| APSAC | acylated plasminogen-streptokinase activator complex; anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activato... |
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| ARC | accelerating rate calorimetry; acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related complex; active renin conc... |
| MAC | MacConkey [broth]; major ambulatory category; malignancy-associated changes; maximum allowable conce... |
| QRS | in electrocardiography, the complex consisting of Q, R, and S waves, corresponding to depolarization... |
| SFC | soluble fibrin complex; soluble fibrin-fibrinogen complex; spinal fluid count |
| atrial extrasystole | A premature contraction of the heart arising from an ectopic atrial focus. Synonym: auricular extrasystole. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| atrial fibrillation | <cardiology> A condition where there is disorganised electrical conduction in the atria, resulting in ineffective pumping of blood into the ventricle. Acronym: AF (02 Jan 1998) |
| atrial flutter | <cardiology> A rapid well organised contraction of the atrium at a rate of 250-350 contractions per minute. Ventricular response rates are usually some multiple of 300. ECG shows sawtooth waves. Atrial flutter is considered a serious and potentially unstable rhythm. (27 Sep 1997) |
| atrial function | The haemodynamic and electrophysiological action of the atria. (12 Dec 1998) |
| atrial function, left | The haemodynamic and electrophysiological action of the left atrium. (12 Dec 1998) |
| atrial function, right | The haemodynamic and electrophysiological action of the right atrium. (12 Dec 1998) |
| atrial fusion beat | A beat that occurs when the atria are activated in part by the sinus impulse and in part by an ectopic or retrograde impulse from A-V junction or ventricle. (05 Mar 2000) |
| atrial gallop | Gallop rhythm in which the gallop sound follows atrial systole in late diastole and is an audible fourth heart sound due to forceful ventricular filling. Synonym: atrial gallop. Protodiastolic gallop, gallop rhythm in which the gallop sound occurs in early diastole and is an abnormal third heart sound. (05 Mar 2000) |
| atrial granule serine proteinase | <enzyme> Converts pro-atrial natriuretic factor to anf by cleaving the arg98-ser99 bond; n-terminal 26-residue amino acid sequence given in first source Registry number: EC 3.4.21.- (26 Jun 1999) |
| atrial myxoma | <cardiology, oncology, tumour> A very rare primary cardiac tumour, composed of connective tissue, located in the left or right atrium. Symptoms include chest pains, shortness of breath, orthopnoea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea, fainting, palpitations, dizziness and syncope. Diagnosis is confirmed by echocardiogram. Treatment involves the surgical excision of the tumour. (27 Sep 1997) |
| atrial natriuretic factor | <chemical> A potent natriuretic and vasodilatory peptide or mixture of different-sized low molecular weight peptides derived from a common precursor and secreted by the heart atria. All these peptides share a sequence of about 20 amino acids. Chemical name: Atriopeptin (12 Dec 1998) |
| atrial natriuretic peptide | <hormone> This cardiac hormone (28 amino acid residues) regulates salt and water balance in body fluids and blood pressure, it has potential as a medication to treat heart and kidney failure and the buildup of excess fluid in tissue. (09 Oct 1997) |
| atrial premature complexes | Premature contractions of the heart arising from an ectopic atrial focus. With ventricular premature complexes, they represent one of the most common causes of irregular pulse. They are more apt to occur if there is atrial or conduction system disease such as left atrial enlargement in mitral stenosis. In community prospective studies, atrial premature complexes are not related to sudden death, as are ventricular premature beats in coronary disease. (12 Dec 1998) |
| atrial premature contraction | <cardiology> An premature heartbeat of atrial origin. Generally nonserious and typically exacerbated by stimulant use (for example alcohol, decongestants, caffeine, nicotine). (27 Sep 1997) |
| atrial septal defect | <cardiology> An inherited condition where there is nonclosure of the foramen ovale at birth, resulting in congenital heart disease. Usually asymptomatic until the third or fourth decades of life. Symptoms include exertional shortness of breath, fatigue and palpitations. Acronym: ASD (12 Jan 1998) |