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CHAPTER

Cardiovascular and
5
Lymphatic Systems
O B J E C T I V E S
Upon completion of this chapter, you will be able to:
• Describe the type of medical treatment the cardiologist, vascular surgeon, and immunologist
provide.
• Identify the structures of the cardiovascular and lymphatic systems by labeling them on anatomical
illustrations.
• Describe the primary functions of the cardiovascular and lymphatic systems.
• Describe diseases, conditions, and procedures related to the cardiovascular and lymphatic systems.
• Apply your word-building skills by constructing various medical terms related to the cardiovas-
cular and lymphatic systems.
• Describe common abbreviations and symbols related to the cardiovascular and lymphatic systems.
• Recognize, define, pronounce, and spell terms correctly.
• Demonstrate your knowledge of this chapter by successfully completing the frames, reviews,
and medical report evaluations.

MEDICAL SPECIALTIES
Cardiology
The medical specialty of cardiology encompasses the treatment of heart disease. Generally, three types of cardiology spe-
cialists provide medical care: the cardiologist, the pediatric cardiologist, and the cardiothoracic surgeon. The cardiologist
specializes in treating adults, and the pediatric cardiologist specializes in treating infants, children, and teenagers. The
cardiologist and pediatric cardiologist provide nonsurgical treatments to detect, prevent, and treat heart and vascular dis-
eases, whereas the cardiothoracic surgeon performs surgeries to treat cardiovascular disorders. Some of these critical,
lifesaving surgeries include coronary artery bypass, valve replacement or repairs, heart transplants, and repairs of complex
heart problems present from birth (congenital heart disease). An interventional cardiologist performs other invasive
procedures, such as angioplasty, pacemaker insertion, and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator insertion. The physician
who further specializes in surgical treatment of blood vessels and vascular disorders is a vascular surgeon.

Immunology
Immunology is the medical specialty encompassing the study of the immune system and its functions. The immune
system is the body’s defense against cancer and foreign invaders, such as bacteria and viruses. The ability to fight off
disease and protect the body depends on an adequate functioning immune response. Immunologists are physicians
who treat autoimmune and immunodeficiency diseases, cancer, or patients who are undergoing bone marrow, organ,
or stem cell transplantation.
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156 CH APTER 5 • Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems

ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OVERVIEW

The cardiovascular (CV) system is composed of the heart, which is essentially a muscular pump, and an extensive
network of blood vessels. The main purpose of the CV system, also called the circulatory system, is to deliver oxygen,
nutrients, and other essential substances to body cells and remove waste products of cellular metabolism. This process
is carried out by a complex network of blood vessels that includes arteries, capillaries, and veins—all of which are con-
nected to the heart. A healthy CV system is vital to a person’s survival. A CV system that does not provide adequate
circulation deprives tissues of oxygen and nutrients and fails to remove waste, resulting in irreversible changes to cells
that could be life-threatening.
The lymphatic system is closely linked to the CV system and depends on the pumping action of the heart to circulate
its substances throughout the body. The lymphatic system consists of a network of vessels and nodes, and a few spe-
cialized organs, including the tonsils, thymus, and spleen. Blood flows from the heart to blood capillaries and back to
the heart. Lymph capillaries collect tissue fluid, which is returned to the blood. (See Fig. 5–1.)

Subclavian vein

Lymphatic
vessel

Valve

Lymph
node

Heart

Artery

Lymph
flow

Blood
flow

Lymph
capillaries
Figure 5-1 Interrelationship of the
cardiovascular and lymphatic system, in
which the blood flows from the heart to
blood capillaries and back to the heart
and lymph capillaries to collect tissue
fluid, which is returned to the blood
Blood (arrows indicate the direction of blood
capillaries and lymph flow).
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Anatomy and Physiology Overview • C HAPT E R 5 157

W OR D EL EMENT S
This section introduces combining forms (CFs), suffixes, and prefixes related to the cardiovascular
system, along with each element’s meaning, an example, and additional analysis of key elements in
the example. Review the following table and pronounce each word in the word analysis column
aloud before you begin to work in the frames.
Word Element Meaning Word Analysis
Combining Forms
angi/o vessel (usually angi/o/graphy (ăn-jē-ŎG-ră-fē): process of recording blood vessels
blood or lymph) -graphy: process of recording
Angiography is an x-ray visualization of the internal anatomy of the heart and blood
vessels after the intravascular introduction of a contrast medium. It is used as a diag-
nostic aid to visualize blood vessel and heart abnormalities.
aneurysm/o widening, aneurysm/o/rrhaphy (ăn-ū-rĭz-MŌR-ă-fē): suture of a blood vessel
widened blood -rrhaphy: suture
vessel Aneurysmorrhaphy closes the area of dilation and weakness in the wall of an artery.
This condition may result from a congenital defect or a damaged vessel wall due to
arteriosclerosis.
aort/o aorta aort/o/stenosis (ā-or-tō-stĕn-Ō-sĭs): narrowing of the aorta
-stenosis: narrowing, stricture
arteri/o artery arteri/o/scler/osis (ăr-tē-rē-ō-sklĕ-RŌ-sĭs): abnormal hardening of arterial walls
scler: hardening; sclera (white of eye)
-osis: abnormal condition; increase (used primarily with blood cells)
Arteriosclerosis results in a decreased blood supply, especially to the cerebrum and
lower extremities.
arteriol/o arteriole arteriol/itis (ăr-tēr-ē-ō-LĪ-tĭs): inflammation of an arteriole
-itis: inflammation
ather/o fatty plaque ather/oma (ăth-ĕr-Ō-mă): fatty degeneration or thickening of the larger arterial
walls, as in atherosclerosis
-oma: tumor
atri/o atrium atri/o/ventricul/ar (ā-trē-ō-vĕn-TRĬK-ū-lăr): pertaining to the atrium and the
ventricle
ventricul: ventricle (of heart or brain)
-ar: pertaining to
cardi/o heart cardi/o/megaly (kăr-dē-ō-MĔG-ă-lē): enlargement of the heart; also called
megalocardia
-megaly: enlargement
coron/o coron/ary (KOR-ō-nă-rē): pertaining to the heart
-ary: pertaining to
phleb/o vein phleb/itis (flĕb-Ī-tĭs): inflammation of a vein
-itis: inflammation
ven/o ven/ous (VĒ-nŭs): pertaining to the veins or blood passing through them
-ous: pertaining to
thromb/o blood clot thromb/o/lysis (thrŏm-BŎL-ĭ-sĭs): breaking up of a thrombus
-lysis: separation; destruction; loosening
Continued
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158 CH APTER 5 • Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems

Word Element Meaning Word Analysis

varic/o dilated vein varic/ose (VĂR-ĭ-kōs): pertaining to a dilated vein
-ose: pertaining to; sugar
vas/o vessel; vas vas/o/spasm (VĂS-ō-spăzm): spasm of a blood vessel
deferens; duct -spasm: involuntary contraction, twitching
vascul/o vessel vascul/ar (VĂS-kū-lăr): pertaining to or composed of blood vessels
-ar: pertaining to
ventricul/o ventricle (of intra/ventricul/ar (ĭn-tră-vĕn-TRĬK-ū-lăr): within a ventricle
heart or brain) -ar: pertaining to
Suffixes
-cardia heart condition tachy/cardia (tăk-ē-KĂR-dē-ă): rapid heart rate
tachy-: rapid
-gram record, writing electr/o/cardi/o/gram (ē-lĕk-trō-KĂR-dē-ō-grăm): record of electrical activity of
the heart
electr/o: electricity
cardi/o: heart
-graph instrument for electr/o/cardi/o/graph (ē-lĕk-trō-KĂR-dē-ŏ-grăf): instrument for recording
recording electrical activity of the heart
electr/o: electricity
cardi/o: heart
-graphy process of electr/o/cardi/o/graphy (ē-lĕk-trō-kăr-dē-ŎG-ră-fē): process of recording
recording electrical activity of the heart
electr/o: electricity
cardi/o: heart
Electrocardiography is a noninvasive test that records the electrical activity of the
heart during contractions and rest. It is used to diagnose abnormal cardiac rhythm
and the presence of heart muscle (myocardial) damage.
-stenosis narrowing, arteri/o/stenosis (ăr-tē-rē-ō-stĕ-NŌ-sĭs): narrowing of an artery
stricture arteri/o: artery
Narrowing of an artery may be caused by fatty plaque buildup, scar tissue, or
a blood clot.
-um structure, thing endo/cardi/um (ĕn-dō-KĂR-dē-ŭm): structure within the heart
endo-: in, within
cardi: heart

Pronunciation Help Long sound ā in rāte ē in rēbirth ı̄ in ı̄sle ō in ōver ū in ūnite

Short sound ă in ălone ĕ in ĕver ı̆ in ı̆t ŏ in nŏt ŭ in cŭt

Visit the Medical Terminology Simplified online resource center at DavisPlus for an
audio exercise of the terms in this table. It will help you master pronunciations
and meanings of the medical terms.