A technique for X-ray imaging of the coronary arteries, which involves introducing a catheter through a blood vessel and threading it towards the heart, then injecting a contrast medium to improve visibility.

A measure of the calcium in the coronary arteries, which is detected by CT scanning and suggests the presence of atherosclerosis.

Narrowing of the blood vessels supplying the heart muscle, leading to symptoms such as angina and sometimes to a heart attack or myocardial infarction

Surgery that bypasses a blockage in a segment of an artery supplying the heart (coronary artery), using a section of a vein or artery from elsewhere in the body.

One of the two columns of erectile tissue located along the length of the penis.

The outer region of an organ.

A group of hormones that are produced by the adrenal glands, which sit on top of the kidneys.

A steroid hormone important for helping to regulate carbohydrate metabolism and the stress response.

Inflammation of a cartilage connecting a rib to the sternum, causing chest pain and sometimes swelling (Tietze's syndrome)

A sign that a doctor looks for when examining a swelling, especially a hernia. A positive cough impulse means that the swelling expands when the patient coughs.

An infection caused by the vaccinia virus, which usually affects cows.

A family of viruses causing a variety of diseases including herpangina and hand, foot and mouth disease.

An abbreviation for creatine phosphokinase, an enzyme found mainly in the heart, brain and skeletal muscle.

Surgical removal of a part of the skull.

A product of the breakdown of protein in muscle.

A type of protein, an enzyme, that helps to break down the substance creatine to become creatinine in the body. Various forms exist in the brain, thyroid, skeletal muscle and heart muscle.

A form of creatinine kinase (an enzyme) that is present in heart tissue. Any damage to the heart muscle, for example from a heart attack, can cause a raised level of the substance in the bloodstream.

An enzyme found mainly in the heart, brain and skeletal muscle.

A product of the breakdown of creatine in muscle (creatine itself is fromed from the breakdown of protein).

An abbreviation for Calcinosis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, Oesophagealdysmotility, Sclerodactyly, Telangiectasia

A benign condition where the cells of the cervix are columnar rather than flat.

An abbreviation for chronic renal failure.

A form of Crohn’s disease limited to the large intestine.

A chronic inflammatory disease affecting the gastrointestinal tract.