A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
References
A
Ablation: is the surgical removal or elimination of a body part or tissue.
Adipose tissue: is the fat-containing tissue within the body generally found directly below the skin.
Apheresis: is the process of obtaining blood from a donor or patient to separate or remove certain components (thrombocytes, plasma) before re-infusing the remainder.
Artery: is a vessel that carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
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B
Bifurcation: is the division of a single structure (usually vascular) into two paired structures.
Blood vessel: is a tube or pipe which carries blood to or from the tissues of the body. The major classes of blood vessels are called "arteries" and "veins."
Brachial vein: is a vein that accompanies the brachial artery between the shoulder and the elbow.
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C
Clinical Investigation: is a systematic study designed to evaluate a product using human subjects, in the treatment, prevention, or diagnosis of a disease or condition, as determined by the product's benefits relative to its risks. These can only be conducted with the approval of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Clinical research trial: is evaluating the safety and effectiveness of medications or medical devices by monitoring their effects on large groups of people.
Clinical trial: is a study designed to answer scientific questions and to find better ways to prevent, detect, or treat.
Competent Vein: allows for blood to flow in the proper direction back to the heart.
Cutaneous: related to the skin.
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D
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): is a blood clot which forms in a major vein producing extremity swelling and pain.
Deep Veins: are veins that lie deep in the tissues and are surrounded by muscle.
Dermis (also called the cutis): is the layer of skin just beneath the epidermis.
Doppler: is a non-invasive study which uses sound waves to show the flow in a blood vessel and can be used to determine the degree of narrowing (percent stenosis) of the vessel.
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E
Endothelial wall: is a flat layer of cells that make up the innermost lining of a blood vessel.
Endothelium: is the layer of cells that lines the heart, blood vessels, and other body cavities.
Endovascular: simply means inside a blood vessel.
Endovenous: within or by means of a vein.
Epidermis: is the outermost layer of skin.
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F
Fascia: is a sheet or thin band of fibrous tissue that covers muscles and some organs of the body.
Feeder Veins: are a network of abnormal reticular veins that feed blood to spider veins.
Fluoroscopy: is an x-ray procedure that makes it possible to see internal organs in motion.
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G
Greater Saphenous Vein (sometimes termed GSV or long saphenous vein): is the large subcutaneous vein of the leg and thigh. It begins on the medial side of the foot and extends upward until it joins the femoral vein in the groin.
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H
Hemangioma: is a birth irregularity where a localized tissue mass grows multiple, dilated blood vessels. Capillary hemangiomas are composed nearly entirely of tiny capillary vessels. Cavernous hemangiomas are composed of blood-filled "lakes" and channels.
Hematoma: is a collection of blood outside a blood vessel caused by a leak or an injury.
Hemoglobin: is the red pigmented protein complex found in red blood cells that functions to carry oxygen from the lungs to the tissues of the body.
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I
Imaging: is any method used to produce a picture of internal body structures.
Incompetent valve (also called insufficiency): is a valve that is not working properly, causing it to leak blood in the wrong direction.
Incompetent Vein: is a blood vessel that fails to function properly. It is commonly referred to as a vein that has reflux.
Infiltration: is the inadvertent administration of a non-vesicant solution or medication into surrounding tissues. Although the solution is not a vesicant, tissue damage can still occur.
Intravenous (IV): simply means injected into a vein.
Invasive: diagnostic tests or procedures, which involve the insertion of instruments thru the skin; as in surgery or the insertion of catheters for the injection of dye, or placement of balloons or other therapeutic devices.
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J
Jugular Veins: are the major veins on each side of the neck draining blood from the head towards the heart.
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K
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L
Laser Therapy: is the use of an intense beam of light to open or close a blood vessel.
Leaky valves: is the improper functioning of valves in veins causing edema or varicose veins.
Ligation: is an invasive surgical procedure used to occlude or close a varicosed vessel and remove it from the leg.
Lumen: is the hollow cavity of a blood vessel or other tubular structure.
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M
Minimally invasive varicose vein surgery: is the treatment of varicose veins with small incisions and needle puncture.
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N
Necrotic: dead tissue.
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O
Occlusion: is a term use to describe the complete blockage of a vessel.
Oxyhemoglobin: is a combination of hemoglobin and oxygen from the lungs.
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P
Palpate: is to touch or feel.
Percutaneous: means performed through a small opening in the skin.
Perforator Veins: are the veins which serve to connect and deliver blood to the superficial veins (those located just below the skin surface) to the deep veins (those that lie within the muscle).
Phlebitis: is the inflammation of a vein.
Phlebectomy: is the surgical removal or all or part of a vein; sometimes done in cases of severe varicose veins.
Phlebologist: is a physician who specializes in the treatment of venous diseases.
Phlebology: is the study of vein diseases.
Phlebotomist: is a person who is certified in drawing blood.
Phlebotomy: is the act of obtaining blood from a vein. This may be for diagnostic tests (i.e, routine blood draws) or for treatment (i.e., to relieve the iron overload in hemochromatosis). This is commonly referred to as venipuncture.
Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC): is a long, thin catheter inserted through the skin and into a vein for the administration of fluids and/or medications. It is an alternative to Hickman lines, Central Venous Catheters (CVC), and Port-a-Caths.
Pigment: is a substance that gives color to tissue.
Port-wine stain: is a mark on the skin caused by an abnormal aggregation (collection) of capillaries. A port-wine stain is a type of hemangioma.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET Scan): is a type of nuclear imaging in which radioisotopes that emit positrons are used. This requires a specialized type of imaging equipment called a PET camera. A wide variety of positron imaging radiotracers are used to study the structure and function of various organs.
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Q
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R
Reflux: is the blood that flows backward in the veins.
Reticular Veins: are dilated tortuous subcutaneous veins not belonging to the main branches of the long or short saphenous veins.
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S
Sclerotherapy: is a technique of injecting a solution (sclerosant) into spider veins and other telangectasias which cause the veins to close and shrink.
Small Saphenous Vein (sometimes called LSV, or SSV): is a superficial vein that begins at the lateral malleolus (outside portion of the foot) and extends upward along the back of the calf, where it enters the center of the popliteal fossa (the depression in the bone behind the knee) and empties into the popliteal vein.
Spider Veins: are small, non-protruding veins on the surface of the skin. They may appear red, blue or purple in color and they can take on a variety of forms- spider shape, tree branch pattern and linear. Common medical terms you may hear for spider veins are telangiectasias and telangiectatic veins.
Stenosis: is a stricture or narrowing of an artery or vein.
Superficial Veins: are the veins that lie close to the skin and are not as thick or as muscular as deep veins.
Surgical stripping: usually referring to removal of the greater saphenous vein for treatment of lower extremity varicosities.
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T
Telangiectasia: is the widening or dilation of small blood vessels. A telangiectasia usually appears red, purple, or blue in color and they are usually located directly under the surface of the skin.
Thrombophlebitis: is a condition of veins in which a blood clot forms and is associated with inflammation of the vein wall.
Trivex Powered PhlebectomyTechnique: transilluminated powered phlebectomy removes varicose veins using a small surgical device attached to a suction catheter while viewing the vein using an illuminating light.
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U
Ultrasound: is a medical imaging technique that uses high frequency sound waves and their echoes in order to visualize anatomy.
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V
Valves (venous related): are located in the vein and act like gates allowing traffic to move in only one direction.
Varicose Veins: are dilated, tortuous superficial veins typically occurring in the legs.
Vascular: pertaining to blood vessels or indicative of a copious blood supply.
Vasoconstrict: is a decrease in diameter of a vessel resulting in restricted blood flow.
Vasodilate: is an increase in diameter of a vessel allowing more blood flow.
Vasospasm: is an involuntary and abnormal contraction of a blood vessel.
Vein: is blood vessel that returns deoxygenated blood to the heart.
Venipuncture: is the puncture of a vein with a needle to draw blood. Also called Phlebotomy.
Venous Stasis: is the slowing down or stopping a blood flow in the veins.
VNUS Closure Device: is a minimally invasive treatment alternative to vein stripping surgery for venous reflux.
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W, X, Y, Z
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References:
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