| cardiac histiocyte | A large mononuclear cell found in connective tissue of the heart wall in inflammatory conditions, especially in the Aschoff body. The ovoid nucleus contains a central chromatin mass appearing as a wavy bar in longitudinal section. Synonym: Anitschkow cell, Anitschkow myocyte, caterpillar cell. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| cardiac hormone | A substance present in extracts of cardiac tissue that augments cardiac contraction; possibly adenosine, a catecholamine, or some non-specific stimulant present generally in tissues. Synonym: cardiac hormone, heart hormone. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiac impression of liver | A depression on the superior area of the diaphragmatic surface of the liver corresponding to the position of the heart. Synonym: impressio cardiaca hepatis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiac impression of lung | The depression on the medial surface of each lung produced by the presence of the heart. It is more pronounced on the left lung. Synonym: impressio cardiaca pulmonis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiac impulse | Movement of the chest wall produced by cardiac contraction. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiac incompetence | Inability of the ventricles to pump out the blood returning to the atria fast enough to prevent an abnormal rise in atrial pressure or to pump sufficient blood to maintain normal circulatory function. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiac index | The amount of blood ejected by the heart in a unit of time divided by the body surface area; usually expressed in liters per minute per square meter. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiac infarction | A term used to describe irreversible injury to heart muscle. Synonym: heart attack. See: infarction. Common symptoms include substernal, crushing chest pain that may radiate to the jaw or arms. Chest pains may be associated with nausea, sweating and shortness of breath. Acronym: MI (27 Sep 1997) |
| cardiac insufficiency | A condition where there is ineffective pumping of the heart leading to an accumulation of fluid in the lungs. Typical symptoms include shortness of breath with exertion, difficulty breathing when lying flat and leg or ankle swelling. Causes include chronic hypertension, cardiomyopathy and myocardial infarction. (27 Sep 1997) |
| cardiac jelly | Gelatinous extracellular material that lies between endocardium and myocardium in the embryo. (18 Nov 1997) |
| cardiac liver | An extensive fibrotic reaction within the liver as a result of chronic constrictive pericarditis or prolonged congestive heart failure; true cirrhosis with fibrous bridging of lobules is unusual. Synonym: cardiac liver, congestive cirrhosis, pseudocirrhosis, stasis cirrhosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiac lung | Disturbance in pulmonary anatomy and physiology secondary to valvular disease of the heart or to other disturbances of circulation incident to cardiac disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiac lymphatic ring | A group of lymph nodes surrounding the cardia of the stomach. Synonym: annulus lymphaticus cardiae, cardiac lymphatic ring. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiac mapping | A method by which local cardiac potentials are spatially depicted in an integrated manner as a function of time (isochrone map) or potential (isopotential map). (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiac massage | Rhythmic compression of the heart by pressure applied manually over the sternum (closed heart massage) or directly to the heart through an opening in the chest wall (open heart massage). It is done to reinstate and maintain circulation. (12 Dec 1998) |