Rochester General Hospital
Cardiovascular Terminology Glossary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ablation - elimination or removal
ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitor - a medication that lowers blood pressure
aneurysm - a sac-like protrusion from a blood vessel or the heart
angina pectoris (also called angina) - recurring chest pain or discomfort that happens when some part of the heart does not receive enough blood
angiography - an x-ray that uses dye injected into the coronary arteries so that blood circulation can be studied
angioplasty - a non-surgical procedure for treating diseased arteries
anticoagulant - a medication that keeps blood from clotting
antihypertensive - a medication or other therapy that lowers blood pressure
aorta - the largest artery in the body and the primary blood vessel leading from the heart to the body
aortic valve - the valve that regulates blood flow from the heart into the aorta
aphasia - the inability to speak or understand due to brain injury or disease
arrhythmia (or dysrhythmia) - an abnormal heartbeat
arterioles - small branches of arteries
artery - a blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body
arteriosclerosis - commonly called "hardening of the arteries;" a variety of conditions caused by fatty or calcium deposits in the artery walls causing them to thicken
atherectomy - a non-surgical procedure that involves removing plaque from the walls of arteries with a rotating blade
atherosclerosis - a type of arteriosclerosis caused by a build-up of plaque in the inner lining of an artery
atrium (atria pl.) - one of two upper chambers in the heart
atrioventricular block - an interruption of the electrical signal between the atria and the ventricles
atrioventricular (AV) node - a cluster of cells between the atria and ventricles that regulate the electrical current
beta blocker - an antihypertensive medication that limits the activity of epinephrine (a hormone that increases blood pressure)
biopsy - the procedure of taking a small tissue sample for examination
blood clot - a gelled mass of blood tissue
blood pressure - the force or pressure exerted by the heart when pumping blood; also, the pressure of blood in the arteries
blood pressure cuff - a device usually placed around the upper of the arm to measure blood pressure
brady... - suffix meaning slow
bradycardia - abnormally slow heartbeat
bundle-branch block - a condition in which the heart's electrical system is unable to normally conduct the electrical signal
calcium channel blocker (or calcium blocker) - a medication that lowers blood pressure
capillaries - tiny blood vessels between arteries and veins that distribute oxygen-rich blood to the body
cardiac - pertaining to the heart
cardiac arrest - the stopping of heartbeat
cardiac catheterization - a diagnostic procedure in which a tiny, hollow tube (catheter) is inserted into an artery to go to the heart in order to image the heart and blood vessels
cardiac output - the amount of blood that goes through the circulatory system in one minute
cardiology - the clinical study and practice of treating the heart
cardiovascular (CV) - pertaining to the heart and blood vessel (circulatory) system
cardioversion - the procedure of applying electrical shock to the chest to change an abnormal heartbeat into a normal one.
cardiomyopathy - a disease of the heart muscle that causes it to lose its pumping strength
carotid artery - the major arteries in the neck that supply blood to the brain
cerebral embolism - a blood clot from one part of the body that is carried by the bloodstream to the brain where it blocks an artery
cerebral hemorrhage - bleeding within the brain
cerebral thrombosis - formation of a blood clot in an artery that supplies blood to the brain
cerebrovascular - pertaining to blood vessels in the brain
cerebrovascular accident - apoplexy or stroke; an impeded blood supply to the brain
cerebrovascular occlusion - an obstruction in the blood vessel in the brain
cholesterol - a waxy substance that is produced in the human body, animal fats, and in dairy products and is transported in the blood
cineangiography - the procedure of taking moving pictures to show the passage of dye through blood vessels
circulatory system - pertaining to the heart and blood vessels, and the circulation of blood
claudication - pain or fatigue in arms and legs due to poor supply of oxygen to the muscles
computed tomography (CT or CAT scan) - a non-invasive procedure that takes cross-sectional images of the brain or other internal organs; to detect any abnormalities that may not show up on an ordinary x-ray
congenital - present at birth
congestive heart failure - a condition in which the heart cannot pump out all of the blood that enters it, which leads to an accumulation of blood in the vessels and fluid in the body tissues
coronary arteries - two arteries that come from the aorta to provide blood to the heart muscle
coronary artery bypass graft (CAB or CABG) - a surgical procedure in which a healthy blood vessel is transplanted from another part of the body into the heart to replace or bypass a diseased vessel
coronary artery spasm - a sudden closing of an artery, which cuts off blood flow to the heart and causes symptom of angina or heart attack
coronary heart disease - a condition in which the coronary arteries narrow from an accumulation of plaque (atherosclerosis) and cause a decrease in blood flow
coronary occlusion - an obstruction of one of the coronary arteries that decreases flow to the heart muscle
coronary thrombosis - the formation of a clot in one of the arteries that carry blood to the heart muscle
cyanosis - insufficient oxygen in the blood
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defibrillator - an electronic device used to establish normal heartbeat
diastolic blood pressure - the lowest blood pressure measure in the arteries, which occurs between heartbeats
diuretic - a medication that lowers blood pressure
Doppler ultrasound - A procedure that uses sound waves to evaluate heart, blood vessels, and valves
dyspnea - shortness of breath
dysrhythmia - an abnormal heart rhythm
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echocardiography - a computer procedure that studies or evaluates of the heart's function by using soundwaves recorded on an electronic sensor that produces a moving picture of the heart and heart valves
edema - swelling
ejection fraction - the measurement of the blood pumped out of the ventricles
electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) - a test that records the electrical activity of the heart, shows abnormal rhythms (arrhythmias or dysrhythmias), and detects heart muscle damage
electrophysiological study (EPS) - a cardiac catheterization to study electrical current in patients who have arrhythmias
endarterectomy - the surgical removal of plaque or blood clots in an artery
endocardium - the membrane that covers the inside surface of the heart
endocarditis - a bacterial infections of the heart lining
enlarged heart - a condition of the heart in which it is abnormally larger than normal
epicardium - the membrane that covers the outside of the heart
estrogen - a hormone produced by the ovaries
fibrillation - rapid contractions of the heart muscles
flutter - ineffective contractions of the heart muscles
gated blood pool scan - a nuclear scan to see how the heart wall moves and how much blood is expelled with each heart beat, just after the patient has walked on a treadmill or ridden on a stationary bike
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heart attack - also called myocardial infarction; damage to the heart muscle due to insufficient blood supply
heart block - interrupted electrical impulse to heart muscles
heart-lung machine - a machine that performs for the heart during open heart surgery
heart valve prolapse - a condition of the heart valve in which it is partially open when it should be closed
high blood pressure - blood pressure that is above the normal range
high density lipoprotein (HDL) - the "good" cholesterol that promotes breakdown and removal from the body of cholesterol
Holter monitor - A portable ECG machine
hypertension - high blood pressure
hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) - a bulge in the ventricle that causes impeded blood flow
hypoglycemia - low levels of blood sugar
hypoxia - abnormal oxygen content in the organs and tissues of the body
immunosuppresive medications - medications that suppress the body's immune system used to minimize rejection of transplanted organs
impedance plethysmography - a test to evaluate blood flow through the leg
inferior vena cava - the large blood vessel (vein) that returns blood from the legs and abdomen to the heart
inotropic medications - medications that increase strength of the contractions in the heart
intravascular echocardiography - echocardiography and cardiac catheterization
ischemia - decreased flow of oxygenated blood to an organ due to obstruction in an artery
ischemic heart disease - coronary artery disease or coronary heart disease caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries and decreased blood flow to the heart
jugular veins - veins that carry blood from the head back to the heart
lesion - an injury or wound
lipid - a fatty substance in the blood
lipoproteins - transporters of fatty substances in the blood
low density lipoprotein (LDL) - the primary cholesterol carrying
lumen - the hollow area within a tube
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - a non-invasive procedure that produces two-dimensional view of an internal organ or structure, especially the brain and spinal cord
mitral valve - the valve that controls blood flow between the left atrium and left ventricle in the heart
mitral valve prolapse - a bulge in the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart that causes backward flow of blood into the atrium
monounsaturated fats - dietary fats, such as olive oil or canola oil, that don't seem to have any affect on blood cholesterol
murmur - a blowing or rasping sound heard while listening to the heart that may or may not indicate problems within the heart or circulatory system
myocardial infarction (heart attack) - occurs when one of more regions of the heart muscle experience a severe or prolonged decrease in oxygen supply caused by a blocked blood flow to the heart muscle
myocardial ischemia - insufficient blood flow to part of the heart
myocardium - the muscle wall of the heart
nitroglycerin - a medication used to relax or dilate arteries.
necrosis - pertaining to the death of tissue.
noninvasive procedures - a diagnostic effort or treatment that does not require entering the body or puncturing the skin.
obesity - overweight by 30 percent of the ideal body weight
occluded artery - an artery that is narrowed by plaque that impedes blood flow
open heart surgery - surgery that involves opening the chest and heart while a heart-lung machine performs for the heart
pacemaker - an electronic device that is surgically implanted into the patient's heart and chest to regulate heartbeat
palpitation - irregular heartbeat
percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) - angioplasty
pericarditis - inflammation of the membrane that surrounds the heart
pericardiocentesis - a diagnostic procedure that uses a needle to draw fluid from the pericardium
pericardium - the membrane that surrounds the heart
plaque - deposits of fat or other substances attached to the artery wall
platelets - cells found in the blood
polyunsaturated fat - a type of fat found in vegetable oils and margarines that doesn't appear to raise blood cholesterol levels
positron emission tomography (PET) - a nuclear scanning device that gives a three-dimensional picture of the heart to provide information about the flow of blood through the coronary arteries to the heart muscle
pulmonary - pertains to lungs and respiratory system
pulmonary edema - a condition in which there is a fluid accumulation in the lungs caused by an incorrectly functioning heart
pulmonary valve - the heart valve located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery that controls blood flow to the lungs
pulmonary vein - the vessel that carries newly oxygenated blood to the heart from the lungs
pulse oximeter - a device that measures the amount of oxygen in the blood
radioisotope - a radioactive material injected into the body so that a nuclear scanner can make pictures
radionuclide ventriculography - a diagnostic procedure used to determine the shape and size of the heart's chambers
regurgitation - backward flow of blood caused by a defective heart valve
renal - pertains to kidneys
rheumatic fever - a childhood disease that may damage the heart valves or the outer lining of the heart
risk factor - a condition, element, or activity that may adversely affect the heart
saturated fat - fat that is found in foods from animal meats and skin, dairy products and some vegetables
septal defect - a hole in the wall of the heart
septum - the muscle wall that divides the heart chambers
shock - impaired body function due to blood loss or a disturbance in the circulatory system
shunt - a connector to allow blood flow between two locations
silent ischemia - ischemia not accompanied by chest pain
sinus node - the cells that produce the electrical impulses that cause the heart to contract
sphygmomanometer - the instrument used to measure blood pressure
stent - a device implanted in a vessel used to help keep it open
stenosis - the narrowing or constriction of a blood vessel or valve in the heart
stethoscope - the instrument used to listen to the heart and other sounds in the body
streptokinase - a clot-dissolving medication
sternum - the breastbone
stress - mental or physical tension that results from physical, emotional, or chemical causes
stroke - the sudden disruption of blood flow to the brain
subarachnoid hemorrhage - bleeding on the surface of the brain
sudden death - death that occurs unexpectedly or immediately after onset of symptoms
superior vena cava - the large vein that returns blood to the heart from the head and arms
syncope - light-headedness or fainting caused by insufficient blood supply to the brain
systolic blood pressure - the highest blood pressure measured in the arteries
tachycardia - rapid heart beat
tachypnea - rapid breathing
telemetry unit - a small transmitter with wires that attach ECG patches to the chest that is used to send information about the heart via radio transmission to healthcare professionals for evaluation
thallium stress test - a study in which radioactive potassium is carried by the blood and the progress is followed by x-ray pictures
thrombolysis - the breaking up of a blood clot
thrombosis - a blood clot formed in the blood vessel or in the heart
thrombolytic therapy - a medication that dissolves blood clots
tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) - a medication used to dissolves blood clots
trans fat - vegetable oil that has been treated with hydrogen in order to make it more solid and give it a longer shelf life
transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) - a diagnostic test that is used to measure the sound waves that bounce off of the heart
transient ischemic attack (TIA) - a stroke-like event that lasts for a short period of time caused by a blocked blood vessel
transplantation - replacing a damaged organ with one from a donor
tricuspid valve - the heart valve that controls blood flow from the right atrium into the right ventricle
triglyceride - a fat-like substance found in the blood
ultrasound - a diagnostic tool used to measure high-frequency sound vibrations
valves (the heart valves are tricuspid, pulmonic, mitral, and aortic) - the "doors" between the chambers of the heart
valvuloplasty - repairing a heart valve
varicose vein - an abnormally dilated vein
vascular - pertaining to blood vessels
vasodilator - a medication that dilates or widens the opening in a blood vessel
vasodepressors - a medication that raises blood pressure
vein - a blood vessel that carries blood from the body back into the heart
ventricle - one of the two lower chambers of the heart
ventricular fibrillation - a condition in which the ventricles contract in rapid and unsynchronized rhythms and cannot pump blood into the body
ventricular tachycardia - a condition in which the ventricles cause a very fast heartbeat
vertigo - dizziness
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome - An extra electrical pathway that connects the atria and ventricles and causes rapid heartbeat
x-ray - a machine that used radiation to produce pictures of the inside of the body
Related Video
Rochester Heart Institute: Click below to watch a video about our heart institute.
