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Pathologies Practice Exercises
varicose veins (VA˘R-˘ı-koˉs vˉanz)
Bulging, distended veins due to incompetent valves, most commonly in the legs.
Normal direction of blood flow
Normal valve
Distended valve
Backflow of blood through incompetent valves
Normal leg veins
Varicose veins of leg
ventricular fibrillation (ven-TRIK-yu˘-l˘ar f˘ı -br˘ıl-Aˉ-shu˘n)
Quivering of the ventricular heart muscle fibers instead of an effective heartbeat, which leads to incomplete filling of the heart chambers, a sudden drop in blood pressure, and a loss of blood supply to vital organs. A defect or opening in the septum of the ventricles. It is the most common congenital heart defect in infants. Small VSDs will usually close, but larger VSDs need surgical corrections. Diagnosed by auscultation of a murmur and echocardiogram.
ventricular septal defect (VSD) (ven-TRIK-yu˘-l˘ar SE˘ P-t˘al DEˉ -fekt)
Pathologies Practice Exercises
6. Deciphering Terms Using the three simple steps for deciphering medical terms (Chapter 2), separate each term into its suffix, prefix (if any), and combining form. Some terms may have more than one combining form. Next, translate the term and its parts. Valvuloplasty has been done for you as an example. Consult a medical dictionary to determine if your definitions are correct and to explore the commonly used meanings.
valvuloplasty Suffix: -plasty = surgical repair Combining Form: valvul/o = valve Meaning: Surgical repair of a valve
Prefix: none
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