Medical terminology

Constructed medical terms:Many medical terms are ‘constructed’ from a combination of

word parts… prefixes, Greek or Roman root words, and suffixes. Determine the meaning of the whole word by first deciphering the meaning of the suffix, then the prefix, and

finally the root word. Then combine the 3 parts.

MICRO / SCOP / ICPrefix meaning ‘small’ / root word meaning ‘viewing instrument’ / suffix meaning ‘pertaining to’

When you start with a root word and add a suffix that starts with a consonant OR another root word, then you have to connect the two word parts with a vowel. This is called a ‘combining vowel’, and is usually an ‘o, i, or e’.

HEM / O / PHILIARoot word meaning ‘blood’ / combining vowel / suffix meaning ‘love of’

Nonconstructed medical terms:If a medical term is not constructed from a combination of word parts, then it is called ‘nonconstructed’. These are words derived from other languages, words derived from names of people, from initials that form acronyms,

or from abbreviations. To learn the meanings of nonconstructed terms, you must simply commit them to

memory.

The term ‘pasteurize’ refers to the process of

heating milk to a temperature that kills

harmful microorganisms. The term is derived from

the name of its inventor… Louis Pasteur

(1822-1895).

Medical root words of the circulatory system…

ROOT WORD DEFINITION

ANGI BLOOD VESSEL

CYAN BLUE

STEN NARROW

CARDI HEART

AORT AORTA

ARTER; ARTERI ARTERY

SCLER THICK OR HARD; SCLERA

CORON CROWN OR CIRCLE; HEART

TENS PRESSURE

ISCH HOLD BACK

PHLEB VEIN

VARIC DILATED VEIN

SPHYGM HEARTBEAT

VASCUL LITTLE BLOOD VESSEL

Medical prefixes for the circulatory system…

PREFIX DEFINITION

HYPER- EXCESSIVE; ABNORMALLY HIGH; ABOVE

HYPO- DEFICIENT; ABNORMALLY LOW; BELOW

Medical suffixes for the circulatory system…

SUFFIX DEFINITION

-EMIA CONDITION OF BLOOD

-SPASM SUDDEN INVOLUNTARY MUSCLE CONTRACTION

-OMA TUMOR

-PATHY DISEASE

-OSIS CONDITION OF

-ION PROCESS

-ITIS INFLAMMATION

-GRAPHY RECORDING PROCESS

Angiospasm (AN

jee oh spazm)Abnormal muscular contractions of the

smooth muscles that form the blood

vessel walls.

Medical terms, signs, & symptoms of the circulatory system…

Angiostenosis (an jee oh sten OH siss)Narrowing of a blood vessel,

which in turn causes a reduction of blood flow to the

body. This is one sign of cardiovascular disease.


Cyanosis (sigh ah NOH

siss)A blue tinge of the skin and mucous

membranes, usually caused by oxygen deficiency in the

tissue. This may be a sign of

cardiovascular disease.


Diseases and disorders of the circulatory system…

Aneurysm (AN yoo

rism) This is a non-constructed

word. It is an abnormal bulging of an arterial wall.

An aneurysm may be a congenital defect (present at birth) or a weakness that has formed over time. If an aneurysm bursts, it can be life-threatening.


Angiocarditis (An jee oh kar DYE tiss) An inflammation of

the heart and blood vessels. It is often the result of a widespread

bacterial infection.


Angioma (an jee OH mah) This is a

term that describes a tumor arising from a

blood vessel. It forms a benign mass or coloring

of the skin.

It may be called an hemangioma (heh MAN jee OH mah). A mass may restrict the flow of blood OR

a red/purple birthmark on the skin does not restrict blood flow.

Former Soviet

President Gorbachev has a port

wine stain on the forehead.


Aortitis (ay or TYE

tiss) Inflammation of the aorta, often caused

by a bacterial infection.

Illustration of normal aorta on the left; inflamed on the right.


Arteriopathy (ahr tee ree AH

path ee) This is a general term referring to

any disease of the arteries.


Arteriosclerosis (ahr tee ree oh skleh ROH

siss) This is commonly called ‘hardening of the arteries’. The artery walls

may become thickened and

lose their elasticity with age, reducing

blood flow.


Atherosclerosis (ATH er oh

skleh ROH siss) This is a specific type of

arteriosclerosis, where a fatty plaque forms on the inner walls of the artery.

This plaque may reduce or block the flow of blood; it

can be caused by too much cholesterol in the diet.


Coronary Occlusion (ah CLUE zhun) This is a general term for blockage in an artery.


Embolism (EM boh lizm)

This is a blockage in an artery

that forms when a blood clot or air

bubble or fat particle moves through the circulatory system.

The actual clot or particle or bubble is called an ‘embolus’. Air embolus


Hemorrhoids (HEM

oh roydz) These are dilated veins in the anal area. They are

painful and cause itching.

People who are seated a lot, such as truck drivers and secretaries, and people who lift heavy weights

or jump up and down, such as an athlete, are at risk.


Hypertension (HIGH

per TEN shun) Persistently high

blood pressure.

Essential hypertension is not traceable to a single cause; secondary hypertension is caused by

another disease.


Hypotension (HIGH

poh TEN shun) Persistently low

blood pressure.


Ischemia (iss KEE mee ah) An

abnormally low flow of blood to the tissues,

which may be congenital or caused

by an occlusion.


Phlebitis (fleh BYE tiss)

An inflammation of a vein.

At site of IV infusion


Varicosis (vair ih KOH siss)

An abnormally dilated vein. When blood flow valves

do not work correctly, blood

pools due to gravitational forces,

a varicose vein results.

Treatments and Procedures of the circulatory system…

Angiography (AN jee OG

rah fee)

A contrast medium is introduced into the bloodstream, and images called an ‘angiogram’ are

taken by X-ray, MRI, or CAT scan. It is a

diagnostic procedure.


Angioplasty (AN jee oh plass

tee)

This is the surgical repair of a blood vessel. A balloon

angioplasty involves the insertion and

inflation of a balloon to unblock a vessel. In laser angioplasty a laser beam is used to

unblock an artery.


Coronary Stent

An artificial ‘spacer’ or ‘form’ that is used to hold open a

vessel or prevent closure of an artery after angioplasty.


Endarterectomy(END ahr teh REK toh mee)

The surgical removal of the inner lining of an artery to

remove fatty plaque.

Artery opened to expose the white fatty plaque to be removed.


Sphygmomanometry (SFIG moh mah NOM eh tree)

The process of measuring arterial blood pressure using an instument called a sphygmomanometer. While it is replaced by digital technology in many

cases, technology sometimes fails.


Phlebectomy (fleh

BEK toh mee)

The surgical removal of a vein.


Phlebotomy (fleh BOT toh

mee)

Puncturing a vein to remove blood or for a

donation of blood. Often called

venipuncture. A healthcare

professional who performs this

procedure is called a phlebotomist.

Abbreviations associated with the circulatory system…

A general term for any disease that

affects the coronary arteries supplying the

heart with blood.

CAD Coronary Artery DiseaseCross-section of coronary artery with plaque buildup.


The use of manual chest

compressions to maintain

circulation and artificial ventilation

to restore breathing in order to revive a patient.

CPR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation


Removing a blood vessel from one part of the body and

inserting it in place of a blocked artery in another part of the body

in order to restore circulation.

CABG Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

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Medical terminology

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