Veterinary Medical

Terminology

Dr.H.Hoseinzadeh
Veterinary Surgeon

Email:Hhhesamodin@gmail.com

@Drhessamodin

Dr.H.Hoseinzadeh
aneurysm (ahn-yoo-rihzm) = localized balloonlike enlargement of
an artery.

angiopathy (ahn-jē-ohp-ah-thē) = disease of vessels.

aortic insufficiency (ā-ōr-tihck ihn-sah-fihsh-ehns-ē) = inability of

the aortic valve to perform at the proper levels, which results in
blood flowing back into the left ventricle from the aorta.

atherosclerosis (ahth-ər-ō-skleh-rō-sihs) =
hardening and narrowing of the arteries.
This may be caused by plaque (plahck),
which is a patch or raised area. Ather/o is
the combining form for plaque or fatty
substance.
cardiac tamponade (kahr-dē-ahck tahm-pō-nohd) = compression of
the heart due to fluid or blood collection in the pericardial sac.

cardiomegaly (kahr-dē-ō-mehg-ah-lē) =
heart enlargement.
cardiomyopathy (kahr-dē-ō-mī-
ohp-ah-thē) = disease of heart
muscle. May be further classified as
hypertrophic (hī-pər-trō-fihck),
which is excessive growth of the
left ventricle, or dilated (dī-lāt-
ehd), which is characterized by a
thin-walled left ventricle. Dilated
cardiomyopathy also is known as
congestive.

carditis (kahr-dī-tihs) =
inflammation of the heart.
congestive (kohn-jēhs-tihv) heart failure =
syndrome that reflects insufficient cardiac output
to meet the body’s needs; abbreviated CHF.
Congestion (kohn-jehschuhn), which is
accumulation of fluid, and edema (eh-dēmah),
which is accumulation of fluid in the intercellular
spaces, may be seen with CHF. Ascites (ah-sī-tēz)
is fluid accumulation in the peritoneal cavity seen
in dogs secondary to CHF and other diseases.
Pleural effusion (ploorahl eh-fū-zhuhn) is
abnormal fluid accumulation between the layers of
the membrane encasing the lungs and is seen in
cats secondary to CHF. Fluid accumulation can be
relieved with the use of diuretics. Diuretics (dī-
yoo-reht-ihcks) are substances that increase urine
excretion.
dirofilariosis (dī-rō-fihl-ahr-ē-ō-sihs) = heartworm infection; formerly
called dirofilariasis (dī-rō-fihlahr- ē-ah-sihs). The scientific name of
heartworm is Dirofilaria immitis (dī-rō-fihl-ahr-ē-ah ihm-ih-tihs), from
which dirofilariosis is derived. Heartworm disease is found in dogs, cats,
and ferrets. Heartworms mature and breed in the larger blood vessels.
Mature heartworms produce tiny larvae called microfilariae (mi-kro-fihl-
ahr-e-ah). Mature heartworms may obstruct blood flow through the heart
and blood vessels. A dead heartworm can cause pulmonary embolism.
Obstruction of blood flow from the vena cava caused by heavy heartworm
infestation is called caval (ka-vahl) syndrome. Heartworm disease can be
prevented by the use of prophylactic (pro-fih-lahck-tihck) medication.
Prophylaxis (pro-fih-lahck-sihs) means prevention. If an animal has
heartworm disease, treatment includes use of an adulticide (ah-duhlt-ih-
sid), or substance that kills mature or adult heartworms, and a
microfilaricide (mi-kro-fihl-ahr-ih-sid), or substance that kills larvae or
juvenile heartworms.
 dirofilariosis

cor pulmonale (kōr puhl-mah-nahl-ē) = alterations in the structure

or function of the right ventricle caused by pulmonary hypertension;
also called pulmonary heart disease. Cor means heart, and pulmon/o
is the combining form for lung.
embolus (ehm-bō-luhs) = foreign object
(e.g., a clot, air, or tissue) that is circulating
in blood. An embolism (ehm-bō-lihzm) is
blockage of a vessel by a foreign object.

Air embolism
endocarditis (ehn-dō-kahr-dī-tihs) =
inflammation of the endocardium and
sometimes the heart valves. Endocarditis
may be further modified, as in bacterial
endocarditis.

heart block = interference with the

electrical conduction of the heart.
Heart block may be partial or complete
and is graded in degrees based on the
characteristics of the block.
hemangioma (hē-mahn-jē-ō-mah) = hematoma (hē-mah-tō-
benign tumor comprised of newly mah) = collection of
formed blood vessels. blood.

hypercapnia (hī-pər-kahp-nē-ah) = above-normal levels of carbon

dioxide. Hypercapnia results in reduced levels of oxygen (hypoxia =
hī-pohck-sē-ah) and may cause a bluish tinge to the skin and mucous
membranes. This bluish tinge is called cyanosis. (The combining form
cyan/o means blue.)
hypocapnia (hī-pō-kahp-nē-ah) = below-normal levels of carbon
dioxide.

hypoxia (hī-pohck-sē-ah) = below-normal levels of oxygen.

infarct (ihn-fahrckt) = localized area of necrosis caused

by an interrupted blood supply.

ischemia (ihs-kē-mē-ah) =
deficiency in blood supply (the
combining form isch/o means
hold back).
mitral valve insufficiency (mī-trahl vahlv
ihn-sahfihsh- ehn-sē) = inability of the left
atrioventricular valve to perform at the
proper level; may be caused by fibrosis,
endocarditis, or other conditions that occur
in the mitral valve area.

mitral valve prolapse (mī-trahl

vahlv prō-lahps) = abnormal
protrusion of the left atrioventricular
valve that results in incomplete
closure of the valve.
myocarditis (mī-ō-kahr-dī-tihs) = inflammation of the myocardium.

occlusion (ō-kloo-shuhn) = blockage in a vessel or passageway

in the body.

patent ductus arteriosus (pā-tehnt duhck-

tuhs ahrtē- rē-ō-sihs) = persistence of the
fetal communication (ductus arteriosus)
between the left pulmonary artery and aorta
that should close shortly after birth;
abbreviated PDA. (Patent means remaining
open.) A PDA may cause overloading of the
left ventricle, which may lead to left
ventricular failure. A continuous heart
murmur and enlarged heart are signs of a
PDA.
pericarditis (pehr-ih-kahr-dī-tihs) = inflammation of
the pericardium.

pulmonic stenosis (puhl-mah-nihck

stehn-ō-sihs) = narrowing of the
opening and valvular area between the
pulmonary artery and right ventricle.

regurgitation (rē-gərj-ih-tā-shuhn) = backflow;

used to describe backflow of blood caused by
imperfect closure of heart valves.
shock (shohck) = inadequate tissue perfusion. There are different types
of shock, but one type occurs after cardiac arrest or cessation of
heartbeat. Treatment of shock includes resuscitation (reh-suhs-ih-tā-
shuhn), or the restoration of life. Resuscitative measures include fluid
administration, cardiac massage, and artificial respiration.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (kahr-dēō- puhl- mohn-ār-ē), or
CPR, addresses only the cardiac and respiratory systems.

tetralogy of Fallot (teht-rahl-ō-jē ohf fahl-ō) = congenital cyanotic

cardiac condition that classically has four anatomical defects in the
heart: pulmonary stenosis, ventricular septal defect, overriding aorta,
and right ventricular hypertrophy.

thrombus (throhm-buhs) = blood clot attached to

the interior wall of a vein or artery. A thrombosis
(throhmbō-sihs) is an abnormal condition in
which a blood clot develops in a blood vessel.
Substances that prevent blood clotting are called
anticoagulants (ahn-tih-kōāg-yoo-lahnts).
vasculitis (vahs-kyoo-lī-tihs) = inflammation
of a blood or lymph vessel.

ventricular septal defect (vehn-trihck-

yoo-lahr sehptahldē-fehckt) = opening in
the wall dividing the right and left
ventricles that may allow blood to shunt
from the right ventricle to the left ventricle
without becoming oxygenated. To shunt
(shuhnt) means to bypass or
divert. A shunt resulting from a ventricular
septal defect would bypass the lungs.
Ventricular septal defect is abbreviated
VSD. A harsh holosystolic murmur usually
is a sign of a VSD.