adjective / noun
cardiac
KAR-dee-ak/ˈkɑːrdiæk/
Relating to the heart.
The illustration pairs the heart with a trace of cardiac electrical activity.
Etymology
Kardia means “heart,” and the ending makes it descriptive: cardiac marks something as involving the heart, as in cardiac arrest.
In context
A reduced stroke volume and therefore cardiac output in an effort to maintain the cardiac output the heart must therefore beat faster
More examples
- The specialist monitors the patient's cardiac function.
- The hospital maintains a cardiac care unit.
- The report describes exercise programs for recovering cardiacs.
Forms
cardiac · cardiacs
Similar words
- coronary
- Specifically concerns the heart's own blood vessels.
- cardiovascular
- Concerns both the heart and the blood vessels.