1. Cardiovascular system
Medical Terminology

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. Blood vessels

6. 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

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

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

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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

14. 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

15. 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

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

17. 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

18. 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