Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Of or relating to the heart: "Cardiac" describes anything pertaining to the heart, its function, or its diseases.

Usage

• The word "cardiac" is primarily used as a medical or anatomical adjective. It is used to specify that something is related to the heart organ.
• It is commonly found in medical terminology, such as names of conditions, procedures, or medical specialties.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • The patient was rushed to the hospital due to a cardiac emergency.
  • She is a specialist in cardiac surgery.
  • Regular exercise strengthens the cardiac muscle.

Advanced Usage

• "Cardiac" as a combining form: In medical terminology, "cardiac" is often used as a prefix or root in compound terms. However, these are distinct terms, not the adjective "cardiac" itself.
  • Cardiology is the branch of medicine dealing with heart disorders.
  • Cardiovascular refers to the heart and blood vessels collectively.

Variants and Related Words

• Cardio- (prefix): A combining form meaning "heart," used to form many medical terms.
  • Cardiogram (n): A record of the heart's electrical activity.
  • Cardiologist (n): A doctor who specializes in heart diseases.
• Cardial (adj): An archaic or less common synonym for "cardiac."

Synonyms

• Heart: (as an adjective in informal contexts, e.g., heart condition)
• Coronary: Specifically relating to the arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle (e.g., coronary artery). Note: This is not a perfect synonym, as its scope is narrower than "cardiac."

Common Collocations and Phrases

• Cardiac arrest: The sudden, often fatal, cessation of heart function.
  • The cause of death was listed as cardiac arrest.
• Cardiac muscle: The specialized muscle tissue of the heart.
• Cardiac output: The volume of blood the heart pumps per minute.
• Cardiac care unit (CCU): A hospital ward for patients with serious heart conditions.

Adjective

1. of or relating to the heart
   • cardiac arrest