Glossary
Common Terminology associated with Vascular Disease
Aneurysm – a swelling, or enlargement, of a blood vessel.
Angiogram – an X-ray image of a blood vessel injected with contrast material.
Aorta – the largest artery in the body which extends from the top of the heart into the abdomen, where it branches into smaller arteries that extend down into the legs.
Arteriole – a very small artery.
Artery – a blood vessel that carries blood in a direction away from the heart.
Atheroma – an abnormal mass of fat or lipids, either in a cyst or in deposits in an arterial wall.
Atherosclerosis (Arteriosclerosis) – a common disorder of the arteries where layers of plaque made up of fats and cholesterol build up on the vessel wall, decreasing the size of the inside of the artery; “hardening of the arteries.”
Atherectomy – surgical removal of an atheroma in a major artery.
Balloon Angioplasty – a method of dilating or opening an obstructed blood vessel by threading a small balloon-tipped catheter into a vessel. The balloon is inflated to widen the blood vessel.
Bypass – any one of various surgical procedures to reroute the flow of blood from one area to another.
Capillaries – a very small blood vessel that connects arterioles and venules.
Cat Scan (CT Scan) – Computerized Tomography, a diagnostic test that uses special X-rays and contrast dye to show detailed cross sections of tissue structures and blood vessels.
Catheter – a hollow, flexible tube that can be inserted into a vessel or cavity of the body to withdraw or instill fluids, monitor for various types of information, and look at a vessel or cavity.
Cholesterol – a waxy lipid found in animal tissues; a factor in the development of atherosclerosis.
Circulation – movement of an object or substance through a circular course so that it returns to its starting point, such as circulation of blood through arteries and veins.
Claudication – cramp-like pains in the calves of the legs caused by poor circulation of blood to the muscles; commonly associated with atherosclerosis.
Collateral – a small branch of an artery or vein.
Diabetes Mellitus – a complex disorder of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism that is primarily due to a lack of insulin secretion by the beta cells of the pancreas, or defects in the body’s ability to use insulin.
Doppler Ultrasound – a test to check the movement of blood flow. It allows the examiner to hear sounds that indicate changes in blood flow caused by blockage or changes inside the blood vessel.
Duplex Scanner – an ultrasound machine that uses Doppler to allow the examiner to determine the direction of blood flow within the blood vessel.
EKG (Electrocardiogram) – a graph that shows the electrical activity of the heart muscle.
Embolus – a foreign object, a quantity of gas or air, a bit of tissue or tumor, or a small blood clot that circulates in the bloodstream until it becomes lodged in a vessel.
Endarterectomy – the surgical removal of plaque from the inside of a blood vessel.
Endovascular – within the blood vessels.
Erectile Dysfunction – the inability to initiate and/or maintain erection of the penis.
Gangrene – tissue death caused by lack of blood flow and oxygen.
Grafts/Bypass – man-made material or vein that is used to reroute blood flow.
Hypertension – high blood pressure.
Ileus – a lack of function in a part of the bowel which causes the bowel to enlarge and fill with gas; a blockage in the bowel.
Incentive Spirometer – a method used to encourage deep breathing using a device that shows the amount of air that a person breathes in.
Intermittant Claudication – cramping pain in the muscles of the buttocks, thighs or calves that occurs with walking and exercise. This pain is relieved quickly by rest.
Invasive – tests or procedures that require puncture of the skin or insertion of a device into a body cavity.
MRA (Magnetic Resonance Arteriography) – A non-invasive diagnostic test that uses a magnet to show the flow of blood.
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) – a non-invasive diagnostic test that uses a magnet to show details of body tissues.
Non-invasive – techniques or tests that do not require the skin to be broken or body cavities to be entered.
Occlusion – a blockage in a canal, vessel or passage of the body.
Plaque – cholesterol and fatty material build-up on the inner lining of an artery.
Renal – pertaining to the kidney.
Rest Pain – pain in the toes or the foot that is caused by poor blood flow; usually worse at night and can be relieved by lowering the foot to the floor or by walking.
Retrograde Ejaculation – movement of semen back into the urinary bladder rather than out through the penis.
Staple – a piece of stainless steel wire used to close surgical wounds.
Stenosis – a narrowing of a passageway or vessel.
Stent – a wire cage used to keep a vessel open.
Suture – a surgical stitch made of fiber or silk used to close an incision or wound.
Symptom – a feeling or experience that indicates the presence of disease.
Telemetry – the electronic transmission of data from one point to another. For example, a heart monitor on a patient that sends a picture of the electrical activity of the heart to a monitor in another place where someone is watching the heart activity.
Thrombolytic Therapy – giving a medication to dissolve an arterial blood clot
Thrombophlebitis – inflammation of a vein with the formation of a blood clot.
Thrombus – a collection of blood cells and other materials that attaches to the wall of a vein or artery.
Triglycerides – a fat compound made up of three molecules of fatty acid.
Ulcer – a loss of tissue cells on the skin or mucous membrane caused by lack of blood flow, infection, inflammation or malignant processes.
Ultrasound – high frequency sound waves used in diagnostic tests that detect the movement of blood cells in blood vessels.
Varicose Veins – a twisting, enlarged vein with valves that do not function to hold blood effectively.
Vein – a blood vessel that carries blood back to the heart.
Ventilator – a machine that assists with breathing.