Cardiovascular System

Key Terms and Concepts

• Manometer: An instrument used to measure pressure, commonly blood pressure in medical settings.

• Atrial: Pertaining to the atrium, one of the two upper chambers of the heart.

• Regurgitation: The backward flow of blood through a heart valve due to improper closure.

• Interatrial: Located between the atria of the heart.

• Auscultation: The act of listening to internal body sounds, typically with a stethoscope, to assess heart, lung, or other organ function.

• Tachycardia: An abnormally rapid heart rate, generally defined as over 100 beats per minute in adults.

• High blood pressure (Hypertension): A chronic medical condition where the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated.

• Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG): A surgical procedure to restore normal blood flow to an obstructed coronary artery.

• More than normal cells (Hypercytosis): An increased number of cells, often referring to blood cells.

• Abnormal: Deviating from the normal structure or function.

• Hemorrhage: Excessive or profuse bleeding, either internal or external.

• Enlarged heart (Cardiomegaly): An abnormal enlargement of the heart, often due to high blood pressure or heart disease.

• Ischemia: A deficiency of blood supply to a tissue, often causing pain or dysfunction.

• Coronary artery disease (CAD): A condition characterized by the narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries.

• Vessel: A tube in the body through which fluids pass, such as blood vessels (arteries, veins, capillaries).

• Varicose veins: Enlarged, twisted veins, often occurring in the legs due to faulty valves.

• Phlebitis: Inflammation of a vein.

• Interventricular: Situated between the ventricles of the heart.

• Axillary: Pertaining to the armpit region.

Common Procedures and Conditions

• Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG): Used to treat severe coronary artery disease by rerouting blood around blocked arteries.

• Diagnostic X-ray: Imaging technique to visualize internal structures, including the heart and blood vessels.

Examples

• Example: A patient with tachycardia may require an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the underlying cause.

• Example: CABG is performed when coronary arteries are blocked and cannot be treated with medication or less invasive procedures.

Blood, Lymphatic, and Immune Systems

Key Terms and Concepts

• Red: Often refers to erythrocytes (red blood cells).

• Blood: The fluid that circulates through the heart, arteries, capillaries, and veins, carrying oxygen and nutrients.

• Lymph node: Small, bean-shaped structures that filter lymph and store white blood cells.

• Pancytopenia: A deficiency of all types of blood cells (red cells, white cells, and platelets).

• Parasite infection: An infection caused by organisms that live on or in a host and get their food from or at the expense of the host.

• Pathogenic: Capable of causing disease.

• Thrombotic: Pertaining to or affected by thrombosis (formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel).

Common Conditions

• Hemorrhage: Can result from trauma, surgery, or disease affecting blood vessels or clotting mechanisms.

• Pancytopenia: May be caused by bone marrow failure or certain infections.

Respiratory System

Key Terms and Concepts

• Alveolus (plural: alveoli): Tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs.

• Larynx: The voice box; located in the neck and involved in breathing, producing sound, and protecting the trachea.

• Apnea: Temporary cessation of breathing.

• Bradypnea: Abnormally slow breathing rate.

• Tachypnea: Abnormally rapid breathing rate.

• Dyspnea: Difficult or labored breathing.

• Eupnea: Normal, unlabored breathing.

• Anoxia: Absence of oxygen supply to an organ or tissue.

• Hypoxia: Deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues.

• Hypercapnia: Excessive carbon dioxide in the bloodstream, typically caused by inadequate respiration.

• Pharyngeal: Pertaining to the pharynx (throat).

• Laryngoplasty: Surgical repair of the larynx.

• Bronchoscope: An instrument used to view the inside of the airways and lungs.

• Otorhinolaryngology: The study of diseases of the ear, nose, and throat (ENT).

• Rhinorrhea: Discharge from the nose (runny nose).

• Tracheostenosis: Narrowing of the trachea.

• Epistaxis: Nosebleed.

• Upper respiratory infection (URI): Infection of the nasal cavity, pharynx, or larynx.

• Laryngectomy: Surgical removal of the larynx.

• Polysomnography: A sleep study used to diagnose sleep disorders.

• Oximeter: A device that measures the oxygen saturation of the blood.

Examples

• Example: A patient with apnea may undergo polysomnography to diagnose sleep apnea.

• Example: Bronchoscopy is performed to investigate persistent cough or abnormal chest X-ray findings.

Digestive System

Key Terms and Concepts

• Gall stones (Cholelithiasis): Solid particles that form in the gallbladder.

• Out pouching of the colon (Diverticulosis): The formation of small pouches in the colon wall.

• Lavage: Washing out of a body cavity, such as gastric lavage (stomach pumping).

• By mouth (Per os, PO): Administration of medication or fluids through the mouth.

• Before meals (Ante cibum, AC): Instructions for medication timing.

• Esophagus: The muscular tube that connects the throat (pharynx) with the stomach.

• Gums (Gingiva): The soft tissue that surrounds the teeth.

• Mouth (Oral cavity): The opening through which food enters the body.

• Postprandial: Occurring after a meal.

• Anorexia: Loss of appetite for food.

• Emesis: Vomiting.

• Jaundice: Yellowing of the skin and eyes due to high bilirubin levels, often from liver dysfunction.

• Tonsillitis: Inflammation of the tonsils.

• Tonsillectomy: Surgical removal of the tonsils.

• Polyp: A growth or mass protruding from a mucous membrane, often found in the colon.

• Nothing by mouth (NPO): Medical instruction to withhold oral intake.

• After meals (Post cibum, PC): Medication or procedure timing instruction.

• Anastomosis: Surgical connection between two structures, such as sections of the intestine.

• Gastrectomy: Surgical removal of part or all of the stomach.

• Polyphagia: Excessive eating or hunger.

Examples

• Example: A patient with gallstones may experience right upper abdominal pain and require a cholecystectomy.

• Example: NPO status is ordered before surgery to reduce the risk of aspiration.

General Medical Terms and Procedures

Key Terms and Concepts

• Afebrile: Without fever.

• Healthcare associated infection (HAI): Infections acquired in a healthcare setting.

• Straight (Ortho-): Prefix meaning straight, often used in terms like orthopnea (difficulty breathing except when upright).

• Eat (Phago-): Prefix relating to eating or ingestion.

• Swallow (Phago-): Also refers to swallowing, as in dysphagia (difficulty swallowing).

• Fiber destruction (Lysis): The breakdown or destruction of fibers, often in muscle or connective tissue.

Common Medical Abbreviations and Instructions

Summary Table: Selected Medical Terms

Additional info:

• Some terms were inferred or expanded for clarity based on standard medical terminology curricula.

• Where only a root or prefix was given, the most common medical usage was provided.