| hyperkinetic heart syndrome | <syndrome> Loosely, a syndrome in which the heart appears to be "overworking", i.e., beating excessively fast and/or causing subjective awareness of continual cardiac activity. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| hyperthyroid heart | Response of the heart to hyperthyroidism, essentially the result of sympathetic stimulation producing rapid heart rates and ultimately cardiac failure and atrial fibrillation if untreated. (05 Mar 2000) |
| skeleton of heart | A complex framework of dense collagen forming four fibrous rings (annuli fibrosi), which surround the ostia of the valves, a right and left fibrous trigone, formed by connecting the rings, and the membranous portions of the interatrial and interventricular septa; it is found in association with the base of the ventricles, i.e., at the level of the coronary sulcus; its functions include: 1) contributing reinforcement of the valvular ostia while providing attachment for the leaflets and cusps of the valves; 2) providing origin and insertion for the myocardium; and 3) serving as a sort of electrical "insulator," separating the electrically conducted impulses of the atria and ventricles and providing passage for the common atrioventricular bundle of conductive tissue through the right fibrous trigone and membranous interventricular septum. Synonym: cardiac fibrous skeleton, cardiac skeleton, skeleton of heart. (05 Mar 2000) |
| hypoplastic heart | A small heart, as seen in Addison's disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| hypoplastic left heart syndrome | <syndrome> Underdevelopment of the left side of the heart characterised by: aortic valve atresia, hypoplastic ascending aorta, hypoplastic/atretic mitral valve, endocardial fibroelastosis most common cause of congestive heart failure in neonate, 25% of cardiac deaths in 1st week of life, prognosis: 100% fatal by 6 weeks haemodynamics: pulmonary venous return is diverted from LA to RA through atrial septal defect, RV supplies pulmonary artery, ductus arteriosus, descending aorta (antegrade flow), aortic arch, ascending aorta, coronary circulation (retrograde flow), leads to RV work overload and congestive heart failure Treatment: Norwood procedure (palliative), transplant (12 Dec 1998) |
| soldier's heart | An obsolete term for neurocirculatory asthenia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| splitting of heart sounds | The production of major components of the first and second heart sounds (rarely the third and fourth) due to contribution by the left-sided and right-sided valves; thus, the first heart sound would have a mitral and a tricuspid component and the second heart sound has an aortic and pulmonic component. The latter are best appreciated during respiration, with inspiration delaying the pulmonic component and producing an earlier aortic component. (05 Mar 2000) |
| neonatal heart failure | <radiology> most likely cause, premature: patent ductus arteriosus, full term: hypoplastic left heart, 2nd week: coarctation and VSD aetiology, valvular stenosis, mitral stenosis, aortic stenosis, aortic coarctation, vein of Galen aneurysm, infantile haemangioendothelioma of liver, hypoplastic left heart see also: congestive heart failure in kids (12 Dec 1998) |
| sternocostal surface of heart | The anterior aspect of the heart, formed mostly by the right ventricle and to a lesser extent the left ventricle. Synonym: facies sternocostalis cordis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| stiff heart syndrome | <syndrome> Any condition, usually acute, that causes the heart to be restricted in diastole mainly affecting the ventricles and at one time a complication of cardiac surgery. (05 Mar 2000) |
| stone heart | Irreversible contraction of the left ventricle of the heart as a complication seen in the early period of cardiopulmonary bypass and now avoided by appropriate cardioplegic solutions. Synonym: myocardial rigor mortis, stone heart. (05 Mar 2000) |
| New York Heart Association classification | A functional classification to assess cardiovascular disability. Class I: patients with cardiac disease without limitation of physical activity. Ordinary activity does not cause symptoms. Class II: patients with cardiac disease with slight limitation of activity; comfortable at rest. Ordinary physical activity results in fatigue, palpitation, dyspnea or angina. Class III: patients with cardiac disease producing marked limitation of activity: comfortable at rest. Less than ordinary physical activity causes symptoms. Class IV: patients with cardiac disease resulting in inability to carry on any physical activity without discomfort. Symptoms may be present even at rest. (05 Mar 2000) |
| notch of apex of heart | A slight notch near the apex of the heart where the anterior interventricular sulcus reaches the diaphragmatic surface of the heart. Synonym: incisura apicis cordis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| nuclear heart scan | This noninvasive test uses radioactive tracers to delineate the hearts chambers and major vessels. It may be used to detect a heart attack, heart muscle function and coronary artery disease. The patient receives a radioactive tracer by injection (into a vein) and then the heart is imaged using a gamma camera. The heart is imaged before and after exercise. This test may be used to detect and evaluate atrial septal defect, dilated cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, Lyme disease (secondary), mitral stenosis and superior vena cava syndrome. (27 Sep 1997) |
| systemic heart | The left atrium and ventricle, receiving the aerated blood from the lungs and propelling it throughout the body. (05 Mar 2000) |