| heart tamponade | Interference with the venous return of blood to the heart due to an extensive accumulation of blood in the pericardium (pericardial effusion). Tamponade may occur as a complication of dissecting thoracic aneurysm, pericarditis, renal failure, acute myocardial infarction, hypothyroidism, autoimmune disease (for example lupus), chest trauma or a malignancy. Fluid in the pericardial sac is demonstrated by echocardiogram. Treatment involves the emergent removal of the fluid. This may be accomplished by a needle aspiration technique or emergency surgery (pericardial window). (27 Sep 1997) |
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| heart tones | The sounds heard over the cardiac region produced by the functioning of the heart. There are four distinct sounds: the first occurs at the beginning of systole and is heard as a "lubb" sound; the second is produced by the closing of the aortic and pulmonary valves and is heard as a "dupp" sound; the third is produced by vibrations of the ventricular walls when suddenly distended by the rush of blood from the atria; and the fourth is produced by atrial contraction and ventricular filling but is rarely audible in the normal heart. The physiological concept of heart sounds is differentiated from the pathological heart murmurs. (12 Dec 1998) |
| heart transplantation | The transference of a heart from one human or animal to another. (12 Dec 1998) |
| heart valves | Flaps of tissue that prevent regurgitation of blood from the ventricles to the atria or from the pulmonary arteries or aorta to the ventricles. (12 Dec 1998) |
| heart ventricle | The lower right and left chambers of the heart. The right pumps venous blood into the lungs and the left pumps oxygenated blood into the systemic arterial circulation. (12 Dec 1998) |
| heart-whole | 1. Having the heart or affections free; not in love. 2. With unbroken courage; undismayed. 3. Of a single and sincere heart. "If he keeps heart-whole towards his Master." (Bunyan) See: Whole. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| heart-wounded | Wounded to the heart with love or grief. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| pseudo-heart | <zoology> Any contractile vessel of invertebrates which is not of the nature of a real heart, especially one of those pertaining to the excretory system. Origin: Pseudo- + heart. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| second heart sound | The second sound heard on auscultation of the heart; signifies the beginning of diastole and is due to closure of the semilunar valves. Synonym: second sound. (05 Mar 2000) |
| holiday heart syndrome | <syndrome> Arrhythmias of the heart, sometimes apparent after a vacation or weekend away from work, following excessive alcohol consumption; usually transient. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Holmes heart | A variant of double inlet left ventricle where the ventricular-arterial connection is concordant and the right ventricle is rudimentary. Horizontal heart, description of the heart's electrical position; recognised in the electrocardiogram when the QRS in lead aVL resembles that in V6 and QRS in aVF resembles that in V1; also, loosely, when the electrical axis lies between -30 |
| pulmonary heart | The right atrium and ventricle, receiving the venous blood and propelling it to the lungs. See: cor pulmonale. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pulmonary surface of heart | The lateral surface of the heart, directed toward the lungs; on the left it is principally the left ventricular wall; on the right it is the right atrial wall and the upper part of the right ventricular wall. Synonym: facies pulmonalis cordis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| semihorizontal heart | Loosely refers to the heart's electrical axis when this is directed at approximately 0 |
| semivertical heart | Loosely descriptive of the heart's electrical axis when this is directed at approximately +60 |