| first heart sound | Occurs with ventricular systole and is mainly produced by closure of the atrioventricular valves. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| fourth heart sound | The sound produced in late diastole in association with ventricular filling due to atrial systole and related to reduced ventricular compliance. It is a low frequency oscillation that may be normal at older ages owing to a physiologic decline in ventricular compliance but is nearly always abnormal at younger ages if it is of high intensity or palpable. It is common in ventricular hypertrophy, particularly with hypertension, and is almost invariable during acute myocardial infarction. Fourth heart sounds may arise from the right or left ventricle or both. Synonym: atrial sound. (05 Mar 2000) |
| friction sound | The sound, heard on auscultation, made by the rubbing of two opposed serous surfaces roughened by an inflammatory exudate, or, if chronic, by nonadhesive fibrosis. Synonym: friction murmur, friction rub. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Le Fort sound | A curved sound threaded for a filiform bougie, used for dilation of urethral strictures in the male when small caliber or presence of false passages prevents safe passage of a standard sound or catheter. (05 Mar 2000) |
| abnormal cleavage of cardiac valve | Congenital malformation of a valve leaflet with a defect extending from the free margin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior cardiac veins | Two or three small veins in the anterior wall of the right ventricle opening directly into the right atrium independently of the coronary sinus. Synonym: venae cordis anteriores. (05 Mar 2000) |
| area of cardiac dullness | A triangular area determined by percussion of the front of the chest; it corresponds to the part of the heart that is not covered by lung tissue. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiac | <cardiology> Pertaining to the heart. Origin: L. Cardiacus from Gr. Kardiakos (16 Dec 1997) |
| cardiac accident | Sudden cardiac catastrophe, such as may result from coronary occlusion. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiac albuminuria | Albuminuria caused by congestive heart failure. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiac alternation | The occurrence of any cardiac phenomenon every other beat. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiac aneurysm | Thinning, stretching, and bulging of a weakened ventricular wall, usually as a result of myocardial infarction; rarely postinflammatory or congenital. Synonym: mural aneurysm, ventricular aneurysm. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiac arrest | This refers to the complete cessation of cardiac activity (heartbeat). (27 Sep 1997) |
| cardiac arrhythmia | A disturbance the electrical activity of the heart that manifests as an abnormality in heart rate or heart rhythm. Patients with a cardiac arrhythmia may experience a wide variety of symptoms ranging from palpitations to fainting. (27 Sep 1997) |
| cardiac asthma | An asthmatic attack, the bronchoconstriction being secondary to the pulmonary congestion and oedema of left ventricular failure. (05 Mar 2000) |