Cardiovascular system Medical Terminology

OBJECTIVES At the end of this chapter students should be able to: Label a diagram of the heart. Differentiate between arteries, veins and capillaries. List and describe the main disorders that affect the heart and blood vessels. Identify and use the roots pertaining to the cardiovascular system. Define the medical terms pertaining to the circulatory system.

Heart The heart is a muscular organ, which pumps blood through the blood vessels of the circulatory system Blood provides the body with oxygen & nutrients, & also assists in the removal of metabolic wastes The heart is divided into four chambers: Right atrium – Left atrium Upper chambers Right ventricle – Left ventricle Lower chambers

Blood vessels Blood vessels are part of the circulatory system that transports blood throughout the human body Three major types of blood vessels: Arteries Carry the blood away from the heart Capillaries Enable the exchange of materials between blood & tissues Veins Carry blood from the capillaries back to the heart Other types of blood vessels: Arterioles Thinner than arteries Venules Smallest veins

Blood vessels

Combining forms Combining form Meaning Cardi/o Heart Atri/o Atrium Ventricul/o Ventricle Aort/o Aorta Angi/o Blood vessel Arteri/o Artery Arteriol/o Arteriole

Combining forms Combining form Meaning Ven/o – Phleb/o Vein Venul/o Venule Valv/o Valve Thromb/o Thrombosis

Prefixes Prefix Meaning A- Not - Without Peri- Around Brady- Slow Tachy- Fast

Suffixes Suffix Meaning -sclerosis Hardening -ia Condition or state Abnormal condition -emia Blood condition -ist Specialist

Medical terms related to the cardiovascular system Definition Cardiac Pertaining to the heart Cardiology Study of the structure, functions & diseases of the heart, & also including study of the circulatory system Atria Upper chambers of the heart Ventricles Lower chambers of the heart Aorta The main artery in the body, originating from the left ventricle of the heart, supplying oxygenated blood to all the body

The heart wall is comprised of three layers: Epicardium: The outer layer of the heart wall Myocardium: The middle layer of the heart wall, & the thickest one Endocardium: The inner layer of the heart wall Pericardium: Membrane surrounding The heart

Medical term Definition Myocarditis Artery Vein Arteriosclerosis Inflammation of the heart muscle Artery Large, thick walled blood vessel Carry blood away from the heart Vein Blood vessels which are thinner than arteries Carry blood back to the heart Arteriosclerosis Arteries become thick & hard Atherosclerosis Specific type of arteriosclerosis Formation of fats on the walls of the artery, & so prevent the blood flow Angioplasty Surgical repair of blood vessels

Medical term Definition Vasodilator Vasoconstrictor Valve Drugs which dilate he blood vessels Vasoconstrictor Drugs that cause narrowing of blood vessels Valve A flap present in the heart to allow blood to flow in one direction only Valvuloplasty Surgical repair of the valve Angina Chest pain caused by decreased blood flow to the heart Arrhythmia Abnormal heart beats

Congestive heart failure Medical term Definition Thrombosis Formation of blood clot inside a blood vessel Heart attack When the flow of oxygen to a part of the heart becomes blocked……Leading to death of this part Ischemia Decrease in the blood supply to an organ or part of the body Congestive heart failure Inability of the heart to pump the required amount of blood

Medical term Definition Bradycardia Tachycardia Hypertension Slow heart beats Tachycardia Fast heart beats Hypertension High blood pressure

Medical term Definition Catheter Pacemaker Medical device used to diagnose & treat some diseases Pacemaker A small device placed in the chest or abdomen to help control the abnormal heart beats

Medical term Definition Echocardiogram Phlebotomist A device that uses sound waves (Ultrasound) to produce images of the heart Phlebotomist A person who is trained to draw blood from patients