Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
stenosis
Pronunciation: sten-OH-sis
Abnormal narrowing of a heart valve or blood vessel that restricts blood flow.
Full Definition
Stenosis refers to the pathological narrowing of cardiac structures, most commonly affecting heart valves (aortic, mitral, pulmonary, tricuspid) or coronary arteries. Valvular stenosis can be congenital or acquired due to rheumatic disease, calcification, or degenerative changes. The severity is quantified by pressure gradients, valve area calculations, and flow velocities measured by echocardiography or cardiac catheterization. Severe stenosis may require surgical or percutaneous intervention depending on symptoms and hemodynamic significance.
Usage
Usage note: Always specify anatomical location and severity when documenting stenotic lesions.
In Context
- "Severe aortic stenosis with a valve area of 0.8 cm² warranted surgical intervention." — echocardiogram interpretation
- "The patient developed progressive mitral stenosis secondary to rheumatic heart disease." — cardiology consultation
Also known as
valvular narrowing
arterial narrowing
Contrasted with
regurgitation
insufficiency
Don't confuse with
regurgitation
sclerosis