1. Cardiovascular System
Cardiology
Cardiovascular System
Now that you have learned about the medical specialties, it is time to learn about the individual body systems. In this unit, you will start this study by learning about the cardiovascular system and the terms that are unique to it.

2. Learning Objectives
UNDERSTAND the functions of the cardiovascular system.
DESCRIBE the medical specialty of cardiology.
DEFINE cardiology-related combining forms, prefixes, and suffixes.
IDENTIFY the organs treated in cardiology.

3. Learning Objectives BUILD cardiology medical terms from word parts.
EXPLAIN cardiology medical terms.
USE cardiology abbreviations

4. Cardiovascular System
Pertaining to heart & blood vessels.

5. Heart Function Video

6. Introduction to Cardiology
Structures of the system:
Heart
Blood vessels
Arteries
Veins
Capillaries
Blood
The heart pumps blood, and the blood vessels channel and deliver it throughout the body. Arteries carry blood filled with nutrients away from the heart to all parts of the body. Arteries are thick-walled tubes with a circular covering of yellow, elastic fibers, which contain a filling of muscle that absorbs the tremendous pressure wave of a heartbeat and slows the blood down.
This pressure can be felt in the arm and wrist - it is the pulse. Eventually arteries divide into smaller arterioles and then into even smaller capillaries, the smallest of all blood vessels. One arteriole can serve a hundred capillaries. Your blood's job is done when it gives up what the cells need and takes away the waste products that they don't need. Capillaries join together to form small veins, which flow into larger main veins, and these deliver deoxygenated blood back to the heart.
Veins, unlike arteries, have thin, slack walls, because the blood has lost the pressure which forced it out of the heart, so it moves along very slowly on its way to be re-oxygenated. Back at the heart, the veins enter the pulmonary arteries, into the wall at right side of the heart. It flows along the pulmonary arteries to the lungs to collect oxygen, then back to the heart's left side to begin its journey around the body again.
In addition, you have the digestive system that will assist and work with this action to provide nutrients that the body needs to keep the heart pumping.

7. Introduction to Cardiology
Arteries carry blood rich in O2 from heart to tissues.
Veins carry blood
from tissues to heart and lungs.

8. Introduction to Cardiology
Capillaries
Oxygen and nutrients are delivered here
Carbon dioxide and waste are picked up to be discarded

9. Pulmonary Circulation
Pulmon/o = lung
Circulation of blood through the vessels from the heart to the lungs and back to heart.

10. Pulmonary Circulation3
1. O2 poor blood enters right side of heart. 2. Pulmonary artery goes to lungs. 3. In lung capillaries, waste CO2 is exchanged for O2 that entered the blood during inhalation. 4. Newly oxygenated blood returns to heart through pulmonary vein. 2 4 1

11. Pulmonary Circulation
Only place where O2-poor blood is carried by the arteries.
Only place where O2-rich blood is carried by a vein back to the heart.

12. Systemic Circulation Blood flow to all parts of body except lungs.
Passage of O2-rich blood from heart to tissues and O2-poor blood back to heart.

13. Medical Specialty Cardiology Cardiologists
Is the study of diagnosing and treating diseases and conditions affecting the cardiovascular system.
Cardiologists
They are responsible for diagnosing and treat diseases and conditions of the cardiovascular system such as:
CAD
Congenital heart defects
Cardiomyopathy
Congestive Heart Failure
Myocardial Infarction
heart transplants

14. Medical Specialty Cardiovascular technologists
Allied health professionals that perform a variety of procedures
Electrocardiography
Echocardiography
Exercise stress testing
Cardiac catheterization
These techs assist with cardiac cath procedures which are done by a physician

15. Combining Forms

16. Angi/o = vessel Combining form meaning vessel
Does not indicate what type of vessel
Refers to either blood or lymphatic vessel
May be artery, vein, or capillary

17. Angioplasty AN-je-o-plas-te
-plasty = surgical repair
angi/o = vessel (blood)
Surgical repair of a blood vessel.

18. Angiography an-je-OG-rah-fe
Recording (x-ray images) of blood vessels after injection of contrast dye into bloodstream.

19. Aort/o = aorta a-OR-tah
Largest artery
Leads from lower left chamber of heart to arteries all over body.

20. Aortic stenosis a-OR-tik steh-NO-sis
Aortic = pertaining to aorta
-stenosis = narrowing
Narrowing of aorta.

21. Arteri/o = artery AR-ter-e
Largest blood vessels
Carry blood away from heart to all parts of body.

22. Arteriosclerosis Hardening of arteries Arteri/o = artery
Most often caused by plaque
(deposits of cholesterol)
Hardening of arteries

23. Arteriol/o = arteriole ar-TER-e-ol
Arterioles are smaller branches of arteries
Carry blood to capillaries

24. Arteriolitis ar-ter-e-o-LI-tis
Arteriol/o = small artery
-itis = inflammation
Inflammation of small arteries

25. Ather/o = fatty substance, plaque
Combining form meaning fatty substance, plaque
Soft, yellow, fatty deposits
Build up along inner wall of blood vessels
Each deposit is called a plaque

26. Atri/o = atrium Combining form meaning atrium Upper chambers of heart
Receive blood returning to heart
Left atrium receives blood from lung
Right atrium receives blood from body

27. Cardi/o = heart
The heart is comprised of cardiac muscle tissue called myocardium that contracts to develop the pressure needed to push blood through the vessels.

28. Cardiomyopathy kar-de-o-mi-OP-ah-the
My/o = muscle
-pathy = disease
Disease condition of heart muscle.

29. Coron/o = heart

30. Coronary Arteries KOR-en-ary AR-ter-ez
Blood vessels that carry oxygen rich blood from
the aorta to heart muscles.

31. Embol/o = plug, embolus Combining form meaning plug, embolus
Mass floats through blood vessels
Broken off piece from clot
Mass of fat
Bacteria
Plugs up a smaller blood vessel
Cuts off circulation

32. Isch/o = to hold back Combining form meaning to hold back
Used to indicate the stoppage of blood flow
Build a term meaning:
condition of blood being held back
ischemia

33. Phleb/o = vein

34. Phlebotomy fleh-BOT-o-me
Phleb/o = vein
-tomy = incision
Incision of a vein (to obtain a blood specimen).

35. -sclerosis Suffix meaning hardening
Used in cardiovascular system to mean:
Blood vessel hardened and inflexible
Due to plaques along vessel wall
Build a term meaning:
hardening of an artery arteriosclerosis

36. -sclerosis = hardening
Arteriosclerosis –
Hardening of the arteries
Atherosclerosis
Most common type of arteriosclerosis
Fatty plaque (artheroma) collects on lining of arteries.

37. Steth/o = chest Combining form meaning chest Build a term meaning:
instrument to view chest stethoscope

38. Thromb/o = blood clot, thrombus
Combining form meaning clot
Refers to blood clot forming in blood vessel
May partially or completely block blood flow

39. Valv/o = valve Combining form meaning valve Flap-like structures
Close tightly to prevent backflow of blood
Insures that blood only flows forward
Four valves in heart
Also found in veins

40. Valvul/o = valve Another combining form meaning valve
Build a term meaning:
inflammation of a valve valvulitis

41. Varic/o = dilated vein, varicosity
Combining form meaning dilated vein, varicosity
Most common in superficial leg veins
Caused by blood pooling due to:
ineffective veins
pregnancy
occupation requiring long periods of standing

42. Vascul/o = blood vessel
Combining form meaning blood vessel
Build a term meaning:
pertaining to the heart and blood vessels
cardiovascular

43. Vas/o = blood vessel Another combining form meaning blood vessel
Build a term meaning:
involuntary muscle contraction of a blood vessel
vasospasm

44. Ven/o – vein
Blood vessels that carry blood back to heart from tissues. Returns waste-filled and oxygen-depleted blood to the heart.

45. Intravenous in-trah-VE-nus
Pertaining to within a vein

46. Ventricul/o = ventricle
Combining form meaning ventricle
Larger, lower heart chambers
More muscular
Generates force to pump blood
Left ventricle pumps blood to body
Right ventricle pumps blood to lungs

47. Venul/o = venule VEN-ul
Small veins that branch to form larger vessels called veins that flow back to heart.

48. Venulitis ven-u-LI-tis
Venul/o = small veins
-itis = inflammation
Inflammation of small veins

49. Pathology
Study of Disease

50. Aneurysm AN-u-rizm
Local widening of an artery caused by a weakened arterial wall or breakdown of the wall from atherosclerosis.
Common in aorta.
May be congenital.
Rupture & hemorrhage
are major concern.

51. Angina Pectoris an-JI-nah
Sharp chest pain resulting from decreased blood supply to heart muscle (myocardial ischemia)

52. Arrhythmia a-RITH-me-ah
Abnormal or irregular heartbeat (rhythm) caused by problems with electrical system (conduction) of heart.
Fibrillation: rapid, random, ineffective contractions of heart, 350/minute
Palpitations: pounding or racing associated with different types of arrhythmias.
Flutter: rapid but regular contractions of atria or ventricles, 300/minute

53. Bradycardia Slow heartbeat. Brady- = slow <60 beats per minute
for an adult
Slow heartbeat.

54. Tachycardia Rapid heartbeat. Tachy- = rapid >100 beats per minute
for an adult
Rapid heartbeat.

55. Atherosclerosis ah-theh-ro-skle-RO-SIS
Ather/o = plaque
-sclerosis = hardening
Hardening of arteries with collection of cholesterol-like plaque.

56. Coronary Artery Disease “CAD”
Atherosclerosis of coronary arteries.
May cause angina, myocardial infarction, and sudden death.

57. Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) kon-JES-tive hart-FAIL-ur
Inability of heart to pump its required amount of blood.
Fluid accumulates in air sacs of lungs causing pulmonary edema.

58. Hypertensive Heart Disease hi-per-TEN-shen
High blood pressure >140/90
Hyper- = excessive, above normal
-tension = pressure
Results from narrowing of arterioles.
Heart pumps more vigorously to overcome increased resistance.

59. “Myocardial Infarction" mi-o-KAR-de-al in-FARK-shun “MI”
Death of heart muscle = heart attack
Infarct of heart muscle caused by occlusion of one or more of coronary arteries.
Symptoms include:
angina pectoris
shortness of breath

60. Shock Group of symptoms indicating poor blood supply to tissues
Insufficient return of blood to heart.
Rapid pulse
Shallow breathing
Loss of consciousness
Pale skin

61. Laboratory Tests & Diagnostic Procedures

62. Angiography an-ge-OG-rah-fe
Recording (x-ray images) of blood vessels after injection of contrast dye into bloodstream.
Coronary angiography.

63. Cardiac Catherization
Insertion of catheter (flexible tube) into vein or artery and guided into heart.
Measures pressure and flow patterns of blood.

64. Doppler Ultrasound
Sound waves focused on blood vessels & echoes bounce off red cells.
Measures movement of blood flow.
Can detect alterations caused by vessel obstruction.

66. Echocardiography (ECHO)
Sound waves & echoes produce images of heart.
Show structure & movement of heart

67. Electrocardiography Recording electricity flowing through heart.
Diagnoses electrical problems in heart such as arrhythmias.

68. Holter Monitor
Patients wear ECG device for 24 hours to detect abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias).

69. Lipid tests Measurement in blood of: Cholesterol
<200 mg/dL is desirable
Triglycerides: fatty acids attached to glycerol
<150 mg/dL is desirable

70. Lipoprotein tests Combination of lipids & protein. Measurement
in blood of:
High Density Lipoprotein (HDL): “good chol.”
protects against CAD
>45 mg/dL is desirable
Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL): “bad chol.”
<130 mg/dL is desirable
<100 mg/dL in CAD & diabetes

71. Magnetic Resonance Imaging Cardiac MRI
Produces images in multiple planes, by beaming magnetic waves at heart.
Provides information about:
Cardiac output
Aneurysms
Cardiac masses
Blood vessel disease

72. Exercise Tolerance or “Treadmill Test”
Determines heart’s response to physical exertion (stress)
Continual monitoring
of vital signs & ECG
rhythms.
Important in diagnosis
of CAD.

73. Treatment Procedures

74. Cardioversion “Defibrillation”
Brief charges of electricity are applied across the chest to stop a cardiac arrhythmia

75. Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) “Bypass Surgery”
Vessels taken from patient’s legs or chest are connected to coronary arteries to detour around blockages.

76. Endarterectomy end-ar-ter-ECK-toh-mee
Surgical removal of innermost lining of an artery to remove fatty deposits (atheromas) and clots (thrombosis).

77. Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA):
“Balloon Angioplasty”
Balloon-tipped catheter threaded into coronary artery to compress fatty deposits and open artery.

78. Stents
Expandable slotted tubes create wider openings that make recurrence of blockages less likely.