Many medical terms are constructed from word parts like prefixes, roots, and suffixes. Nonconstructed terms come from other languages, people's names, initials, or abbreviations. The document then defines word parts, terms, diseases, treatments, and abbreviations related to the circulatory system. Key terms include angiography, angioplasty, aneurysm, atherosclerosis, hypertension, ischemia, and CAD.

2. Constructed medical terms:
Many medical terms are ‘constructed’ from a combination of
word parts… prefixes, Greek or Roman root words, and
suffixes. Determine the meaning of the whole word by first
deciphering the meaning of the suffix, then the prefix, and
finally the root word. Then combine the 3 parts.
MICRO / SCOP / IC
Prefix meaning ‘small’ / root word meaning ‘viewing instrument’ / suffix meaning ‘pertaining to’
When you start with a root word and add a suffix that
starts with a consonant OR another root word, then you
have to connect the two word parts with a vowel. This is
called a ‘combining vowel’, and is usually an ‘o, i, or e’.
HEM / O / PHILIA
Root word meaning ‘blood’ / combining vowel / suffix meaning ‘love of’

3. Nonconstructed medical terms:
If a medical term is not constructed from a combination
of word parts, then it is called ‘nonconstructed’. These
are words derived from other languages, words derived
from names of people, from initials that form acronyms,
or from abbreviations. To learn the meanings of
nonconstructed terms, you must simply commit them to
memory.
The term ‘pasteurize’
refers to the process of
heating milk to a
temperature that kills
harmful microorganisms.
The term is derived from
the name of its
inventor… Louis Pasteur
(1822-1895).

4. Medical root words of the circulatory system…
ROOT WORD DEFINITION
ANGI BLOOD VESSEL
CYAN BLUE
STEN NARROW
CARDI HEART
AORT AORTA
ARTER; ARTERI ARTERY
SCLER THICK OR HARD; SCLERA
CORON CROWN OR CIRCLE; HEART
TENS PRESSURE
ISCH HOLD BACK
PHLEB VEIN
VARIC DILATED VEIN
SPHYGM HEARTBEAT
VASCUL LITTLE BLOOD VESSEL

5. Medical prefixes for the circulatory system…
PREFIX DEFINITION
HYPER- EXCESSIVE; ABNORMALLY HIGH; ABOVE
HYPO- DEFICIENT; ABNORMALLY LOW; BELOW

6. Medical suffixes for the circulatory system…
SUFFIX DEFINITION
-EMIA CONDITION OF BLOOD
-SPASM SUDDEN INVOLUNTARY MUSCLE
CONTRACTION
-OMA TUMOR
-PATHY DISEASE
-OSIS CONDITION OF
-ION PROCESS
-ITIS INFLAMMATION
-GRAPHY RECORDING PROCESS

7. Angiospasm
(AN jee oh spazm)
Abnormal muscular
contractions of the
smooth muscles
that form the blood
vessel walls.
Medical terms, signs, & symptoms of the
circulatory system…

8. Angiostenosis
(an jee oh sten OH siss)
Narrowing of a blood vessel,
which in turn causes a
reduction of blood flow to
the body. This is one sign of
cardiovascular disease.
Medical terms, signs, & symptoms of the
circulatory system…

9. Cyanosis
(sigh ah NOH siss)
A blue tinge of the
skin and mucous
membranes, usually
caused by oxygen
deficiency in the
tissue. This may be
a sign of
cardiovascular
disease.
Medical terms, signs, & symptoms of the
circulatory system…

10. Diseases and disorders of the circulatory
system…
Aneurysm
(AN yoo rism)
This is a non-
constructed
word. It is an
abnormal bulging
of an arterial wall.
An aneurysm may be a congenital defect (present
at birth) or a weakness that has formed over time.
If an aneurysm bursts, it can be life-threatening.

11. Diseases and disorders of the circulatory
system…
Angiocarditis
(An jee oh kar DYE tiss)
An inflammation of the
heart and blood vessels.
It is often the result of a
widespread bacterial
infection.

12. Diseases and disorders of the circulatory
system…
Angioma
(an jee OH mah) This is a
term that describes a
tumor arising from a
blood vessel. It forms a
benign mass or coloring
of the skin.
It may be called an hemangioma
(heh MAN jee OH mah). A mass
may restrict the flow of blood OR
a red/purple birthmark on the
skin does not restrict blood flow.
Former
Soviet
President
Gorbachev
has a port
wine stain on
the forehead.

13. Diseases and disorders of the circulatory
system…
Aortitis
(ay or TYE tiss)
Inflammation of the
aorta, often caused
by a bacterial
infection.
Illustration of normal aorta on
the left; inflamed on the right.

14. Diseases and disorders of the circulatory
system…
Arteriopathy
(ahr tee ree AH path ee)
This is a general term
referring to any disease
of the arteries.

15. Diseases and disorders of the circulatory
system…
Arteriosclerosis
(ahr tee ree oh skleh ROH siss)
This is commonly
called ‘hardening
of the arteries’.
The artery walls
may become
thickened and
lose their
elasticity with
age, reducing
blood flow.

16. Diseases and disorders of the circulatory
system…
Atherosclerosis
(ATH er oh skleh ROH siss)
This is a specific type of
arteriosclerosis, where a
fatty plaque forms on the
inner walls of the artery.
This plaque may reduce or
block the flow of blood; it
can be caused by too much
cholesterol in the diet.

17. Diseases and disorders of the circulatory
system…
Coronary
Occlusion
(ah CLUE zhun)
This is a general term for
blockage in an artery.

18. Diseases and disorders of the circulatory
system…
Embolism
(EM boh lizm)
This is a blockage in
an artery that forms
when a blood clot or
air bubble or fat
particle moves
through the circulatory
system. The actual
clot or particle or
bubble is called an
‘embolus’. Air embolus

19. Diseases and disorders of the circulatory
system…
Hemorrhoids
(HEM oh roydz)
These are dilated
veins in the anal
area. They are
painful and cause
itching.
People who are seated a lot, such as truck drivers
and secretaries, and people who lift heavy weights
or jump up and down, such as an athlete, are at risk.

20. Diseases and disorders of the circulatory
system…
Hypertension
(HIGH per TEN shun)
Persistently high
blood pressure.
Essential hypertension is not traceable to a single
cause; secondary hypertension is caused by
another disease.

21. Diseases and disorders of the circulatory
system…
Hypotension
(HIGH poh TEN shun)
Persistently low blood
pressure.

22. Diseases and disorders of the circulatory
system…
Ischemia
(iss KEE mee ah)
An abnormally low
flow of blood to the
tissues, which may be
congenital or caused
by an occlusion.

23. Diseases and disorders of the circulatory
system…
Phlebitis
(fleh BYE tiss)
An inflammation of
a vein.
At site of IV infusion

24. Diseases and disorders of the circulatory
system…
Varicosis
(vair ih KOH siss)
An abnormally
dilated vein. When
blood flow valves
do not work
correctly, blood
pools due to
gravitational forces,
a varicose vein
results.

25. Treatments and Procedures of the circulatory
system…
Angiography
(AN jee OG rah fee)
A contrast medium is
introduced into the
bloodstream, and
images called an
‘angiogram’ are
taken by X-ray, MRI,
or CAT scan. It is a
diagnostic
procedure.

26. Treatments and Procedures of the circulatory
system…
Angioplasty
(AN jee oh plass tee)
This is the surgical
repair of a blood
vessel. A balloon
angioplasty involves
the insertion and
inflation of a balloon
to unblock a vessel.
In laser angioplasty a
laser beam is used to
unblock an artery.

27. Treatments and Procedures of the circulatory
system…
Coronary
Stent
An artificial ‘spacer’ or ‘form’
that is used to hold open a
vessel or prevent closure of
an artery after angioplasty.

28. Treatments and Procedures of the circulatory
system…
Endarterectomy
(END ahr teh REK toh mee)
The surgical removal of the
inner lining of an artery to
remove fatty plaque.
Artery opened to expose the white
fatty plaque to be removed.

29. Treatments and Procedures of the circulatory
system…
Sphygmomanometry
(SFIG moh mah NOM eh tree)
The process of measuring arterial blood pressure
using an instument called a sphygmomanometer.
While it is replaced by digital technology in many
cases, technology sometimes fails.

30. Treatments and Procedures of the circulatory
system…
Phlebectomy
(fleh BEK toh mee)
The surgical removal
of a vein.

31. Treatments and Procedures of the circulatory
system…
Phlebotomy
(fleh BOT toh mee)
Puncturing a vein to
remove blood or for a
donation of blood.
Often called
venipuncture. A
healthcare
professional who
performs this
procedure is called a
phlebotomist.

32. Abbreviations associated with the circulatory
system…
A general term for
any disease that
affects the coronary
arteries supplying the
heart with blood.
CAD Coronary Artery Disease
Cross-section of coronary
artery with plaque buildup.

33. Abbreviations associated with the circulatory
system…
The use of manual
chest
compressions to
maintain
circulation and
artificial ventilation
to restore
breathing in order
to revive a patient.
CPR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

34. Abbreviations associated with the circulatory
system…
Removing a blood vessel from
one part of the body and
inserting it in place of a blocked
artery in another part of the body
in order to restore circulation.
CABG Coronary Artery Bypass Graft