Medical Terminology Simplified

Inability of the heart to circulate blood effectively enough to meet the body’s meta-

bolic needs; formerly called congestive heart failure (CHF)

Heart failure may result from myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease, and

cardiomyopathy. It may also be caused by the dysfunction of organs other than the

heart, especially the lungs, kidneys, and liver.

Consistently elevated blood pressure (BP) that is higher than 119/79 mm Hg,

causing damage to the blood vessels and, ultimately, the heart

Deficiency of blood flow to an organ or tissue due to circulatory obstruction

Some causes of ischemia are arterial embolism, atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and vasocon-

striction. (See the ischemic area of an occluded coronary artery in Fig. 5–7.)

Condition in which the leaflets of the mitral valve prolapse into the left atrium

during systole, resulting in incomplete closure and backflow of blood

Necrosis of a portion of cardiac muscle caused by partial or complete occlusion of

one or more coronary arteries; also called heart attack

Failure of the ductus arteriosus to close after birth, resulting in an abnormal opening

between the pulmonary artery and the aorta

Chronic episodes of cyanosis and paleness of the skin, primarily in the fingers or toes,

due to intermittent constriction of arterioles in the skin

Episodes may be triggered by cold temperatures or emotional stress. It may also be an

indicator of some other, more serious, problem.

192 CHAPTER 5• Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems

heart failure (HF)

hypertension

hī-pĕr-TĔN-shŭn

hyper: excessive,

above normal

-tension: to stretch

ischemia

ĭs-KĒ-mē-ă

isch: to hold back;

block

-emia: blood

mitral valve prolapse

(MVP)

MĪ-trăl VĂLV PRŌ-lăps

patent ductus arteriosus

PĂT-ĕnt DŬK-tŭs ăr-tē-

rē-Ō-sŭs

Raynaud disease

rā-NŌ

myocardial infarction

(MI)

mī-ō-KĂR-dē-ăl ĭn-

FĂRK-shŭn

my/o: muscle

cardi: heart

-al: pertaining to