| Combining Form | Terminology/Meaning |
| angi/o | vessel
angiogram-an X-ray photograph of blood or lymph vessels, made by angiography. |
| aort/o | aorta
aortic stenosis-is one of the most common and most serious valve disease problems. Aortic stenosis is a narrowing of the aortic valve opening. |
| arter/o, arteri/o | artery
arteriosclerosis
arterial anastomosis-From the Greek anastomoien, providing a mouth.
arteriography-radiography of an artery, carried out after injection of a radio-opaque substance: |
| ather/o | yellowish plaque, fatty substance (Greek athere
means porridge)
atherosclerosis-The major form of arteriosclerosis in which deposits of yellow plaque (atheromas) containing cholesterol and lipids are found within the lining of the artery. |
| atri/o | atrium, upper heart chamber
atrial
atrioventricular-Relating to both the atria and the ventricles of the heart, especially to the ordinary, orthograde transmission of conduction or blood flow. |
| brachi/o | arm
brachial artery-the principal artery of the upper arm that is the continuation of the axillary artery. It has three branches and terminates at the bifurcation of its main trunk into the radial artery and the ulnar artery. |
| cardi/o | heart
cardiomyopathy-One type of cardiomyopathy is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy—abnormal thickening of heart muscle, usually in the left ventricle. |
| cholesterol/o | cholesterol (a lipid substance)
hypercholesterolemia-Statins are drugs that work by blocking a key enzyme in the production of cholesterol by the liver. |
| coron/o | heart
coronary arteries-These arteries come down, over the top of the heart like a crown (corona). |
| cyan/o | blue
cyanosis-This bluish discoloration of the skin indicates diminished oxygen content of the blood. |
| myx/o | mucus
myxoma-A benign tumor derived from connective tissue, with cells embedded in soft mucoid stromal tissue. These rare tumors occur most frequently in the left atrium. |
| ox/o | oxygen
hypoxia-Inadequate oxygen in tissues. Anoxia is an extreme form of hypoxia. |
| pericardi/o | pericardium
pericardiocentesis- is a procedure that uses a needle to remove fluid from the pericardial sac. This is the tissue that surrounds the heart. |
| phleb/o | vein
phlebotomy-phlebotomist is trained in opening veins for phlebotomy.
thrombophlebitis-Often shortened to phlebitis. If the affected vein is deep within a muscle, the condition is deep vein thrombosis (DVT). |
| rrhythm/o | rhythm
arrhythmia-Dysrhythmia is also used to describe an abnormal heart rhythm. Notice that one “r” is dropped. |
| sphygm/o | pulse
sphygmomanometer-A sphygmomanometer measures pressure. |
| steth/o | chest
stethoscope-A misnomer because the examination is by ear, not by eye.Auscultation means listening to sounds within the body, typically using a stethoscope. |
| thromb/o | clot
thrombolysis-also known as thrombolytic therapy, is a treatment to dissolve dangerous clots in blood vessels, improve blood flow, and prevent damage to tissues and organs. |
| valvul/o, valv/o | valve
valvuloplasty-A balloon-tipped catheter dilates a cardiac valve.
mitral valvulitis-Commonly associated with rheumatic fever, an inflammatory disease caused by inadequate treatment of a streptococcal infection. |
| ven/o, ven/i | vein
venous-A venous cutdown is a small surgical incision to permit access to a collapsed vein. An intravenous infusion is delivery of fluids into
a vein.
venipuncture-This procedure is performed for phlebotomy or to start an intravenous infusion. |
| ventricul/o | ventricle, lower heart chamber
interventricular septum-the wall between the ventricles of the heart. |
