| cardiac 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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| cardiac tube | The primitive tubular heart in the embryo, before its division into chambers. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiac valve prosthesis | See: valve. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiac valvular incompetence | Failure of a valve to perform its fundamental function: insurance of one-way flow; manifested by regurgitation of blood in the opposite direction when the valve is supposed to be closed. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiac volume | The volume of the heart, usually relating to the volume of blood contained within it at various periods of the cardiac cycle. The amount of blood ejected from a ventricle at each beat is stroke volume. (12 Dec 1998) |
| middle cervical cardiac nerve | <anatomy, nerve> One of the cardiopulmonary splanchnic nerves conveying postsynaptic sympathetic fibres running downward, from the middle cervical ganglion along the subclavian artery (on the left) or the brachiocephalic (on the right side) to join the cardiac plexus. Synonym: nervus cardiacus cervicalis medius. (05 Mar 2000) |
| smallest cardiac veins | Numerous small valveless venous channels that open directly into the chambers of the heart from the capillary bed in the cardiac wall, enabling a form of collateral circulation unique to the heart. Synonym: smallest cardiac veins, thebesian veins. (05 Mar 2000) |
| superficial cardiac plexus | The superficial and smaller subdivision of the cardiac plexus, formed by the left superior cardiac nerves from the left vagus and cervical sympathetic trunk; it is found beneath the aortic arch, between the arch and the bifurcation of the pulmonary trunk. Synonym: plexus cardiacus superficialis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| superior cervical cardiac branches of vagus nerve | <anatomy, nerve> Uppermost of the branches of vagus nerve conducting presynaptic parasympathetic fibres to, and reflex afferent fibres from, the cardiac plexus; branching from the vagi close to the base of the skull. Synonym: rami cardiaci cervicales superiores nervi vagi. (05 Mar 2000) |
| superior cervical cardiac nerve | <anatomy, nerve> The uppermost of the cardiopulmonary splanchnic nerves which arises from the lower part of the superior cervical ganglion and passes down to form, with branches of the vagus, the cardiac plexus. Synonym: nervus cardiacus cervicalis superior. (05 Mar 2000) |
| death, sudden, cardiac | The sudden cessation of cardiac contraction, leading to death of the heart and, ultimately, of the individual, resulting from ventricular tachycardia-fibrillation or asystole. (12 Dec 1998) |
| deep cardiac plexus | The deeper part of the cardiac plexus. Synonym: plexus cardiacus profundus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| inferior cervical cardiac branches of vagus nerve | <anatomy, nerve> The most inferior of the cervical branches of vagus nerve conducting presynaptic parasympathetic fibres to, and reflex afferent fibres from, the cardiac plexus; branching from the vagi at root of neck. Synonym: rami cardiaci cervicales inferiores nervi vagi. (05 Mar 2000) |
| inferior cervical cardiac nerve | <anatomy, nerve> A nerve passing from the stellate ganglion to the cardiac plexus. Synonym: nervus cardiacus cervicalis inferior. (05 Mar 2000) |
| innominate cardiac veins | The small superficial vein's of the heart. Synonym: Vieussens' veins. (05 Mar 2000) |