| isometric period of cardiac cycle | That period in which the muscle fibres do not shorten although the cardiac muscle is excited and the pressure in the ventricles rises, extending from the closure of the atrioventricular valves to the opening of the semilunar valves (isovolumic constriction) or the reverse (isovolumic relaxation). (05 Mar 2000) |
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| thoracic cardiac branches of vagus nerve | <anatomy, nerve> Branches of vagus nerve to the cardiac plexus which branch from the vagi at thoracic levels, conducting presynpatic parasympathetic fibres to, and reflex afferent fibres from, the cardiac plexus. Synonym: rami cardiaci thoracici nervi vagi. (05 Mar 2000) |
| thoracic cardiac nerves | Part of the cardiopulmonary splanchnic nerves from the second to fifth segments of the thoracic sympathetic trunk that pass medially and anteriorly to enter the cardiac plexus; they convey postsynaptic sympathetic fibres to, and visceral afferent (pain) fibres from, the heart. Synonym: nervi cardiaci thoracici, upper thoracic splanchnic nerves. (05 Mar 2000) |
| edema, cardiac | A manifestation of congestive heart failure caused by increased venous and capillary pressures and often associated with the retention of sodium by the kidneys. (12 Dec 1998) |
| electric cardiac pacemaker | An electric device that can substitute for the normal cardiac pacemaker, controlling the heart's rhythm by artificial electric discharges. Synonym: electronic pacemaker. (05 Mar 2000) |
| external cardiac massage | Rhythmic compression of the heart between sternum and spine by depressing the lower sternum backward with the heels of the hands, the patient lying supine. Synonym: external cardiac massage. (05 Mar 2000) |
| 24-hour cardiac monitor | <apparatus> A recording device, worn by the patient for the purpose of monitoring the hearts rhythm and rate, over a period of 24 hours. (27 Sep 1997) |
| lymphatic ring of cardiac part of stomach | A group of lymph nodes surrounding the cardia of the stomach. Synonym: annulus lymphaticus cardiae, cardiac lymphatic ring. (05 Mar 2000) |