| left-sided heart failure | Inability of the left heart to maintain its circulatory load with corresponding rise in pressure in the pulmonary circulation usually with pulmonary congestion and ultimately pulmonary oedema. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| left-sidedness | The normal left-sided location of certain unpaired organs, such as the spleen and most of the stomach. (05 Mar 2000) |
| left superior intercostal vein | <anatomy, vein> The vein formed by the union of the left second, third, and fourth intercostal veins; it passes forward across the arch of the aorta to empty into the left brachiocephalic vein and frequently communicates also with the accessory hemiazygos vein. Synonym: vena intercostalis superior sinistra. (05 Mar 2000) |
| left superior pulmonary vein | The vein returning oxygenated blood from the left superior lobe of the lung to the left atrium. Synonym: vena pulmonalis superior sinistra. (05 Mar 2000) |
| left suprarenal vein | <anatomy, vein> The vein from the hilum of the left suprarenal gland that passes downward to open into the left renal vein; it usually is joined by the left inferior phrenic vein. Synonym: vena suprarenalis sinistra. (05 Mar 2000) |
| left testicular vein | <anatomy, vein> Vein conveying blood from the left testis, originating as the pampiniform plexus and entering the left renal vein. Synonym: vena testicularis sinistra. (05 Mar 2000) |
| left-to-right shunt | A diversion of blood from the left side of the heart to right (as through a septal defect), or from the systemic circulation to the pulmonary (as through a patent ductus arteriosus). (05 Mar 2000) |
| left-to-right shunts | <radiology> Atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, aorticopulmonary window, endocardial cushion defect, partial anomalous pulmonary venous return (12 Dec 1998) |
| left triangular ligament | <anatomy> A triangular fold of fibrous connective tissue and peritoneum that extends from the left lobe of the liver to the diaphragm. Synonym: ligamentum triangulare sinistrum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| left umbilical vein | <anatomy, vein> The vein that returns the blood from the placenta to the foetus; traversing the umbilical cord, it enters the foetal body at the umbilicus and passes thence into the liver, where it is joined by the portal vein; its blood then flows by way of the ductus venosus and the inferior vena cava to the right atrium. Synonym: vena umbilicalis sinistra. (05 Mar 2000) |
| left ventricle | <anatomy> The muscular chamber of the heart which accepts blood from the left atrium and ejects it into the aorta to the systemic circulation. (27 Sep 1997) |
| left-ventricular assist device | Mechanical pump inserted at some point in the circulation to parallel the activity of the left ventricle and thereby reduce its load. (05 Mar 2000) |
| left ventricular ejection time | The time measured clinically from onset to incisural notch of the carotid or other pulse; properly the time of ejection of blood from the left ventricle beginning with aortic valve opening and ending with aortic valve closure. (05 Mar 2000) |
| left ventricular failure | <cardiology> A disorder where the left side of the heart fails to pump blood effectively. This results in a back flow (and pressure) and congestion of blood into the lungs. The causes of this condition include, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy, anaemia, hyperthyroidism, atrial myxoma, drug toxicity and congenital heart disease. Risk factors include diabetes, alcoholism, obesity and smoking. Symptoms include increasing shortness of breath with activity and while lying flat. Other symptoms include cough, palpitations, fatigue, decreased urine production and waking in the middle of the nigh with difficulty breathing. Complications include pulmonary oedema, arrhythmias and pleural effusion. (27 Sep 1997) |
| left ventricular hypertrophy | <radiology> Coarctation, aortic stenosis (12 Dec 1998) |