angioplasty
|an-gi-o-plas-ty|
/ˈændʒiəˌplæsti/
repairing or opening blood vessels
Etymology
'angioplasty' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'angeion' meaning 'vessel' and 'plastos' meaning 'formed' or 'molded.'
'angioplasty' was formed in the 20th century from the Greek roots 'angeion' and 'plastos,' and directly entered medical English as 'angioplasty.'
Initially, it meant 'the surgical repair or unblocking of a blood vessel,' and this meaning has remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a medical procedure to restore blood flow through a narrowed or blocked artery, typically by inflating a small balloon inside the vessel.
The patient underwent angioplasty to open a blocked artery in his heart.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/08 05:21