Cardiovascular System Terminology

Overview

• Second part of the cardiovascular system presentation focusing on vascular system terminology.
• Discusses terminology related to vessels, arteries, and veins.

General Vessel Terminology

• Angio: Pertaining to vessels.
  • Angiorraphy: Suturing surgical repair of a blood vessel.
  • Angioma: Benign tumor affecting blood vessels (sometimes lymphatic), common with age, and can be a symptom of liver disease.
  • Angiography: X-ray technique using contrast medium to visualize blood vessels.
    • Types: Coronary, pulmonary, cerebral, extremity angiography.
  • Angioplasty: Widening of a blocked/narrowed blood vessel using a balloon and stent, e.g., PTCA (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty).

Vascular Terminology

• Vas/Vaso: Related to vessels or ducts.
  • Vascular: Related to blood vessels (e.g., brain, liver, kidneys are highly vascular).
  • Cerebrovascular: Relating to blood vessels in the brain, e.g., cerebrovascular accidents (strokes).
  • Cardiovascular: Related to the heart and blood vessels.
  • Vasospasm: Closure of blood vessels due to muscle contraction, can lead to tissue ischemia and necrosis.
  • Vasodilation: Widening of blood vessels; can be physiological or induced by vasodilators like nitric oxide, nitrates, or ACE inhibitors.
  • Vasculitis: Inflammation of blood vessels, often autoimmune, e.g., giant cell arteritis.
  • Vasovagal: Relating to the vagus nerve, leading to a vagal reaction causing bradycardia and vasodilation, potentially leading to fainting (syncope).

Arterial System Terminology

• Artery/Arterio: Blood vessels carrying blood away from the heart.
  • Arterial: Pertaining to arteries.
  • Arteriole: Small artery connecting to capillaries.
  • Arteritis: Inflammation of arteries.
  • Arteriostenosis: Narrowing of arteries, e.g., from atherosclerosis.
  • Arteriosclerosis: Hardening of arteries, often due to calcification.
  • Arteriolosclerosis: Hardening of arterioles, impacting blood flow regulation.
  • Atherosclerosis: Buildup of fatty material inside arteries, leading to narrowing and hardening.
  • Endarterectomy: Surgical removal of the inside of an artery, often to prevent stroke.
  • Arteriogram: Imaging of arteries through x-rays.
  • Aneurysm: Dilation of a weakened artery wall, can be fusiform or berry-shaped.
  • Arteriectasis: Dilation of an artery (less commonly used term).

Venous System Terminology

• Veins/Phlebo: Blood vessels carrying blood towards the heart.
  • Phlebitis: Inflammation of veins, can be sterile or infective.
  • Thrombophlebitis: Phlebitis with thrombus formation, can lead to embolism if in deep veins.
  • Phlebotomy: Making an opening into a vein, e.g., for blood samples.
  • Phlebosclerosis: Hardening of a vein, often due to fibrosis.
  • Venous: Pertaining to veins.
  • Venipuncture: Puncturing a vein to draw blood.
  • Venothromboembolism (VTE): Thrombus in a vein that can embolize, e.g., DVT leading to PE (deep vein thrombosis leading to pulmonary embolism).