DISORDERS OF THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM

Barbara J. Cohen,
Medical Terminology,
J.B. Lippincott Company, 1994, pp.114-116

Atherosclerosis
The accumulation of fatty deposits within the lining of an artery is termed atherosclerosis.
These areas, called plaques, gradually thicken and harden with fibrous material, cells, and other
deposits, restricting the lumen (opening) of the vessel and reducing blood flow to the tissues, a
condition known as ischemia.
Atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels is a primary cause of heart disease. One sign of such
coronary artery disease (CAD) is the type of chest pain known as angina pectoris. This is a feeling
of constriction around the heart or pain that may radiate to the left arm or shoulder, usually brought
on by exertion. Often there is anxiety, diaphoresis (sweating), and dyspnea (difficulty in
breathing). Angina pectoris is treated by control of exercise and administration of nitroglycerin to
dilate coronary vessels. Other drugs may be used to regulate the heartbeat, strengthen the force of
heart contraction, or prevent formation of blood clots. Severe cases may be candidates for
angioplasty, which is surgical dilatation of the blocked vessel by means of a catheter. Still further,
the blocked vessel may be surgically bypassed with a vascular graft.
Atherosclerosis also predisposes to thrombosis, the formation of a blood clot or thrombus
in a vessel. Sudden occlusion (blockage) of a coronary artery by a thrombus causes local necrosis
(death) of tissue and formation of an infarct. This is the myocardial infarction or heart attack
that is a leading cause of sudden death. Symptoms include pain over the heart (precordial pain) or
upper part of the abdomen (epigastric pain) that may extend to the jaw or arms, pallor (paleness),
diaphoresis, nausea, and dyspnea. There may be a burning sensation similar to indigestion or
heartburn. Often there is an abnormality of heart rhythm, or arrhythmia, usually fibrillation, an
extremely rapid, ineffective beating of the heart. Outcome is based on the degree of damage and
early treatment to dissolve the clot and reestablish normal heart rhythm. Myocardial infarction (MI)
can be diagnosed by electrocardiography (EKG), study of the electrical impulses given off by the
heart as it functions, by measurement of certain enzymes (CPK, LDH, AST) released into the blood
from the damaged heart muscle, and by a variety of other methods.
Atherosclerosis is a major cause of disease in industrialized countries, and the factors that
contribute to it are familiar to most people: heredity, high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, a diet
high in fat, lack of exercise, and stress. Other vessels commonly affected are the aorta, the carotid
arteries leading to the head, the cerebral arteries, and arteries in the leg.
Embolism
Occlusion of a vessel by a thrombus or other mass carried in the bloodstream is embolism,
and the mass itself is called an embolus. Usually the mass is a blood clot that breaks loose from the
wall of a vessel, but it may also be air (as from injection or trauma), fat (as from marrow released
after a bone break), bacteria, or other solid materials. Often a venous thrombus will travel through
the heart and then lodge in an artery of the lungs, resulting in a life-threatening pulmonary
embolism. An embolus from a carotid artery often blocks a cerebral vessel, causing a stroke.
Aneurysm
An arterial wall weakened by atherosclerosis or other cause may balloon out, forming an
aneurysm. If the aneurysm ruptures, hemorrhage results, causing a stroke, or cerebrovascular
accident (CVA), if a cerebral artery is involved. In a dissecting aneurysm, blood hemorrhages into
the thick middle layer of the artery wall, separating the muscle as it spreads and sometimes
rupturing the vessel. The aorta is most commonly involved. It may be possible to repair a dissecting
aneurysm surgically with a graft.
Heart Failure
When the heart fails to empty effectively for any reason, the general term heart failure is
applied. The resulting increased pressure in the venous system leads to edema, often in the lungs
(pulmonary edema), and justifies the description congestive heart failure (CHF). Other symptoms
are cyanosis, dyspnea, and syncope. Heart failure is treated with rest, drugs to strengthen heart
contractions, diuretics to eliminate fluid, and restriction of salt in the diet.
Hypertension
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a contributing factor in all the conditions described
above. In simple terms, hypertension is defined as a systolic pressure greater than 140 mm Hg or a
diastolic pressure greater than 90 mm Hg. It causes the left ventricle to enlarge (hypertrophy) as a
result of increased work. Some cases are secondary to other disorders, such as kidney malfunction
or endocrine disturbance, but most cases of hypertension are due to unknown causes and are
described as primary or essential hypertension. The condition is controlled with diuretics,
vasodilators, and most recently with drugs.

Medical terminology
1. Match the following terms to their proper definitions: a) atherosclerosis, b) cyanosis,
c) dyspnea, d) edema, e) embolism, f) embolus, h) fibrillation, i) heart failure, j) hypertension, k)
infarction, l) ischemia, m) murmur, n) phlebitis, o) stenosis, p) stroke, q) syncope, r) thrombosis, s)
thrombus.
1. The development of fatty, fibrous patches (plaques) in the lining of arteries, causing
narrowing of the lumen and hardening of the vessel wall. The most common form of
arteriosclerosis. (Root ather/o means porridge or gruel).
2. A blood clot that forms within a blood vessel.
3. Inflammation of a vein.
4. Localized necrosis (death) of tissue resulting from a blockage or a narrowing of the artery
that supplies the area. A myocardial infarction (MI) occurs in cardiac muscle and usually
results from formation of a thrombus in a coronary artery.
5. Swelling of body tissues due to the presence of excess fluid. Causes include cardiovascular
disturbances, kidney failure, inflammation, and malnutrition.
6. Local deficiency of blood supply due to obstruction of the circulation.
7. Constriction or narrowing of an opening.
8. Bluish discoloration of the skin due to lack of oxygen.
9. Development of a blood clot within a vessel.
10. A condition caused by the inability of the heart to maintain adequate circulation of blood.
11. Difficult or labored breathing.
12. A temporary loss of consciousness due to inadequate blood flow to the brain; fainting.
13. Spontaneous, quivering and ineffectual contraction of muscle fibers, as in the atria or the
ventricles.
14. An abnormal heart sound.
15. Sudden damage to the brain resulting from reduction of blood flow. Causes include
atherosclerosis, thrombosis, or hemorrhage from a ruptured aneurysm. Also called
cerebrovascular accident. (CVA)
16. Obstruction of a blood vessel by a blood clot or other matter carried in the circulation.
17. A mass carried in the circulation. Usually a blood clot, but may also by air, fat, bacteria, or
other solid matter from within or from outside the body.
18. A condition of higher than normal blood pressure.

2. Match the terms in each of theses sets with their definitions and write the
appropriate letter (a-e) to the left of each number.
__ 1. endocardium a. hearts pacemaker
__ 2. mitral b. thin membrane that lines the heart
__ 3. pericardium c. pertaining to the left atrioventricular valve
__ 4. SA node d. vessel that empties into the right atrium
__ 5. vena cava e. fibrous sac around the heart

__ 6. thrombosis a. local blood deficiency
__ 7. dysrhythmia b. formation of a blood clot in a vessel
__ 8. cardioversion c. abnormal heartbeat
__ 9. aneurysm d. defibrillation
__ 10. ischemia e. localized dilatation of a blood vessel

__ 11. fibrillation a. twisted and swollen vessel
__ 12. heart block b. part of the hearts conduction system
__ 13. atheriosclerosis c. accumulation of fatty material in the vessels
__ 14. varix d. ineffective quivering of muscle
__ 15. Purkinje fibers e. interruption in the heart conduction system

__ 16. embolism a. central opening, as of a vessel
__ 17. ductus arteriosus b. area over the heart
__ 18. lumen c. blockage of a vessel with a clot or plug
__ 19. infarct d. vessel that bypasses the lungs in fetal circulation
__ 20. precordium e. area of dead tissue caused by lack of blood supply


3. Fill in the blanks:
1. Each upper receiving chamber of the heart is a(n) .
2. The heart chamber that pumps into the aorta is the .
3. A vessel that carries blood back to the heart is a(n) .
4. The microscopic vessels through which materials are exchanged between the blood and the
tissues are the .
5. The relaxation phase of the heart cycle is called .
6. The large lymphoid organ in the upper left abdomen is the .
7. The large artery that supplies the head is the ..
8. The large vein that drains the head is the ..
9. Endarteritis is inflammation of the lining of a(n) ..
10. Phlebostasis is stoppage of blood flow in a(n) .
11. Thrombophlebitis is inflammation of a vein associated with formation of a(n) .
12. Blood returning to the heart from the lungs enters the chamber of the heart named the .
13. A small artery is called a(n) .
14. The adjective ischemic means lacking in .
15. The lymphoid gland in the chest is the .

4. Select the correct answer:
1. The word percutaneous means:
a. on the skin b. through the skin c. into a vessel d. into the blood e. into the skin
2. The word transluminal pertains to the lumen of a vessel, which is the
a. wall b. branch c. outer layer d. central opening e. valve
3. The term that means backflow, as of blood, is
a. infarction b. regurgitation c. amplitude d. prolapse e. tourniquet
4. The popliteal vein is in the
a. arm b. thigh c. knee d. heart e. ankle
5. The interventricular septum is the
a. cavity of the ventricle b. wall between the atrium and ventricle c. valve between the atrium and
ventricle d. wall between the ventricles e. vessel that carries blood out of the ventricle

5. Write the adjective form of each of the following words:
septum, apex, aorta, artery, vein, ventricle, diastole, sclerosis, spleen, varix