Introduction to Cardiovascular System -

The cardiovascular system (also called the circulatory system) is made up of the
heart and blood vessels that work together to efficiently pump blood to the organs,
tissues, and cells of the body. Blood is a vitally important fluid for the body.
Blood delivers oxygen and nutrients to every cell, transports hormones, and removes
carbon dioxide and other waste products made by the cells. Blood also contains
clotting agents.

This lesson will introduce you to the major components of the cardiovascular system
and their functions. You will also learn about diagnostic tests and treatment
procedures for the most common disorders of the heart and blood vessels.

Medical Terminology Readding assignment -

Major stuctures - Related combining forms - primary functions

Heart - Card/o,cardi/o - recieves blood from the veins and pumps blood into the
arteries

Blood Vessels - angi/o, vas/o - transport blood to and from all areas of the body.

Arteries - arteri/o - transport blood away from the heart to all parts of the body.

Capillaries - capill/o - permit the exchange of nutrients and waste products

between the blood and the cells.

Veins - phleb/o, ven/o - return blood from all body parts to the heart.

Blood - hem/o, hemat/o - brings oxygen and nutrients to the cells and carries away
waste.

Word parts -

Angi/o - blood or lymph vessel

Aort/o - aorta

arteri/o - artery

ather/o - plaque, fatty substance

brady - slow

cardi/o - heart

-crasia - a mixture or blending

-emia - blood, blood condition

erythr/o - red

hem/o, hemat/o - blood, relating to the blood

leuk/o - white

phleb/o - vein
tachy- fast,rapid

thromb/o - clot

ven/o - vein

Medical terms -

ACE inhibitor - blocks the action of the enzyme that causes the blood vessels to
contract, resulting in hypertension.

Anemia - a lower than normal number of erythrocytes (red blood cells) in the blood.

aneurysm - a localized weak spot or balloon like enlargement of the wall of an

artery.

Angina - a condition of episodes of severe chest pain due to inadequate blood flow
to the myocardium.

angioplasty - the technique of mechanically widening a narrowed or obstructed blood

vessel.

anti coagulant - medication that slowls coagulation and prevents new clots from
forming.

aplastic anemia - a condition characterized by the absence of all formed blood

elements caused by the failure of blood cell production in the bone marrow.

arrhythima - the loss of the normal rhythm of the heartbeat.

atherectomy - surgical removal of plaque buildup from the interior lining of an

artery

atheroma - a deposit of plaque on or within the aterial wall.

atherosclerosis - hardening and narrowing of the arteries due to a buildup of

cholesterol plaque on the interior walls of the arteries.

atrial fibrillation - when the normal rhythmic contractions of the atria are
replaced by rapid uncontrolled twitching of the muscular heart wall.

automated external defibrillator - electronic equipment that automatically samples

the hearts electrical rhythms and when necessary, externally shocks the heart to
restore a normal cardiac rhythm.

beta-blocker - a medication that reduces the workload of the heart by slowing the
rate of the heartbeat.

blood dyscrasia - Any pathologic condition of the cellular elements of the blood

bradycardia - an abnormally slow resting heart rate.

cardiac arrest - an event in which the heart abruptly stops beating or develops an
arrhythmia that prevents it from pumping blood effectively.

Cardiac catheterization - a diagnostic and treatment procedure in which a catheter

is passed into a vein or an artery and is guided into the heart.

cardiomyopathy - the term used to describe all diseases of the heart muscle.

carotid endarterectomy - surgical removal of the lining of a portion of a clogged

carotid artery leading to the brain.

cholesterol - a fatty substance that travels through the blood and is found in all
parts of the body.

chronic venous insufficiency - a condition in which venous circulation is

inadequate due to partial vein blockage or leakage of venous valves.

coronary artery disease - atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries that reduces

blood supply to the heart muscle.

Coronary thrombosis - damage to the heart muscle caused by a thrombus blocking a

coronary artery.

defibrillation - the use of electrical shock to restore the hearts normal rhythm;
also known as cardioversion.

Diuretic - medication administered to stimulate the kidneys to increase the

secretion of urine to rid the body of excess sodium and water.

electrocardiogram - a record of the electrical activity of the myocardium.

embolism - the sudden blockage of a blood vessel by an embolus.

embolus - a foreign object, such as a blood clot, quantity of air or gas, or a bit
of tissue or tumor, that is circulating in the blood.

endocarditis - inflammation of the inner lining of the heart.

erythrocytes - mature red blood cells produced by the red bone marrow.

hemoglobin - the oxygen carrying blood protein pigment of the erythocytes.

hemolytic anemia - a condition of an inadequate number of circulating red blood

cells due to the premature destruction of these cells by the spleen.

hemostasis - to stop or control bleeding.

leukemia - a type of cancer characterized by a progressive increase in the number

of abnormal leukocytes ( white blood cells) found in blood forming tissues, other
organs, and in the circulating blood.

leukocytes - white blood cells that are involved in defending the body against
infective organisms and foreign substances.

leukopenia - a decrease in the number of disease fighting white blood cells

circulating in the blood.

megaloblastic anemia - a blood disorder characterized by anemia in which blood

cells are larger than normal.

myelodysplastic syndrome - a type of cancer in which there is insufficient

production of one or more types of blood cells due to dysfunction of the bone
marrow.
myocardial infraction - the occlusion (blockage) of one or more coronary arteries
caused by plaque buildup; commonly known as a heart attack.

orthostatic hypotension - low blood pressure that occurs upon standing up; also
known as postural hypotension.

pericardium - the double walled membranous sac that encloses the heart.

pernicious anemia - a form of anemia caused by a lack of the protein that helps the
body absorb vitamin B12, which is necessary for the formation of red blood cells.

phlebitis - inflammation of a vein.

Raynaud's disease - a peripheral arterial occlusive disease in which intermittent

attacks are triggered by cold or stress.

sepsis - a potentially life threatening infection that results from bacteria or

other infectious organisms entereing the bloodstream.

sickle cell anemia - a genetic disorder that causes abnormal hemoglobin, resulting
in some red blood cells assuming an abnormal sickle shape that interferes with
normal blood flow.

tachycardia - an abnormally rapid resting heart rate.

temporal arteritis - a form of vasculitis that can cause headaches, visual

impairment, jaw pain, and other symptoms.

thallium stress test - a diagnostic test performed to evaluate how well blood flows
through the coronary arteries of the heart muscle during exercise.

thrombocytopenia - a condition in which there is an abnormally small number of

platelets circulating in the blood.

throbolytic - medication that dissolves or causes a thrombus to break up; also

known as a clot-busting drug.

thrombosis - the abnormal condition of having a thrombus.

thrombotic occlusion - the blocking of an artery by a thrombus

thrombus - a blood clot attached to the interior wall of a vein or an artery.

transfusion reaction - a serious and potentially fatal complication of a blood

transfusion in which a severe immune response occurs because the patients blood and
the donated blood do not match.

valvulitis - inflammation of a heart valve.

varicose veins - abnormally swollen veins, usually occuring in the superficial

veins of the legs.

ventricular fibrillation - the rapid, irregular, and useless contractions of the

ventricles.

ventricular tachycardia - a very rapid heartbeat that begins within the ventricles.