Skip to main content
← Back to Adult Cardiology

Adult Cardiology Glossary

100 terms total — 24 showing — Last updated 26 Oct 2026

ST-elevation myocardial infarction STEMI

Advanced Technical IVT

A type of heart attack characterized by complete blockage of a coronary artery, identifiable by specific electrocardiogram changes.

Showing 1–24 of 100

Anthracycline cardiomyopathy

Advanced Technical IVT

Chemotherapy-induced heart muscle disease caused by anthracycline antibiotics, characterized by progressive left ventric...

Technical Term Full entry →

cardiac biomarker

Intermediate Technical IVT

Laboratory marker that indicates myocardial injury, stress, or dysfunction in cardiovascular disease.

Technical Term Full entry →

Cardiac biomarkers

Intermediate Technical IVT

Blood-based molecules that are released during myocardial injury and used for diagnosis and risk stratification of acute...

Technical Term Full entry →

cardiac catheterization

Professional Technical IVT

An invasive diagnostic procedure involving insertion of catheters into the heart and coronary vessels to assess cardiac...

Technical Term Full entry →

cardiac index

Intermediate Technical IVT

Cardiac output normalized to body surface area, typically measured in L/min/m².

CI
Technical Term Full entry →

Cardiac output

Intermediate Technical IVT

The volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute, calculated as stroke volume multiplied by heart rate. Normal range i...

CO
Technical Term Full entry →

Device therapy using biventricular pacing to improve coordination of heart contractions in heart failure patients.

Technical Term Full entry →

cardiac tamponade

Professional Technical IVT

Life-threatening condition where fluid accumulation in the pericardial space compresses the heart, preventing normal fil...

Technical Term Full entry →

Cardio-oncology

Professional Technical IVT

Subspecialty focused on cardiovascular complications of cancer treatment and management of cardiac disease in cancer pat...

Technical Term Full entry →

cardiopulmonary exercise testing

Professional Technical IVT

A comprehensive assessment that measures cardiac, pulmonary, and metabolic responses to graded exercise.

Technical Term Full entry →

Coronary dominance

Advanced Technical IVT

The anatomical pattern determining which coronary artery supplies the posterior descending artery and posterolateral cir...

Technical Term Full entry →

coronary flow reserve

Advanced Technical IVT

The ratio of maximum coronary blood flow during hyperemia to baseline resting flow.

CFR
Technical Term Full entry →

coronary spasm

Intermediate Technical IVT

Sudden, temporary narrowing of a coronary artery due to smooth muscle contraction, potentially causing ischemia.

Technical Term Full entry →

diastolic heart failure

Intermediate Technical IVT

Heart failure characterized by impaired ventricular relaxation and filling despite preserved ejection fraction.

Technical Term Full entry →

dobutamine stress echocardiography

Professional Technical IVT

A cardiac stress test using the medication dobutamine to increase heart rate and contractility while monitoring heart fu...

Technical Term Full entry →

A form of heart failure where the heart's pumping function appears normal but the heart muscle has become stiff and does...

Technical Term Full entry →

Hibernating myocardium

Advanced Technical IVT

Chronically dysfunctional but viable myocardial tissue that can recover function following revascularization.

Technical Term Full entry →

Interventional cardiology

Intermediate Technical IVT

Subspecialty of cardiology focused on catheter-based treatment of cardiovascular disease, including angioplasty, stentin...

Technical Term Full entry →

microvascular dysfunction

Advanced Technical IVT

Impaired function of coronary vessels smaller than 500 micrometers, not visible on standard angiography.

Technical Term Full entry →

myocardial stunning

Intermediate Technical IVT

Temporary contractile dysfunction of viable myocardium following acute ischemia-reperfusion.

Technical Term Full entry →

myocardial viability

Advanced Technical IVT

The presence of living, potentially recoverable myocardial tissue in regions with reduced contractile function.

Technical Term Full entry →

non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction

Professional Technical IVT

A type of heart attack characterized by elevated cardiac biomarkers without ST-segment elevation on electrocardiogram.

Technical Term Full entry →

percutaneous coronary intervention

Professional Technical IVT

A catheter-based procedure to open blocked coronary arteries using balloon angioplasty and/or stent placement.

Technical Term Full entry →

Pericardial friction rub

Intermediate Technical IVT

A characteristic three-component scratchy sound heard on auscultation in patients with pericardial inflammation.

Technical Term Full entry →
Showing 1–24 of 100

Editors from these organizations have used our services since 1998

Reuters BBC Oxford University Press Penguin Random House Springer Microsoft Suncor Energy United Nations Fisher Investments IBM The Home Depot KODAK CHEVRON