Cardiology Vocabulary

noun a localized area of necrosis resulting from obstruction of the blood supply

• The patient was diagnosed with a myocardial infarction.
• My uncle had a heart attack caused by an infarction.
• I heard that John's dad had a blockage that led to an infarction.
• The sudden loss of funding was like an infarction to the company's growth.

noun a network or interwoven structure, especially of nerves, blood vessels, or lymphatic vessels

• The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that control movement and sensation in the shoulder, arm, and hand.
• I learned in anatomy class that the solar plexus is a sensitive area in the abdomen.
• I got punched in the plexus during the fight and it knocked the wind out of me.
• The plexus of emotions swirling inside her made it hard to focus on anything else.

noun the act of listening to sounds within the body as a method of diagnosis

• The doctor performed auscultation to listen for any abnormal heart sounds.
• The nurse did some auscultation on me to check my lungs.
• I hate it when the doctor does auscultation, it's so uncomfortable.
• Sometimes we need to do auscultation of our own thoughts to understand ourselves better.

noun a medical instrument used for listening to sounds within the body, typically consisting of a disc-shaped resonator and two tubes connected to earpieces

• The doctor used a phonendoscope to listen to the patient's heartbeat.
• The nurse grabbed the phonendoscope to check my lungs.
• I borrowed my friend's phonendoscope to eavesdrop on the neighbors.
• The musician used the phonendoscope to listen closely to the subtle nuances in the music.

verb to listen to sounds within the body, typically using a stethoscope

• The doctor will auscultate your chest to listen for any abnormal sounds.
• The nurse will auscultate your lungs during the check-up.
• I heard the doctor auscultate your heart earlier.
• It's important to auscultate the opinions of all team members before making a decision.

noun the constriction of blood vessels, which increases blood pressure

• Vasoconstriction is the narrowing of blood vessels, which can lead to increased blood pressure.
• When you're cold, vasoconstriction occurs to help conserve heat in your body.
• I hate when vasoconstriction happens because my hands get all tingly and numb.
• Emotional stress can cause vasoconstriction in your blood vessels, making you feel tense and anxious.

noun a medical condition characterized by a decrease in the volume of blood plasma in the body

• Hypovolemia is a medical condition characterized by a decrease in the volume of blood plasma in the body.
• If you're feeling dizzy and weak, it could be due to hypovolemia.
• I heard Sarah passed out from hypovolemia at the party last night.
• His lack of enthusiasm for the project could be seen as a form of hypovolemia in the team dynamics.