Understanding vascular terminology can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re newly diagnosed with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) or seeking minimally invasive vascular treatment. To help you feel confident and informed during your appointment with our board-certified vascular surgeons at Premier Vascular in Macon, GA, we’ve created this comprehensive A–Z glossary.
A
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)
A bulge or weak spot in the main artery in your abdomen. If it continues to expand, it can become dangerous, which is why early detection is important.
Acute Limb Ischemia (ALI)
A sudden drop in blood flow to a leg or arm. It causes severe pain, pale or cool skin, and can quickly become an emergency if not treated.
Amputation
Surgical removal of part of a limb when the tissue is too damaged to save. Vascular specialists work hard to prevent amputation whenever possible.
Aneurysm
A weakened area of an artery that stretches and forms a balloon-like bulge. If it grows, it may tear or rupture.
Angiogram
A test where dye is injected into your blood vessels so doctors can see blockages or narrowing on X-ray images.
Angioplasty (Balloon Angioplasty)
A minimally invasive treatment to open a blocked artery. A tiny balloon is inflated inside the artery to improve blood flow.
Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI)
A simple test comparing blood pressure in your ankle and arm. It helps determine whether you have poor circulation in your legs (PAD).
Antiplatelet Medication
Medicines—like aspirin—that help prevent blood clots by stopping platelets from sticking together.
Arteriogram
Another name for an angiogram; gives a detailed “roadmap” of your arteries.
Arteriovenous (AV) Fistula
A connection between an artery and a vein, usually created for dialysis.
Arteriovenous (AV) Graft
A man-made tube connecting an artery and vein when a fistula isn’t possible.
Artery
A vessel carrying oxygen-rich blood from the heart to your body. When an artery becomes narrow or blocked, tissues can be damaged.
Aspirin
A medication that helps thin the blood and prevent clotting.
Atherosclerosis / Arteriosclerosis
The buildup of plaque—fat, cholesterol, and calcium—on the artery walls. Over time, it causes arteries to narrow and stiffen.
B
Balloon
A tiny device used in angioplasty to open a narrowed artery.
Blood Pressure
The force of blood pushing against artery walls. High blood pressure can damage vessels over time.
Bypass Surgery
A surgical procedure to reroute blood flow around a blocked artery using a vein or synthetic graft.
C
Calcified Vessels
Arteries that have hardened due to calcium buildup. Common in diabetes, and may make treatment more challenging.
Carotid Artery
The main artery in the neck that supplies blood to the brain. Narrowing here can lead to stroke.
Catheter
A thin, flexible tube used to deliver dye, medication, balloons, or stents during minimally invasive procedures.
Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)
When the veins in your legs don’t move blood properly back to the heart. Causes swelling, aching, heaviness, varicose veins, and skin changes.
Claudication
Leg cramping or fatigue during walking due to poor circulation. Pain usually goes away with rest.
Collateral Circulation
Small blood vessels your body grows to naturally bypass a blocked artery.
Compression Therapy
Special stockings or wraps used to reduce swelling and help veins work more efficiently.
Contrast Dye
A special liquid injected during imaging tests to help blood vessels show up clearly.
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
Narrowing of the arteries that supply the heart. Often occurs along with PAD.
Coumadin (Warfarin)
A blood thinner that prevents clotting and requires regular monitoring.
Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI)
Advanced PAD that causes severe rest pain, wounds, or tissue loss. Requires prompt treatment to save the limb.
CT Angiography (CTA)
A detailed CT scan that shows blood vessels after dye is injected.
D
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
A blood clot in a deep vein—usually in the leg. Can be life-threatening if it travels to the lungs.
Diabetes Mellitus
A metabolic condition that increases risk for vascular disease and poor circulation.
Diabetic Foot Ulcer
A wound on the foot caused by poor blood flow and nerve damage. Often slow to heal.
Diabetic Neuropathy
Nerve damage caused by diabetes, leading to numbness, tingling, or lack of feeling.
Digital Gangrene
Tissue death in the fingers or toes caused by severe circulation loss.
Doppler Ultrasound
An ultrasound that checks blood flow and detects blockages in arteries or veins.
E
Edema
Swelling caused by fluid buildup, usually in the legs and feet.
Embolization
A minimally invasive procedure where tiny particles or coils are used to block abnormal or painful blood vessels. Used for conditions like knee pain (GAE), fibroids (UFE), or plantar fasciitis.
Endarterectomy
Surgical removal of plaque from inside an artery to restore blood flow.
Endograft
A tube-like device placed inside an artery to support it, often used to treat aneurysms.
Endovascular Treatment
Minimally invasive procedures—like angioplasty, stenting, or embolization—performed inside blood vessels through small incisions.
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F
False Aneurysm (Pseudoaneurysm)
A small “leak” next to an artery where blood collects outside the vessel, often caused by an injury or catheter procedure.
Femoral Artery
The large artery in your thigh commonly used to access the vascular system for procedures.
Functional Status
A person’s ability to perform daily activities and maintain independence.
G
Gangrene
Death of tissue due to severe lack of blood flow. Requires urgent care.
Geniculate Artery Embolization (GAE)
A minimally invasive procedure for chronic knee pain, especially in arthritis. It reduces inflammation by blocking tiny inflamed vessels around the knee.
Graft
A vein or synthetic tube used to bypass a blocked artery or create a dialysis access.
Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy (GDMT)
Lifestyle changes and medications proven to reduce symptoms and improve heart and vascular health.
H
Hemodialysis
A treatment that filters the blood when the kidneys cannot.
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
Blood pressure that is consistently too high and stresses the arteries.
I
Intermittent Claudication
Pain in the muscles during activity due to poor blood flow. Rest usually brings relief.
Ischemia
When a part of the body doesn’t get enough blood and oxygen to function normally.
L
Laser Therapy
A treatment using focused light to close problem veins such as varicose veins.
Leg Bypass
Surgery that creates a detour around a blocked artery in the leg.
Leg Ulcers
Open wounds that develop when circulation is poor. Arterial ulcers form on toes and feet; venous ulcers form near the ankles.
Lipids
Fats in the blood, including cholesterol.
Lipoproteins
Proteins that transport cholesterol. LDL is “bad” cholesterol; HDL is “good” cholesterol.
Lymphedema
Chronic swelling caused by a blockage or damage to the lymphatic system.
M
Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA)
An MRI test that creates images of blood vessels without using X-ray radiation.
N
Noninvasive Test
A test that doesn’t require needles, dye, or incision—for example, ultrasound or ABI.
Non-Viable Limb
A limb where tissue, nerve, or muscle damage is too advanced to recover.
P
Perfusion
Blood flow through the tissues, delivering oxygen and nutrients.
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
A condition where plaque buildup narrows the arteries, especially in the legs. Causes leg pain, wounds, and poor circulation.
Plantar Fasciitis Embolization (PFE)
A minimally invasive treatment for chronic heel pain that works by reducing abnormal blood flow contributing to inflammation.
Plaque
A buildup of cholesterol-based deposits inside artery walls.
Popliteal Artery
The artery behind the knee that supplies the lower leg and foot.
R
Rest Pain
Constant pain in the feet or toes caused by severe PAD, even when lying down.
Revascularization
Any procedure that restores blood flow—such as angioplasty, stenting, or bypass surgery.
Ruptured Aneurysm
A tear in an enlarged artery that causes internal bleeding. A life-threatening emergency.
S
Salvageable Limb
A limb with severely reduced blood flow that can still be saved with treatment.
Skin Perfusion Pressure (SPP)
A quick, noninvasive test that measures blood flow in the skin to predict wound healing potential.
Stasis Dermatitis
Skin irritation caused by long-standing leg swelling and poor venous circulation.
Stasis Ulcer
A sore caused by chronic swelling and venous insufficiency.
Stenosis
Narrowing of a blood vessel.
Stents
Tiny metal tubes placed inside an artery to keep it open.
Stroke
Occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted. Causes sudden weakness, numbness, or speech changes.
Subclavian Artery
An artery near the collarbone that supplies blood to the arms.
Superficial Phlebitis
Inflammation of a vein close to the skin, causing redness and tenderness.
Swelling
Fluid buildup in the tissues, often related to venous disease
T
Thrombolysis
A procedure using medication to dissolve blood clots in the arteries or veins.
Thrombosis
A blood clot forming inside a blood vessel.
U
Ultrasonic Duplex Scan
An ultrasound test that shows both the structure of blood vessels and how blood flows through them.
Ultrasound
A painless, noninvasive test that uses sound waves to look at arteries, veins, and organs.
Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE)
A minimally invasive procedure that shrinks uterine fibroids by blocking their blood supply.
V
Vascular Medicine
A specialty focused on diagnosing and treating conditions affecting arteries, veins, and lymphatic vessels.
Vein Stripping
A surgical procedure where a damaged vein is removed through small incisions.
Veins
Blood vessels carrying blood back toward the heart.
Vessels
The tubes—arteries, veins, and lymphatics—that carry blood and fluid through your body.