Term Definition
stethoscope An acoustic medical device for auscultation, or listening to the internal sounds of a
body
pectoral Pertaining to the chest
angiography An x-ray of the blood vessels made with the introduction of a catheter and release of
contrast medium
varicosis Abnormally swollen or twisted veins with defective valves, most often seen in the legs
vasospasm Involuntary contraction of blood vessels
venous Pertaining to the veins
aortocoronary Relating to the aorta and the coronary arteries
thrombophlebitis Inflammation of a vein caused by a blood clot
pericardiocentesis Procedure where fluid is aspirated from the pericardium
vasculopathy A disorder of the blood vessels
atherogenesis The process of forming atheromas (plaques) in the inner lining (the intima) of arteries
myocardium The middle and thickest muscle layer of the heart wall
aortoplasty Surgical repair of the aorta
venostomy Dissection of a vein for insertion of a cannula (tube) or needle
arteriostenosis Narrowing or constriction of an artery
phlebotomy The act or practice of opening a vein by incision or puncture to remove blood
cardioaortic Pertaining to the heart and aorta
ventriculogram An x-ray visualizing the ventricles
phlebitis Inflammation of a vein
angioplasty The technique of mechanically widening a narrowed or obstructed blood vessel
endovascular Within the blood vessels, e.g. endovascular surgery
cardiotoxic Having a poisonous or deleterious effect upon the heart
arteriogram An x-ray of a particular artery
atherectomy Minimally invasive surgical method of removing atherosclerosis from a large blood
vessel within the body
atherothrombosis Sudden rupture or erosion/fissure of an atherosclerotic plaque which leads to platelet
activation and thrombus formation
congenital Present at birth
arteriosclerosis Thickening, loss of elasticity, and calcification (hardening) of arterial walls
arrhythmia Irregularity or loss of rhythm of the heartbeat
dysrhythmia Irregularity or loss of rhythm of the heartbeat
cardiomyopathy General term for disease of the heart muscle
anastomosis Joining of two blood vessels to allow flow from one to the other
gallop Abnormal heart sound that mimics the gait of a horse
echocardiogram A recording of sound waves directed through the heart to evaluate structure and
motion
cor pulmonale A condition of enlargement of the right ventricle as a result of chronic disease within
the lungs
electrocardiogram An electrical picture of the heart represented by positive and negative deflections on a
(ECG or EKG) graph labeled with the events of the cardiac cycle
intracardiac Within the heart
catheter A tube that can be inserted into a body cavity, duct, or vessel
intracardiac catheter Treatment of arrhythmia by destroying myocardial tissue at sites generating abnormal
ablation electrical pathways
pector/o Chest
phleb/o Vein
angi/o Vessel
cardi/o Heart
ather/o Fatty paste
coron/o Circle or crown
sphygm/o Pulse
thromb/o Clot
arteri/o Artery
ventricul/o Ventricle
atherosclerosis Buildup of fatty substances within the walls of arteries
necrosis Death of body tissue
ischemia Decreased blood flow to tissue caused by constriction or occlusion of a blood vessel
occlusion An obstruction or closing off
infarct A localized area of necrosis caused by ischemia as a result of occlusion of a blood
vessel
hypotension Low blood pressure
hypertension (HTN) High blood pressure
vegetation An abnormal growth of tissue around a valve, generally as a result of an infection such
as bacterial endocarditis
embolus A clot carried in the bloodstream that obstructs when it lodges
thrombus A stationary blood clot
constriction Compression of a part
normotension Normal blood pressure
angina Cramp in the heart muscle often caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries
claudication Pain in a limb, especially the calf, while walking that subsides after rest caused by
inadequate blood supply
aneurysm Bulging of the wall of the heart, the aorta, or an artery caused by congenital defect or
acquired weakness
premature ventricular A ventricular contraction preceding the normal impulse initiated by the SA node
contraction (PVC)
patent ductus A congenital disorder in heart wherein a neonate's ductus arteriosus fails to close after
arteriosis (PDA) birth
arteriosclerotic heart A degenerative condition of the arteries characterized by thickening of the inner lining,
disease (ASHD) loss of elasticity, and susceptibility to rupture
congestive heart Failure of the left ventricle to pump an adequate amount of blood to meet the
failure (CHF) demands of the body resulting in a bottleneck of congestion in the lungs that may
expand to the veins causing edema in lower portions of the body
coronary artery A condition affecting arteries of the heart that reduces the flow of blood and delivery of
disease (CAD) oxygen and nutrients to the myocardium
implantable An implanted battery-operated device with rate sensing leads that monitors cardiac
cardioverter impulses and initiates electrical stimulus as needed to stop ventricular fibrillation or
defibrillator (ICD) tachycardia
mitral valve prolapse Protrusion of one or both cusps of the mitral valve back into the left atrium during
(MVP) ventricular contraction resulting in incomplete closure and backflow of blood
ventricular septal On opening in the septum separating the ventricles
defect (VSD)
magnetic resonance Magnetic resonance imaging of the heart and blood vessels for evaluation of
angiography (MRA) pathology
septum A wall, dividing a cavity or structure into smaller ones
atrium The upper, blood collection chambers of the heart
ventricle Lower chambers of the heart that collect and expel blood received from an atrium
valve Structures within the heart that open and close with the heartbeat to regulate one-way
flow of blood
pulmonary semilunar Heart valve opening from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery
valve
tissue plasminogen Drug used to dissolve blood clots, a thrombolytic agent
activator (TPA, tPA)
percutaneous Insertion of a specialized catheter with a balloon attachment into a coronary artery and
transluminal coronary inflating it to dilate and open the narrowed portion of the vessel and restore blood flow;
angioplasty (PTCA) most often includes placement of a stent
myocardial infarction Death of myocardial tissue owing to loss of blood flow as a result of an occlusion of a
(MI) coronary artery
deep vein thrombosis Formation of a clot in a deep vein of the body, most often in the femoral or iliac veins
(DVT)
atrial septal defect An opening in the septum separating the atria
(ASD)
coronary artery Grafting a portion of a blood vessel retrieved from another part of the body to bypass
bypass graft (CABG) an occluded coronary artery
transesophogeal An echocardiogaphic image of the heart after placement of an ultrasonic transducer at
echocardiogram the end of an endoscope inside the esophagus
(TEE)
diastole Period in the cardiac cycle when blood enters the relaxed ventricles from the atria
systole The period in the cardiac cycle when the heart is in contraction and blood is ejected
through the aorta and pulmonary artery
tachycardia Fast heart rate, greater than 100 beats per minute
bradycardia Slow heart rate, less than 60 beats per minute