Medical Terminology · Cardiovascular System · Medium
Angioplasty
Meaning: A procedure to widen a narrowed or blocked blood vessel using a small inflatable balloon.
In practice: Coronary angioplasty restored blood flow to the heart muscle after his heart attack, and a stent was also placed.
Word parts
- angio- means blood vessel
- -plasty means surgical repair or reshaping
Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.
Quick check
Two questions on related medical terminology words.
Which word means: Describing a sign or symptom so characteristic that it confirms a specific diagnosis.
Answer: Pathognomonic
Which word means: Forward nodding of the sacral base relative to the ilia, tightening the pelvic ligaments.
Answer: Nutation
Words like angioplasty come up in the daily game
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