of helper t cells by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Lymphatic System DiagnosticsLymphangiography:

Radiographic examination of the lymphatic system using an injected contrast medium

Bone marrow aspiration biopsy: Removal of bone marrow tissue so that it can be evaluated microscopically

Tissue typing: Technique used to determine histocompatibility (compatibility of tissues) for transplants