| epidural block | An obstruction in the epidural space; used inaccurately to refer to epidural anaesthesia. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| exit block | Inability of an impulse to leave its point of origin, the mechanism for which is conceived as an encircling zone of refractory tissue denying passage to the emerging impulse. (05 Mar 2000) |
| fascicular block | A condition based on the concept that the left branch of the bundle of His provides two of three major fascicles of a system of conduction, of which the right bundle branch constitutes the third, for the transmission of the cardiac impulse from the atrium above to the ventricles below the A-V node; block may occur in any or all fascicles, all three together producing complete A-V block. See: hemiblock. (05 Mar 2000) |
| unidirectional block | Block that prevents passage of an impulse when it approaches from one direction but not from the other, as when block in the A-V node prevents anterograde conduction to the ventricles while retrograde conduction to the atria remains intact. (05 Mar 2000) |
| field block | Regional anaesthesia produced by infiltration of local anaesthetic solution into tissues surrounding an operative field. (05 Mar 2000) |
| field block anaesthesia | Conduction anaesthesia in which small nerves are not anaesthetised individually, as in nerve block anaesthesia, but instead are blocked en masse by local anaesthetic solution injected to form a barrier proximal to the operative site. (05 Mar 2000) |
| fish-block | See Fish-tackle. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| local nerve block | Infiltration of a local anesthetic around a peripheral nerve so as to produce anesthesia in the area supplied by the nerve. (16 Dec 1997) |
| abnormal heart chamber dimensions | <radiology> Left ventricular volume overload, left ventricular hypertrophy, right ventricular volume overload, right ventricular hypertrophy, fixed subvalvular aortic stenosis, hypoplastic left/right ventricle; common ventricle, congestive cardiomyopathy (12 Dec 1998) |
| Abrams' heart reflex | A contraction of the myocardium when the skin of the precordial region is irritated. (05 Mar 2000) |
| american heart association | A voluntary organization concerned with the prevention and treatment of heart and vascular diseases. (12 Dec 1998) |
| apex of heart | The blunt extremity of the heart formed by the left ventricle. See: apex beat. Synonym: apex cordis, vertex cordis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| armored heart | Calcareous deposits in the pericardium due to subacute or chronic pericarditis. Synonym: panzerherz. (05 Mar 2000) |
| armor heart | Extensive to complete calcification (rarely ossification) of the pericardium usually producing constrictive pericarditis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| artificial heart | A mechanical pump used to replace the function of a damaged heart, either temporarily or as a permanent prosthesis. (05 Mar 2000) |