Heart - Circulatory Terminology - Medical terms for circulatory diseases

Glossary of medical terms used in heart and circulatory system

Definitions of heart and circulatory system terms

ACE inhibitor - Drug that lowers blood pressure.

Albumin - Blood protein.

Allogeneic blood - Homologous blood given by a donor.

Amino acid - Organic molecules that are building blocks of proteins.

Anemia - Insufficient red cells or hemoglobin in blood.

Angiopathy - Blood vessel disease after having a long period of diabetes.

Anisocytosis - Significant size variation of blood cells.

Antiserum - Blood serum with antibodies.

Apheresis - Retention of only needed components of blood for use and returning the remainder back to the donor.

Aplastic anemia - Deficiency of red blood cells produced by bone marrow.

Artery - Large blood vessel from heart to other body parts.

Atherectomy - Removal of plaques from the arterial walls without a medical surgery.

Atherosclerosis - Accumulation of plaques on the walls of the arteries.

Atrium - One of the upper chambers of heart.

Autologous blood - Blood taken and given to the same patient to eliminate transfusion problems.

Balloon angioplasty - Coronary artery balloon dilation to widen arteries by inflating a deflated balloon.

Bradycardia - Heartbeat at abnormally low rate.

Bilirubin - Yellowish red fluid in blood and urine.

Blood - Red fluid that carries oxygen and nutrient to the cells and takes away carbon dioxide and waste.

Blood bank - Place where blood is stored for future transfusion.

Blood cells - Red cells are called erythrocytes and white cells are called leukocytes.

Blood components - Red and while cells, plasma, and platelets.

Blood group - Four categories of blood: A, B. AB, and O.

Blood smear - Small amount of blood sample placed on a glass for examination.

Capillary - Smallest part of blood vessel.

Cardiac - Relating to heart.

Cardiac arrest - No heartbeat.

Cardiologist - Heart and circulatory system specialist.

Cardiology - Heart specialist.

Cardiovascular - Relating to heart and circulatory system.

Cerebrovascular disease - Blockage of blood vessels of the brain that results in stroke.

Coronary disease - Hearth problem due to lack of sufficient flow of blood.

Crenation - Shrinking of red blood cells.

Derivatives - Elements of blood separated.

Diagnosis - Detecting disease by its symptoms.

Diastolic blood pressure - Lowest blood pressure between heartbeats.