atrial septal defect

Friendly

Word: Atrial Septal Defect

Part of Speech: Noun

Simple Explanation:

An atrial septal defect (often shortened to ASD) is a medical condition where there is an abnormal opening, or hole, between the two upper chambers of the heart, known as the left and right atria. This hole can allow blood to flow in the wrong direction, which can cause problems for a person's heart and overall health.

Usage Instructions:

• The term is primarily used in medical contexts, especially when talking about heart conditions.
• It is important to use this term when discussing heart-related health issues, particularly in a clinical or educational setting.

Example:

• "The doctor diagnosed the patient with an atrial septal defect after reviewing the results of the echocardiogram."

Advanced Usage:

• In medical discussions, you might hear phrases like "the hemodynamic effects of an atrial septal defect" which refers to how the defect affects blood flow in the heart.

Word Variants:

• Atrial: Related to the atrium of the heart.
• Septal: Related to a septum, which is a wall dividing two areas, in this case, the left and right atria.
• Defect: A flaw or imperfection.

Different Meanings:

• While "defect" can refer to an imperfection in various contexts (like a defect in a product), in this medical term, it specifically refers to a flaw in heart structure.

Synonyms:

• Heart septal defect
• Atrial defect

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "atrial septal defect," as it is a specific medical term. However, in casual conversation about health, you might hear phrases like "keep an eye on" when talking about monitoring a condition.

Conclusion:

Understanding the term "atrial septal defect" is important for discussing heart health, particularly in medical settings.

Academic

Noun

1. an abnormal opening between the left and right atria of the heart