| Frank-Starling curve | A graph in which cardiac output or stroke volume is plotted against mean atrial or ventricular end-diastolic pressure; with increasing venous return and atrial pressure the output proportionately increases until further increments overload the heart and the output falls. Synonym: Frank-Starling curve. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| frequency curve | A systematic grouping of data into classes or categories according to the frequency of occurrence of each successive value or ranges of such values, resulting in a graph of a frequency distribution. Synonym: frequency curve. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Friedman curve | A graph on which hours of labour are plotted against cervical dilation in centimeters. (05 Mar 2000) |
| logistic curve | An S-shaped curve which depicts the growth of a population in an area of fixed limits. (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) |