| SWM | segmental wall motion |
|---|---|
| LAS | laboratory automation system; lateral amyotrophic sclerosis; laxative abuse syndrome; left anterior-... |
| LASH | left anterior superior hemiblock |
| LSR | lanthanide shift reagent; lecithin/ sphingomyelin ratio; left superior rectus [muscle]; liver/spleen... |
| LSVC | left superior vena cava |
| left-to-right shunt | A diversion of blood from the left side of the heart to right (as through a septal defect), or from the systemic circulation to the pulmonary (as through a patent ductus arteriosus). (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| left-to-right shunts | <radiology> Atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, aorticopulmonary window, endocardial cushion defect, partial anomalous pulmonary venous return (12 Dec 1998) |
| left triangular ligament | <anatomy> A triangular fold of fibrous connective tissue and peritoneum that extends from the left lobe of the liver to the diaphragm. Synonym: ligamentum triangulare sinistrum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| left umbilical vein | <anatomy, vein> The vein that returns the blood from the placenta to the foetus; traversing the umbilical cord, it enters the foetal body at the umbilicus and passes thence into the liver, where it is joined by the portal vein; its blood then flows by way of the ductus venosus and the inferior vena cava to the right atrium. Synonym: vena umbilicalis sinistra. (05 Mar 2000) |
| left ventricle | <anatomy> The muscular chamber of the heart which accepts blood from the left atrium and ejects it into the aorta to the systemic circulation. (27 Sep 1997) |
| left-ventricular assist device | Mechanical pump inserted at some point in the circulation to parallel the activity of the left ventricle and thereby reduce its load. (05 Mar 2000) |
| left ventricular ejection time | The time measured clinically from onset to incisural notch of the carotid or other pulse; properly the time of ejection of blood from the left ventricle beginning with aortic valve opening and ending with aortic valve closure. (05 Mar 2000) |
| left ventricular failure | <cardiology> A disorder where the left side of the heart fails to pump blood effectively. This results in a back flow (and pressure) and congestion of blood into the lungs. The causes of this condition include, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy, anaemia, hyperthyroidism, atrial myxoma, drug toxicity and congenital heart disease. Risk factors include diabetes, alcoholism, obesity and smoking. Symptoms include increasing shortness of breath with activity and while lying flat. Other symptoms include cough, palpitations, fatigue, decreased urine production and waking in the middle of the nigh with difficulty breathing. Complications include pulmonary oedema, arrhythmias and pleural effusion. (27 Sep 1997) |
| left ventricular hypertrophy | <radiology> Coarctation, aortic stenosis (12 Dec 1998) |
| left ventricular myomectomy | Resection of myocardial tissue used in cases of idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| left ventricular volume overload | <radiology> VSD, patent ductus arteriosus, mitral incompetence, aortic incompetence (12 Dec 1998) |
| ligament of left vena cava | The obliterated left common cardinal vein; it extends from the left brachiocephalic vein to the oblique vein of the left atrium. Synonym: ligamentum venae cavae sinistrae. (05 Mar 2000) |
| air-conditioner lung | An extrinsic allergic alveolitis caused by forced air contaminated by thermophilic actinomycetes and other organisms. (05 Mar 2000) |
| airless lung | <radiology> Tumour, foreign body, mucous plug (12 Dec 1998) |
| anterior border of lung | The thin anteromedial or sternal edge of the lung which overlaps the pericardial sac anteriorly and forms the boundary between the mediastinal and costal surfaces. Synonym: margo anterior pulmonis. (05 Mar 2000) |