Medical Terminology Simplified

5–94 Coronary artery disease (CAD) affects the arteries and may cause various

pathological conditions, including a reduced flow of oxygen and nutrients to the my-

ocardium. (See Fig. 5–7.) The most common type of CAD is coronary

ather/o/scler/osis. It is now the leading cause of death in the Western world.

Identify the word elements in this frame that mean

abnormal condition:__________

hardening:____________________

fatty plaque:____________________ / _____

5–95 Arteri/o/scler/osis is a thickening, hardening, and loss of elasticity of

arteri/al walls, which results in decreased blood supply. Thus, arteri/o/scler/osis is

commonly referred to as hardening of the arteries.

When the physician diagnoses a hardening of the arteries, the condition is recorded

in the medical chart as

____________________ / _____ / ____________________ / __________.

5–96 Ather/o/scler/osis, the most common form of arteri/o/scler/osis, is charac-

terized by an accumulation of plaque within the arterial wall. This condition results

in partial, and eventually total, occlusion. (See Fig. 5–7.) Both conditions develop

over a long period and usually occur together.

Indicate the word elements used to denote coronary artery disease that mean

fatty plaque:____________________ / _____

artery:____________________ / _____

hardening:____________________ / _____

muscle:__________ / _____

heart:____________________

Boldfaceindicates a word root or combining form. Blueindicates a suffix. Pinkindicates a prefix.

178 CHAPTER 5• Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems

-osis

scler

ather/o

arteri/o/scler/osis

ăr-tē-rē-ō-sklĕ-RŌ-sĭs

ather/o

arteri/o

scler/o

my/o

cardi

Plaque reduces

blood flow

Area of

ischemia

Partial occlusion

Blood flow

is blocked

Area of

infarct

Total occlusion

Figure 5-7Coronary artery disease. (A)Partial occlusion. (B)Total occlusion.

AB