Medical Terminology: Blood Flow and Circulation

Blood Circulation and Blood Flow

• Hyperemia: Increased blood flow to a specific area of the body, resulting in increased oxygenation and nutrient delivery.

Blood Clots and Blockages

• Thrombosis: Formation of a blood clot in a blood vessel, which can impede blood flow.
• Embolus: A traveling blood clot or foreign material that can obstruct a blood vessel.
• Embolism: Blockage of a blood vessel by an embolus, potentially leading to tissue damage.
• Ischemia: Reduced blood supply to tissues, often leading to tissue damage or infarction.

Tissue Damage and Death

• Infarction: Tissue death due to blocked blood flow, resulting in tissue necrosis.
• Gangrene: Death and decay of tissue due to lack of blood supply, often leading to amputation.

Fluid Accumulation and Bleeding

• Edema: Abnormal accumulation of fluid in tissues, causing swelling and potentially leading to tissue damage.
• Hemorrhage: Bleeding from blood vessels, which can lead to hypovolemic shock.
• Epistaxis: Nosebleed, often due to trauma or vascular malformations.
• Hemoptysis: Coughing up blood from the respiratory tract, often indicative of respiratory disease.
• Hematemesis: Vomiting blood from the gastrointestinal tract, often indicative of gastrointestinal disease.

Accumulation of Blood

• Hemothorax: Accumulation of blood in the chest cavity, often due to trauma or surgical complications.
• Hemopericardium: Accumulation of blood in the pericardial sac, often due to cardiac trauma or disease.
• Hemoperitoneum: Accumulation of blood in the abdominal cavity, often due to trauma or surgical complications.
• Hematocele: Accumulation of blood in a body cavity or sac, often due to trauma or surgical complications.
• Hemoarthrosis: Presence of blood in a joint cavity, often due to trauma or joint disease.