Medical Terminology for

Health Professionals,
9e
Chapter 5: The Cardiovascular
System

Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
 Chapter Objectives
By the end of the chapter, you should be able to:
5.01 Describe the heart in terms of chambers, valves, blood flow, heartbeat,
and blood supply.
5.02 Differentiate among the three different types of blood vessels, and
describe the major function of each.
5.03 Identify the major components of blood and the major functions of each
component.
5.04 State the difference between the pulmonary and systemic circulation.
5.05 Recognize, define, spell, and pronounce the primary terms related to the
pathology and the diagnostic and treatment procedures of the
cardiovascular system.

Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
 Functions of the Cardiovascular System
• Cardiovascular system: heart, blood vessels, blood
▪ Structures work together to efficiently pump blood to all body tissues
• Blood: fluid tissue
▪ Transports oxygen and nutrients to the body tissues
▪ Returns some waste products from tissues to the kidneys
▪ Carries carbon dioxide back to the lungs
▪ Plays important role in the immune system

Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Structures of the Cardiovascular System (1 of 9)
Major Structures
• Heart
▪ Hollow, muscular organ located in
the thoracic cavity, between the
lungs
▪ About the size of a fist
▪ Very effective pump
▪ Furnishes the power to maintain the
blood flow needed throughout the
entire body
▪ The apex is the lower tip of the heart
The heart is located in the thoracic
cavity between the lungs.

Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Structures of the Cardiovascular System (2 of 9)
Major Structures
• Pericardium (pericardial sac)
▪ Double-walled membranous sac that encloses the heart
• Parietal pericardium
▪ Fibrous sac that surrounds and protects the heart
• Pericardial fluid
▪ Acts as a lubricant to prevent friction as the heart beats
• Visceral pericardium
▪ Inner layer of the pericardium
▪ Forms the outer layer of the heart

Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Structures of the Cardiovascular System (3 of 9)
Walls of the Heart
• Epicardium
▪ External layer of the heart
▪ Inner layer of the pericardium
• Myocardium (myocardial muscle)
▪ Middle and thickest of the heart’s
three layers
• Endocardium
▪ Consists of epithelial tissue
▪ Inner lining of the heart
▪ Has direct contact with blood A simplified view of the tissues of the heart walls.
▪ Supplied oxygen-rich blood by the
coronary arteries
Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Structures of the Cardiovascular System (4 of 9)
Chambers of the Heart
• Atria
▪ Two upper chambers of the heart
▪ Divided by the interatrial septum
▪ Receiving chambers; all blood enters the
heart through these chambers
• Ventricles
▪ Two lower chambers of the heart
▪ Divided by the interventricular septum
▪ Walls are thicker than those of the atria

Anterior cross-section
view of the heart.

Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Structures of the Cardiovascular System (5 of 9)
Valves of the Heart
• Tricuspid valve
▪ Controls the opening between the right
atrium and the right ventricle
• Pulmonary valve
▪ Located between the right ventricle
and the pulmonary artery
• Mitral valve
▪ Located between the left atrium and
left ventricle
• Aortic valve
The valves of the heart viewed from
▪ Located between the left ventricle and above with the atria removed.
the aorta
Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Structures of the Cardiovascular System (6 of 9)
Pulmonary Circulation
• Flow of blood only between the heart and lungs
▪ Pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood out of the right ventricle and into
the lungs
▪ Pulmonary veins carry oxygenated blood from the lungs into the left atrium (only
place in the body where veins carry oxygenated blood)

Systemic Circulation
• Flow of blood to all body parts, except the lungs
▪ Oxygenated blood flows out of the left ventricle and into arterial circulation
▪ Veins carry deoxygenated blood into the right atrium
▪ From here, blood flows into the pulmonary circulation before being pumped out
of the heart into the arteries again
Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Structures of the Cardiovascular System (7 of 9)

Systemic and pulmonary

blood circulation.

Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
 Structures of the Cardiovascular System (8 of 9)
The Heartbeat
• Contraction and relaxation (beating)
▪ Must occur in exactly the correct sequence
▪ Rate and regularity of the heartbeat is determined
by electrical impulses
▪ Specialized myocardial muscles make this
pumping action possible
• Conduction system: electrical impulses
▪ Sinoatrial (SA) node: establishes basic rhythm rate
▪ Atrioventricular (AV) node: receives impulses from
SA and transmits on to the bundle of His
▪ Bundle of His (HISS): ensures sequence of heart An electrical impulse from the SA
contractions; impulses travel onward to the right node travels to the AV node and
and left ventricles and the Purkinje fibers causes the ventricle to contract.

Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Structures of the Cardiovascular System (9 of 9)
The Heartbeat
• Electrical waves
▪ Activities of the electrical conduction system of
the heart can be visualized as wave movements
on a monitor or as an electrocardiogram
• Sinus rhythm: normal beating of the heart
▪ P wave: stimulation (contraction) of the atria
▪ QRS complex: shows the stimulation
(contraction) of the ventricles; atria relax as the
ventricles contract
▪ T wave: recovery (relaxation) of the ventricles
The waves of contraction and relaxation of the
heart can be visualized on a monitor or as an
electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG).

Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
 The Blood Vessels (1 of 5)
Arteries
▪ Large blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart to all regions of the body
▪ Walls composed of three layers
▪ Contain bright red, oxygen-rich blood called arterial blood
• Aorta
▪ Largest blood vessel in the body
▪ Begins from left ventricle of the heart and forms the main trunk of the arterial system
• Carotid arteries
▪ Major arteries that carry blood upward to the head
▪ Common carotid artery (in the neck) divides into internal carotid and external carotid
• Arterioles
▪ Smaller, thinner branches of arteries that deliver blood to the capillaries

Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
 The Blood Vessels (2 of 5)
Capillaries
• Smallest vessels in the body
▪ Only one epithelial cell in thickness
▪ Form networks of expanded vascular beds
• Deliver oxygen and nutrients
▪ Further slow flow of blood to allow plasma to flow
into the tissues
Oxygen-rich arterial blood is delivered by
▪ Exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and waste arterioles to the capillaries. After the oxygen
materials occurs within surrounding cells has been extracted, the oxygen-poor blood
is returned to circulation as venous blood.
• After leaving the cells
▪ 90% of fluid, now oxygen poor, enters the opposite
end of the capillary bed through the venules
▪ 10% of this fluid, left behind in the tissues,
becomes lymph
Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
 The Blood Vessels (3 of 5)
Veins
▪ Form a low-pressure collecting system
▪ Return oxygen-poor blood to the heart
• Venules
▪ Smallest veins that join to form larger veins
• Walls of the veins
▪ Thinner and less elastic than those of
arteries
• Superficial veins Veins contain valves to prevent the backward
flow of blood. (A) External view of the vein
▪ Located near the body surface shows wider area of valve. (B) Internal view
• Deep veins with the valve open as blood flows through it
toward the heart. (C) Internal view with the
▪ Located within the tissues and away from the valve closed to prevent the backflow of blood.
body surface
Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
 The Blood Vessels (4 of 5)
Venae Cavae
• Return blood into the heart
• Two largest veins in the body
▪ Superior vena cava: transports blood from the upper portion of the body to the heart
▪ Inferior vena cava: transports blood from the lower portion of the body to the heart
Pulse and Blood Pressure
• Pulse
▪ Rhythmic pressure against the walls of an artery caused by the contraction of the heart
• Blood pressure
▪ Measurement of the amount of systolic (contraction of ventricles) pressure and diastolic
(relaxation of ventricles) pressure exerted against the walls of the arteries

Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
 The Blood Vessels (5 of 5)

Anterior cross-section
view of the heart.

Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
 Blood (1 of 5)
Components of Blood
• 55% liquid plasma
• 45% formed elements (blood cells and platelets)
Plasma
• Straw-colored fluid
▪ Contains nutrients, hormones, and waste products
▪ 92% water; 8% proteins
• Serum
▪ Plasma fluid after the blood cells and clotting proteins have been removed
• Fibrinogen and prothrombin:
▪ Clotting proteins found in plasma

Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
 Blood (2 of 5)
Formed Elements of the Blood
• Erythrocytes (red blood cells [RBCs])
• Leukocytes (white blood cells [WBCs])
▪ Neutrophils: play a major role in the immune system’s defense against
pathogens
▪ Basophils: responsible for causing the symptoms of allergies
▪ Eosinophils: destroy parasitic organisms and play a major role in allergic
reactions
▪ Lymphocytes: identify foreign substances and germs (bacteria or viruses);
produce antibodies that specifically target them
▪ Monocytes: provide immunological defenses against many infectious organisms
• Thrombocytes (platelets)
▪ Smallest formed elements of blood; become sticky when activated
▪ Clump together to form a clot to stop bleeding
Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
 Blood (3 of 5)

The major fluid and formed

components of blood. The
formed elements include
erythrocytes, thrombocytes,
and leukocytes.

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scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
 Blood (4 of 5)
Blood Types
• Classification
▪ Classified according to the presence or absence of certain antigens
▪ An antigen is any substance that the body regards as being foreign
• Traditionally listed as:
▪ Type (represented by a letter) followed by Rh factor (represented by + or –)
▪ Such as A– or O+
• Four major blood types: A, AB, B, and O
▪ A, AB, and B groups are based on the presence of the A and/or B antigens
▪ In type O blood both the A and B antigens are absent

Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
 Blood (5 of 5)
Rh Factor
• Presence or absence of the Rh antigen on red blood cells
▪ About 85% of Americans have the Rh antigen; are Rh positive (Rh+)
▪ 15% are described as Rh negative (Rh−)
• Important consideration for:
▪ Cross-matching blood for transfusions
▪ Rh− mothers giving birth to Rh+ babies
Blood Gases
• Gases that are normally dissolved in the liquid portion of blood
• The major blood gases are:
▪ Oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen

Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Pathology of the Cardiovascular System (1 of 14)
Disorders of the Heart
• Congenital heart defects
▪ Structural abnormalities
▪ Most common type of birth defect
▪ Ventricular septal defect: most common; hole between the two ventricles
• Coronary artery disease (CAD)
▪ Also known as coronary heart disease (CHD) and ischemic heart disease
▪ Most common type of heart disease
▪ Atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries reduces the blood supply to the heart
• Atherosclerosis
▪ Hardening and narrowing of arteries caused by cholesterol plaque buildup on the
interior walls of the arteries
▪ This type of plaque, found within the lumen of an artery, is a fatty deposit
Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Pathology of the Cardiovascular System (2 of 14)
Disorders of the Heart
• Ischemia
▪ Insufficient supply of oxygen in tissues due to restricted blood flow to a part of the body
▪ Example: cardiac ischemia is the lack of blood flow and oxygen to the heart muscle
• Angina (angina pectoris)
▪ Severe episodes of chest pain due to an inadequate blood flow to the myocardium
▪ Stable angina (occurs during exercise and resolves with rest)
▪ Unstable angina (occurs during exertion or at rest)
• Myocardial infarction (MI) (heart attack)
▪ Occlusion (blockage) of one or more coronary arteries caused by plaque buildup
▪ Symptoms: pain or pressure in the middle of the chest that spreads to the back, jaw, or
left arm; sometimes mild or no symptoms occur
▪ Women are more likely to have atypical symptoms; weakness and fatigue

Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Pathology of the Cardiovascular System (3 of 14)

The progression of coronary artery disease

resulting in a myocardial infarction.

Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Pathology of the Cardiovascular System (4 of 14)
Disorders of the Heart
• Heart failure: occurs most commonly in the elderly
▪ Congestive heart failure (CHF): fluid backup which results in edema (swelling)
▪ Left-sided heart failure: systolic failure or diastolic failure
▪ Right-sided heart failure: often the result of left-sided heart failure, causes fluid buildup
▪ Cardiomegaly: abnormal enlargement of heart; frequently associated with heart failure
• Carditis: inflammation of the heart
• Endocarditis: inflammation of the inner lining of the heart
▪ Infective endocarditis or bacterial endocarditis: caused by the presence of bacteria
▪ Pericarditis: inflammation of the pericardium
▪ Myocarditis: inflammation of the myocardium (heart muscle); rare complication of a viral
infection

Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Pathology of the Cardiovascular System (5 of 14)
Disorders of the Heart
• Diseases of the myocardium
▪ Cardiomyopathy: term used to describe all diseases of the heart muscle
▪ Dilated cardiomyopathy: causes the heart to become enlarged and pump less strongly
• Heart valves
▪ Heart murmur: most often defective heart valve; does not usually require surgery
▪ Mitral valve prolapse (MVP): abnormal protrusion of a heart valve; results in the inability of
the valve to close completely
▪ Valvular stenosis: narrowing, stiffening, thickening, or blockage of one or more valves
▪ Heart valve disease (valvular heart disease): degenerative disorder that prevents heart
valves from opening and closing properly
▪ Aortic stenosis: buildup of calcium and fat deposits in the aortic valve
▪ Mitral valve regurgitation (insufficiency or incompetency): mitral valve does not close tightly
Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Pathology of the Cardiovascular System (6 of 14)
Disorders of the Heart
• Arrhythmia and cardiac arrest: loss of the normal rhythm of the heartbeat
▪ Asystole (flat line): complete lack of electrical activity in the heart
▪ Cardiac arrest: the heart abruptly stops beating or develops an arrhythmia
▪ Heart block: partial or complete block of electrical signal moving through the
heart
▪ Bradycardia: abnormally slow resting heart rate
▪ Tachycardia: abnormally rapid resting heart rate
▪ Ventricular tachycardia (V-tach): very rapid heartbeat that begins within the
ventricles
▪ Long QT syndrome (LQTS): fast, chaotic, and potentially dangerous
arrhythmias

Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Pathology of the Cardiovascular System (7 of 14)
Disorders of the Heart
• Atrial and ventricular fibrillations
▪ Atrial fibrillation (A-fib): most
common type of tachycardia
▪ Ventricular fibrillation (V-fib): Electrocardiograms of heart
rhythms. (A) Normal sinus
rapid, irregular, and useless rhythm. (B) Atrial fibrillation.
contractions of the ventricles (C) Supraventricular
tachycardia. (D) Ventricular
▪ Palpitation: pounding or racing fibrillation.
heartbeat with or without
irregularity in rhythm

Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Pathology of the Cardiovascular System (8 of 14)
Disorders of the Heart
• Blood vessel abnormalities
▪ Vasculitis: inflammation of a blood vessel
▪ Temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis): inflammation of temporal arteries
▪ Hemangioma: benign tumor made up of newly formed blood vessels
▪ Hypoperfusion: deficiency of blood passing through an organ or body part
• Arteries
▪ Aneurysm: localized weak spot or balloon-like enlargement of the wall of an artery
▪ Arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries): thickening and loss of elasticity of arterial
walls
▪ Carotid artery stenosis (arteriostenosis): abnormal narrowing of the carotid artery

Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Pathology of the Cardiovascular System (9 of 14)
Disorders of the Heart
• Veins
▪ Chronic venous insufficiency (venous
insufficiency): venous circulation is
inadequate
▪ Phlebitis: inflammation of a vein
▪ Varicose veins: abnormally swollen veins;
usually superficial veins of the legs
• Thromboses
▪ Thrombus: blood clot attached to the
interior wall of an artery or a vein A thrombus is a blood clot attached to
▪ Thrombotic occlusion: blocking of an the interior wall of an artery or vein.
artery by a thrombus

Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Pathology of the Cardiovascular System (10 of 14)
Disorders of the Heart
• Thromboses
▪ Coronary thrombosis: damage caused by a thrombus blocking a coronary artery
▪ Venous thromboembolism (VTE): blood clot originating in a vein
▪ Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): thrombus attached to the interior wall of a deep vein

Common sites for the development of

phlebitis and deep vein thrombosis.

Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Pathology of the Cardiovascular System (11 of 14)
Disorders of the Heart
• Embolism
▪ Sudden blockage of a blood vessel by an embolus
▪ Often named for the causative factor, such as an air
embolism or a fat embolism
▪ Can be named for its location, such as pulmonary embolism
▪ Embolus: foreign object circulating in the blood
• Peripheral vascular diseases An embolus is a foreign object
▪ Disorders of blood vessels located outside of the heart and circulating in the blood.
brain
▪ Peripheral artery disease (PAD) or peripheral arterial
occlusive disease: impaired circulation to the extremities
and vital organs
▪ Raynaud’s disease: peripheral arterial occlusive disease;
intermittent attacks triggered by cold temperatures or stress
Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Pathology of the Cardiovascular System (12 of 14)
Disorders of the Heart
• Blood disorders
▪ Blood dyscrasia: any pathologic condition of the cellular elements of the blood
▪ Hemochromatosis (iron overload disease): intestines absorb too much iron
▪ Leukopenia: decrease in disease-fighting white blood cells circulating in the blood
▪ Sepsis (septicemia): bacteria or other infectious organisms entering the bloodstream
▪ Thrombocytopenia: abnormally small number of platelets (thrombocytes)
▪ Thrombocytosis: abnormal increase in the number of platelets in the circulating blood
▪ Hemorrhage: loss of a large amount of blood in a short time
▪ Transfusion reaction: severe immune response to donated blood not being a match
• Cholesterol
▪ Fatty substance that travels through the blood and is found in all parts of the body
▪ Hyperlipidemia: elevated levels of cholesterol and other fatty substances in the blood
Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Pathology of the Cardiovascular System (13 of 14)
Disorders of the Heart
• Leukemia
▪ Cancer characterized by a progressive increase in the number of abnormal leukocytes
▪ Myelodysplastic syndrome: dysfunction of the bone marrow
• Anemias
▪ Lower-than-normal number of erythrocytes (red blood cells) in the blood
▪ Aplastic anemia: absence of all formed blood elements; failure of blood cell production
▪ Iron-deficiency anemia: most common form of anemia; caused by blood loss, poor
absorption of iron, or inadequate dietary intake of iron
▪ Megaloblastic anemia: deficiency of folic acid or vitamin B12
▪ Pernicious anemia: lack of the protein intrinsic factor (IF)
▪ Hemolytic anemia: most common examples are sickle cell anemia and thalassemia

Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Pathology of the Cardiovascular System (14 of 14)
Disorders of the Heart
• Hypertension (HTN)
▪ Commonly known as high blood pressure
▪ Essential hypertension (primary or idiopathic hypertension): consistently elevated blood
pressure of unknown cause
▪ Secondary hypertension: caused by a different medical problem; usually improves when
the other problem is resolved
▪ Malignant hypertension: very high blood pressure; can be fatal
▪ Pulmonary hypertension: high blood pressure in the lungs; usually the result of chronic
heart or lung disease
• Hypotension
▪ Lower-than-normal arterial blood pressure
▪ Orthostatic hypotension (postural hypotension): low blood pressure that occurs upon
standing up; remains lower than normal as long as the patient remains standing
Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Diagnostic Procedures of the Cardiovascular System
(1 of 2)
• Angiography
▪ X-ray of the blood vessels after the injection
of a contrast medium
• Cardiac catheterization
▪ Catheter is passed into a vein or artery and
then guided into the heart
• Duplex ultrasound
▪ Imaging structures of blood vessels and the
flow of blood through these vessels
• Venography
▪ Radiographic test In angiography, the blood vessels
(in black) are made visible through
▪ Provides an image of specific veins the use of a contrast medium.
▪ Contrast dye is injected
Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Diagnostic Procedures of the Cardiovascular System
(2 of 2)
Electrocardiography
• Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)
▪ Record of electrical activity of the myocardium
• Holter monitor
▪ Portable electrocardiograph; worn by an
ambulatory patient
• Stress test
▪ Assesses cardiovascular health and function
during and after stress
In electrocardiography, the electrical
• Thallium stress test activity of the myocardium is captured
▪ Nuclear imaging test; evaluates blood flow and externally recorded by electrodes
through the coronary arteries of the heart placed on the skin.
muscle during exercise
Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Treatment Procedures of the Cardiovascular System
(1 of 9)
Medications
• Adherence
▪ Accuracy and consistency with which a patient executes the physician’s
plan for treatment
• Antihypertensives
▪ ACE inhibitor (angiotensin-converting enzyme): lowers blood pressure
▪ Beta-blocker: reduces the workload of the heart; slows the rate of the
heartbeat
▪ Calcium channel blocker: causes the heart and blood vessels to relax
▪ Diuretic: stimulates kidneys to increase secretion of urine to rid the body
of excess sodium and water

Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Treatment Procedures of the Cardiovascular System
(2 of 9)
• Additional medications
▪ Antiarrhythmic: controls irregularities of the heartbeat
▪ Anticoagulant: slows coagulation and prevents new clots from forming
▪ Aspirin: reduces the ability of the blood to clot
▪ Cholesterol-lowering drug: reduces undesirable cholesterol levels in the blood
▪ Digitalis: strengthens heart contractions, slows heart rate, helps eliminate fluid in
tissues
▪ Thrombolytic (clot-busting drug): dissolves or causes a thrombus to break up
▪ Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA): can dissolve damaging blood clots
▪ Vasoconstrictor: causes blood vessels to narrow
▪ Vasodilator: causes blood vessels to expand
▪ Nitroglycerin: vasodilator; prevents or relieves angina pain; dilates blood vessels to
the heart
Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Treatment Procedures of the Cardiovascular System
(3 of 9)
Nutritional Interventions
• Hypertension and other cardiac issues
▪ Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet
▪ Restricted sodium intake
• High cholesterol or other cardiac disease
▪ Diet limited in saturated fat and cholesterol
Cardiac Surgery
• Range of heart surgery
▪ Correction of congenital heart defects in children to complete heart
transplantation

Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Treatment Procedures of the Cardiovascular System
(4 of 9)
Clearing Blocked Arteries and Veins
• Angioplasty
▪ Mechanically widening a
narrowed or obstructed blood
vessel
• Balloon angioplasty
▪ Percutaneous transluminal
coronary angioplasty (PTCA)
▪ Small balloon on the end of a
catheter used to open a partially
blocked coronary artery
• Laser angioplasty Balloon angioplasty is performed to
▪ Uses beams of light to remove a reopen a blocked coronary artery.
plaque deposit

Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Treatment Procedures of the Cardiovascular System
(5 of 9)
Clearing Blocked Arteries and Veins
• Stent
▪ Wire-mesh tube used to provide support to
the arterial wall
• Restenosis
▪ Artery opened by angioplasty gradually
closes again
• Atherectomy
▪ Removal of plaque buildup from the interior
of an artery
• Carotid endarterectomy A stent is put in place to prevent
▪ Removal of the lining of a portion of restenosis of a treated artery.
aclogged carotid artery leading to the brain

Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Treatment Procedures of the Cardiovascular System
(6 of 9)
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
• Most common type of open-heart surgery
▪ Piece of vein from the leg or chest is
implanted on the heart to replace a blocked
coronary artery
▪ Improves the flow of blood to the heart
• Minimally invasive coronary artery bypass
▪ Alternative technique for some patients
▪ Performed with the aid of a fiber-optic
camera
▪ Small openings between the ribs
Coronary artery bypass surgery is performed
to allow the flow of blood by placing vein
grafts to bypass blocked arteries.
Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Treatment Procedures of the Cardiovascular System
(7 of 9)
Treatment of Cardiac Arrest, Arrhythmias, and Valves
• Defibrillation
▪ Electrical shock to restore the heart’s normal rhythm
▪ Synchronized cardioversion: lower-voltage electrical
shock in a non-emergency situation
• Automated external defibrillator (AED)
▪ For use by nonprofessionals
• Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)
▪ Internal double-action pacemaker
• Pacemaker: used to treat arrhythmia
• Cardiac ablation (catheter ablation)
▪ Uses radio-frequency energy (heat) or cryoablation An implantable cardioverter–defibrillator
(extreme cold) constantly regulates the heartbeat and, if
necessary, acts as an automatic defibrillator.

Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Treatment Procedures of the Cardiovascular System
(8 of 9)
Treatment of Cardiac Arrest, Arrhythmias, and Valves
• Valvuloplasty or balloon valvuloplasty
▪ Repair of a heart valve that has a narrowed opening
• Heart valve replacement
▪ Surgery to replace one of the heart’s four valves
• Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
▪ Replacement valve delivered through a catheter; expanded within the defective valve
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
▪ Artificial respiration (mouth-to-mouth breathing) and manual external chest
compression
• Compression-only CPR
▪ Keeps a cardiac-arrest patient alive until professional responders arrive
Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Treatment Procedures of the Cardiovascular System
(9 of 9)
Blood Vessels, Blood, and Bleeding
• Aneurysm clipping
▪ Surgical method used to isolate an aneurysm in the brain
• Hemostasis
▪ Means to stop or control bleeding
▪ Formation of a blood clot by the body
▪ External application of pressure
• Plasmapheresis
▪ Removal of whole blood from the body
▪ Separation of the blood’s cellular elements

Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Abbreviations Related to the Cardiovascular System
• Reference Table 5.1 in the text for an overview of the abbreviations
related to the terms introduced in this chapter
• Examples:
▪ Atrial fibrillation = A-fib
▪ Automated external defibrillator = AED
▪ Coronary artery bypass graft = CABG
▪ Electrocardiogram = EKG, ECG
▪ Myocardial infarction = MI
▪ Ventricular fibrillation = V-fib

Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder Smith/Ehrlich, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 9th Edition. © 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be
scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.