Cardiovascular System Terminology

1. Introduction to Cardiovascular System Terminology

The cardiovascular system transports substances all over the body, including nutrients, oxygen, carbon dioxide, hormones, wastes, antibodies, and many other things. The cardiovascular system includes the heart and all of the blood vessels.

Many cardiovascular terms can be constructed by understanding commonly used prefixes, combining forms of root words, and suffixes. As you begin to learn these and other cardiovascular system terms, pay particular attention to those that can be easily confused.

1a. Prefixes

You have already learned many prefixes that are also useful in cardiology. For example, anemia uses the prefix a- (without, lacking) and means having insufficient red blood cells. Also, hyper- means above or excessive, and the term hypercoagulable means having blood that is excessively prone to clotting (coagulation).

The table below summarizes some of the prefixes that you will encounter as you learn about the cardiovascular system and cardiovascular conditions.

try it

Let’s try an example. One of the heart valves is called the bicuspid valve, and another is called the tricuspid valve.  

If you know that cuspid means having a single leaflet or flap, then how do bicuspid and tricuspid valves differ?

Bicuspid valves have two leaflets, and tricuspid valves have three leaflets.

try it

Let’s try another example. There is a sac called the pericardium.  

Based on the word parts, what does pericardium mean?

Peri- means around, and cardi/o means heart, so the pericardium is a sac that surrounds the heart.

1b. Combining Forms

There are many combining forms that specifically relate to the cardiovascular system. These include some you have already learned, like cardi/o (heart) and ather/o (vessel).

The table below shows common combining forms that refer specifically to the heart.

try it

Let’s try some examples.  

Based on the word parts, what does valvulopathy mean?

Valvulopathy is a disease of the heart valves.

Based on the word parts, what does atrioventricular valve mean?

An atrioventricular valve is a valve that regulates blood flow between an atrium and a ventricle.

Where do you think the pericardial sac (pericardium) is?

Peri- means around, and cardi/o means heart. The pericardium is a sac that surrounds the heart.

The table below shows terms that refer specifically to blood vessels.

try it

Let’s try an example. One common cardiology test is angiography.  

Based on your knowledge of word parts, what do you think angiography means?

Angiography is an imaging technique to visualize blood vessels.

The figure below shows angiography. Note how the branching blood vessels are distinctively visible.

key concept

Angiography is often performed with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This technique typically involves inserting a stent or balloon through an artery while visualizing blood vessels using X-rays (specifically fluoroscopy). A balloon can be inserted on the end of a catheter (a balloon catheter) and positioned in a narrowed blood vessel, then expanded to open the blood vessel. Alternatively, a stent can be placed in the blood vessel to hold it open.

Finally, the table below shows other combining forms related to the cardiovascular system.

try it

Let’s try an example. There is a technique called thrombolysis.  

Based on your knowledge of word parts, what do you think thrombolysis means?

Thrombolysis means dissolving (-lysis) a blood clot (thromb/o).

1c. Suffixes

Now that you have learned some prefixes and combining forms, it’s time to look at some suffixes. Again, remember that many of the suffixes that you have already learned are commonly used in cardiology.

The table below shows some suffixes that are often used in cardiovascular system terms.

try it

Let’s try an example. 

Based on your knowledge of word parts, what do you think gastrodynia means?

Gastrodynia is pain in the stomach. Gastr/o means stomach and –dynia means pain.

try it

Let’s try another example.  Review the meaning of plasmapheresis.

Based on the word parts, what does leukapheresis mean?

Leukapheresis means removing white blood cells (leukocytes) from the blood (Cleveland Clinic, 2024). Leuk/o means white (for white blood cells) and –apheresis means removal.

The table below shows additional suffixes that are often used in cardiovascular system terms.

try it

Let’s try an example. Atherosclerosis is a type of arteriosclerosis.  

Based on your knowledge of word parts, what do you think atherosclerosis means?

Atherosclerosis is a condition in which fatty plaques in the walls of blood vessels cause the blood vessels to narrow and harden. Ather/o refers to the plaques, and –sclerosis means hardening.

Based on the word parts, what does erythropoiesis mean?

Erythropoiesis means the formation of red blood cells. Erythr/o means red (as in red blood cells) and –poiesis is formation.

2. Practice Using Cardiovascular System Terminology

Now that you have reviewed some terms related to the cardiovascular system, try using these terms. In this section, you will build cardiovascular terms, break down cardiovascular terms, and correct simple medical documentation statements.

try it

Break apart cardiomegaly and explain what the word parts mean.

Cardi/o means heart and –megaly means enlarged, so cardiomegaly is a condition in which the heart is unusually large. This can be caused by medical conditions or heart damage.

Break apart cardiomyopathy and explain what the word parts mean.

Cardi/o means heart, my/o means muscle, and –pathy means disease or disorder. Cardiomyopathy means a disorder of the heart muscle.

Break apart valvulitis and explain what the word parts mean.

Valvu/o means valve, and –itis means inflammation. Valvulitis is the inflammation of a valve.

Next, try building words from word parts.

try it

Combine word parts to produce the term that means inserting a needle into the sac surrounding the heart to draw out fluid.

The term is pericardiocentesis. Peri- means around, cardi/o is heart, and -centesis is using a needle to withdraw fluid.

Combine word parts to produce the term that means inflammation of the heart muscle.

Inflammation of the heart muscle is myocarditis.

Finally, try correcting the statements below.

try it

The patient had bradycardia, diagnosed based on having a rapid resting pulse of 140 bpm.

The term is tachycardia, not bradycardia. Bradycardia is a slow heartbeat.

A patient has a low white blood cell count. Remembering that leuk/o refers to white blood cells, what suffix is needed to describe this condition?

Leukopenia.

A patient has inflammation of the sac that surrounds the heart. Based on your knowledge of word parts, what is the name of this condition?

Pericarditis.

REFERENCES

Polyarteritis nodosa. (2024, May 13). Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN): Symptoms & Treatment. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/polyarteritis-nodosa-pan.

Apheresis. (2024, February 7). Apheresis: How It Works. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/procedures/apheresis.

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Valve. Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/valve .