Medical Glossary
Aneurysm
swelling or ballooning of an artery
Angiography
X-ray of arteries or veins to show disease after injection of x-ray opaque dye
Angioplasty
stretching of a narrowing or short occulsion in a diseased artery using a balloon to restore normal blood flow
Aorta
the main artery (blood vessel) from the heart, supplying blood to the whole body
Artery
high pressure blood vessel taking blood from the heart towards the tissues
Atherosclerosis
arterial disease involving deposition of fatty substances that causes narrowing and thrombosis
Capillaries
microscopic blood vessels supplying nutrients to the tissues.
Cardiovascular system
the heart and blood vessels circulating blood to and from the body tissues
Carotid artery
the artery in the neck that supplies blood to the brain and head
Cerebral
pertaining to the brain
Cerebrovascular accident CVA (stroke)
damage to the brain due to impaired circulation or haemorrhage
Claudication
cramping pain in the leg or arm muscles on exercise
Clinician
a doctor responsible for providing patient care (eg General Practitioner or Hospital Consultant)
Colourflow Duplex Doppler imaging
a combination of ultrasound and Doppler techniques to image vascular disease
Common femoral artery
artery in the groin supplying the leg with blood
Deep Vein Thrombosis
thrombosis or clotting of blood causing occlusion or partical occlusion of a deep vein
Diabetes Mellitus
insulin deficiency or resistance causing high sugar content in the urine
Doppler ultrasound
ultrasound technique for measuring blood flow
Embolus
a particle usually of thrombus moving in the blood stream blocking an artery
a surgical procedure to remove the atheromatous plaque material, or blockage, in the lining of an artery constricted by the buildup of deposits. It is carried out by separating the plaque from the arterial wall.
Gangrene
tissue death caused by impair blood supply (ischemia)
Graft – arterial or venous
a tube used to bypass a blocked artery or vein (either vein or prosthetic)
Ischaemia - is a restriction in blood supply to tissues, causing a shortage of oxygen that is needed for cellular metabolism (to keep tissue alive).
Jugular vein
the main vein in the neck draining blood from the brain
Middle cerebral artery
an important artery in the brain often involved in stroke
Mini-stroke
transient impairment of the blood supply to part of the brain causing symptoms (see transient ischaemic attack (TIA))
Minimally invasive
treatment or diagnostic technique involving minimal risk or pain for the patient (eg angioplasty rather than open surgery)
Non-invasive
treatment or diagnostic technique involving no risk and no penetration of the body (eg ultrasound techniques for vascular diagnosis)
Peripheral arteries
arteries suppling the arms and legs
Popliteal artery
an artery behind the knee supplying the lower leg which may develop aneurysm
Pulmonary embolus
an embolus arising from the leg veins or pelvis which blocks the artery to the lungs (may be fatal)
Stent
a tubular metal mesh often inserted during angioplasty (see angioplasty above)
Stroke
impaired neurological function causing paralysis or loss of speech caused by cerebral vascular accident (CVA – see above)
Subclavian artery
the artery in the shoulder suppying blood to the arm
Subclavian vein
the vein in the shoulder draining blood from the arm
Thrombophillia
an increased tendency of the blood to clot causing DVT, pulmonary embolism, stroke and other arterial thrombosis
Thrombosis
the co-agulation or clotting of blood in arteries or veins, usually causing occlusion or embolism
Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA)
transient impairment (less than 24 hours) of the blood supply to the brain causing symptoms similar to stroke
Ulceration
an open wound, frequently on the leg, which may be difficult to heal
Varicose vein
swollen and tortuous veins on the leg which may be unsightly, cause symptoms and even ulcers
Vascular
an all-encompassing term describing arteries and veins in the “vascular system”
Vein
a blood vessel that returns blood to the heart from the body tissues
Vena Cava
the largest veins in the chest and abdomen returning blood to the heart from the body
Venous Reflux
incompetence in a superficial vein causing varicose veins, or in a deep vein causing venous insuffiency, aching, swelling and discolouration of the leg.
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