The Cardiovascular System

Basic Glossary of Terms for Healthcare Interpreters

English Definition Spanish

A procedure that usually uses catheterization to treat
1. Ablation abnormal heart rhythms by eliminating the tissue that Ablación
causes the arrhythmias.
Bulging of a weakened or thinned area in a blood vessel or
2. Aneurysm Aneurisma
heart.
A noninvasive procedure to treat narrowed arteries by
3. Angioplasty Angioplastia
inflating them with a balloon placed inside the vessel.
The largest artery in the body, which supplies blood to the
4. Aorta Aorta
organs and tissues from the heart.
This condition is characterized by an irregular, fast, or slow
5. Arrhythmia Arritmia
heart rate.
Using an injection of contrast dye, this study is done in
6. Arteriography combination with cardiac catheterization to look at the Arteriografía
arterial system near the heart.
This is commonly referred to as the “hardening of
arteries,” which is caused by a buildup of calcium or fatty
7. Arteriosclerosis Arteriosclerosis
deposits against the walls of the artery, causing them to
become thick and occluded.
A vessel that carries oxygen-rich blood away from the
8. Artery Arteria
heart to the rest of the body.
Plural term is atria, which refers to the two upper
9. Atrium Aurícula
chambers of the heart.
A long flexible tube with a small balloon at the tip inserted
10. Balloon catheter Catéter de globo
into an artery to expand the vessel.
A thick gelatinous mass of coagulated blood, which can
11. Blood clot Coágulo de sangre
stop blood flow.
A surgical procedure that improves blood flow by creating
12. Bypass Baipás
a new route around the diseased or blocked artery.
This is the abbreviation for Coronary Artery Disease. It is a
condition characterized by arterial narrowing resulting Enfermedad
13. CAD
from plaque buildup and can lead to heart attack due to coronaria arterial
obstructed blood flow from the heart.
This is the cessation of a heartbeat, generally because of
14. Cardiac arrest Paro cardíaco
interrupted electrical activity.
A procedure involving insertion of a fine, hollow tube into
Cardiac Cateterización
15. an artery in order to visualize the heart and other blood
catheterization cardiaca
vessels to diagnose heart disease.
A chronic condition in which the heart does not pump
Insuficiencia
16. Cardiac failure enough blood to meet the body’s needs. Also known as
cardiaca
congestive heart failure (CHF).
A test that usually involves exercising in a monitored
Prueba de esfuerzo
17. Cardiac stress test environment in order to measure the heart’s ability to
cardíaco
respond to exertion.

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Disease of the heart muscle that leads to deterioration of
18. Cardiomyopathy Cardiomiopatía
heart function and its ability to pump blood.
Congenital heart A heart defect present at birth and caused by poor cardiac Defecto cardíaco
19.
defect development in utero. congénito
This stands for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. It’s an
emergency procedure using mouth-to-mouth breathing Reanimación
20. CPR
and chest compressions to circulate the patient’s blood cardiopulmonar
and keep the heart pumping.
A machine that uses electrical shocks to correct an
21. Defibrillator abnormal or rapid heartbeat and restore regular rate and Desfibrilador
rhythm.
This stands for Deep Vein Thrombosis. A thrombus is a
Trombosis venosa
22. DVT blood clot, and a DVT is a clot located deep in one of the
profunda
calf veins, obstructing blood flow to and from the heart.
Usually called Echo. A diagnostic test that uses ultrasound
23. Echocardiogram Ecocardiograma
waves to produce live images of the heart.
Also referred to as an ECG, this stands for
Electrocardiogram. It is a test to look for problems with
24. EKG electrical activity in the heart by connecting electrodes to Electrocardiograma
the chest wall and tracing the waves of activity onto a
paper.
Also called an embolism or blood clot, it starts in one vessel
25. Embolus Embolia
but travels to another.
A bacterial infection affecting the inner lining of the heart
26. Endocarditis Endocarditis
muscle.
The innermost layer of the heart, which is a smooth
27. Endocardium Endocardio
membrane covering the inside of the organ.
Disorganized and rapid contractions of the heart muscle,
28. Fibrillation Fibrilación
which leads to ineffective blood flow from the heart.
Ineffective and rapid heart muscle contractions, but more
29. Flutter Aleteo
coordinated than fibrillation.
High blood pressure. This is when the blood pumping from
30. Hypertension the heart is excessive and beats against the vessel walls. Hipertensión
The opposite is hypotension, or low blood pressure.
This stands for Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator.
Desfibrilador
ICDs are similar to pacemakers, but they are more
31. ICD cardiovesor
effective in patients at high risk for or with history of
implantable
sudden cardiac arrest.
Decreased blood flow to organs due to diseased or
32. Ischemia obstructed arteries, leading to damage of the tissue or Isquemia
organ.
Abnormal heart sound due to turbulent blood flow,
superimposed on normal heart sounds. It is likely caused
33. Murmur Soplo
by damaged heart valves that are not closing, leading to
backflow of blood into the heart chamber.
This is a heart attack, indicating damage or death to the
34. Myocardial infarction heart muscle, or myocardium. It is usually due to blocked Infarto de miocardio
blood flow to the area.
An electronic device implanted surgically to regulate the
35. Pacemaker Marcapasos
heartbeat.
A fluttering and uncomfortable feeling in the chest due to
36. Palpitation Palpitación
irregular heartbeat.
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The outer lining, or fibrous sac surrounding the heart.
37. Pericardium Pericardio
Pericarditis is inflammation in this area.
One of three types of blood cells that help with blood
38. Platelets Plaquetas
clotting.
A tiny flexible tube inserted into an artery to help position Sonda de
39. Sheath
a catheter. Colocación
40. Stenosis Constriction or narrowing of a vessel or valve opening. Estenosis
Expandable metal mesh device placed in a narrowed artery
41. Stent Estén
to keep it open.
Inadequate blood supply to the brain, leading to fainting or
42. Syncope loss of consciousness. This is usually caused by Síncope
arrhythmia.
43. Tachycardia Abnormally rapid heart rate. Taquicardia
This is a blood clot inside the arteries, vessels, or heart
44. Thrombosis Trombosis
cavity.
This stands for Transient Ischemic Attack. It’s a minor Accidente
45. TIA stroke that lasts a short time due to blocked blood flow in isquémico
the vessels. transitorio
These are a type of fat found in the blood, a high
46. Triglycerides Triglicéridos
concentration may increase the risk of heart disease.
These are openings between heart chambers allowing for
47. Valves Válvulas
blood flow in and out of the heart.
48. Varicose vein Abnormally bulging and twisting of a vein. Vena varicosa
The superior and inferior vena cavae are the large veins
49. Vena cava Vena cava
that carry blood into the heart.
The right and left ventricles are the two lower chambers of
50. Ventricles Ventrículos
the heart.

Notes: Key Word Parts:

5. Arrhythmia is also called dysrhythmia. throm/o clot

7. Arteriosclerosis is also called atherosclerosis. angi/o vessel
7. Occlusion is a medical term for obstruction or cardi/o heart
blockage. sten/o narrow
12. Baipás is an accepted word by the Real Academia
Española. To some, derivación cardíaca may be the
most appropriate translation.
16. Fallo/a cardíaco/a is also acceptable.
39. The precise translation of sheath is vaina; however, it
has a colloquial negative connotation. Sheath has other
translations, depending on the context and/or medical
specialty.
41. Endoprótesis Vascular is also a common translation for
stent.
42. Syncope may be interpreted as desmayo.
48. Also known as Varices [ver-uh-seez] in English and in
Spanish [várices]. Colloq. Variz

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