Cholesterol Tests Glossary of Terms

1. Cholesterol Levels Slideshow Pictures
2. Lower Cholesterol Slideshow: Avoid Heart Disease
3. Take the Cholesterol Quiz

Analysis: In psychology, a term for conversation-based therapeutic processes used to gain ...

Angina: Chest pain due to an inadequate supply of oxygen to the heart muscle. The pain is ...

Anxiety: A feeling of apprehension and fear, characterized by physical symptoms such as pa...

Artery: A vessel that carries blood high in oxygen content away from the heart to the far...

Atherosclerosis: A process of progressive thickening and hardening of the walls of medium-...

Bile: Bile is a yellow-green fluid that is made by the liver, stored in the gallbladder a...

Brain: The portion of the central nervous system that is located within the skull. It func...

Carotid: Pertaining to the carotid artery and the area near that key artery, which is loca...

Cell: The basic structural and functional unit of any living thing. Each cell is a small c...

Chest: The area of the body located between the neck and the abdomen. The chest contains t...

Chest pain: Pain in the chest that can be a result of many things, including angina, heart...

Cholesterol: The most common type of steroid in the body. Cholesterol has a reputation for...

Coronary arteries: The vessels that supply the heart muscle with blood rich in oxygen. The...

Dilate: To stretch or enlarge. Also known as dilatate.

Elbow: The juncture of the long bones in the middle portion of the upper extremity. The bo...

Fasting: : going without food or drink. Patients may be advised to fast for a certain peri...

Femoral: Having to do with the femur.

HDL: High density lipoprotein.

Heart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. ...

Heart attack: The death of heart muscle due to the loss of blood supply. The loss of bloo...

Heart disease: Any disorder that affects the heart. Sometimes the term "heart disease" is ...

Heart rate: The number of heartbeats per unit of time, usually per minute. The heart rate ...

Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, an...

Lipid: Another word for "fat." (Please see the various meanings of Fat.) A lipid is more f...

Lipid profile: A pattern of lipids in the blood. A lipid profile usually includes the leve...

Lipoprotein: A molecule that is a combination of lipid and protein. Lipids do not travel i...

Nerve: A bundle of fibers that uses electrical and chemical signals to transmit sensory an...

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

Peripheral: Situated away from the center, as opposed to centrally located.

Peripheral artery disease: A form of peripheral vascular disease in which there is partial...

Stroke: The sudden death of brain cells due to lack of oxygen, caused by blockage of blood...

Substance: 1. Material with particular features.
2. The material that...

Syringe: A medical device that is used to inject fluid into, or withdraw fluid from, the b...

Triglycerides: The major form of fat stored by the body. A triglyceride consists of three ...

Vagus nerve: A nerve that supplies nerve fibers to the pharynx (throat), larynx (voice box...

Vasovagal reaction: A reflex of the involuntary nervous system that causes the heart to sl...

Vein: A blood vessel that carries blood that is low in oxygen content from the body back t...

Vitamin D: A steroid vitamin which promotes the intestinal absorption and metabolism of ca...

Warfarin: An anticoagulant drug (brand names: Coumarin, Panwarfin, Sofarin) taken to prev...