pulsatile
Definition
- Adjective:
- Characterized by rhythmic beating or throbbing: "pulsatile" describes something that has a regular, recurring pulse or beat, especially in a biological or mechanical context.
- Related to a pulse: Pertaining to or resembling the rhythmic expansion and contraction of an artery or heart.
Usage Examples
- (A swelling that throbs with each heartbeat, often indicating an aneurysm.)
- (A type of tinnitus caused by blood flow.)
- (A rhythmic, intermittent flow pattern.)
Advanced Usage
- "Pulsatile secretion": In endocrinology, refers to hormones released in rhythmic bursts (e.g., luteinizing hormone).
- Pulsatile secretion of growth hormone is essential for normal development. (The hormone is released in pulses rather than continuously.)
- "Pulsatile perfusion": In medical devices, a method of pumping blood that simulates the natural heartbeat.
- The heart-lung machine used pulsatile perfusion to maintain organ function during surgery. (Rhythmic blood flow was maintained.)
Variants and Related Words
- Pulsate (verb): to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb.
- The star seemed to pulsate with a regular rhythm. (It expanded and contracted visibly.)
- Pulsation (noun): a single beat or throb, or the process of beating rhythmically.
- The pulsation of the artery was barely detectable. (The throbbing was weak.)
- Pulse (noun): the rhythmic beating of the heart as felt through the arteries.
- His pulse was strong and regular. (Heartbeat.)
Synonyms
- Throbbing: beating with a strong, regular rhythm.
- Pounding: striking or beating heavily and repeatedly.
- Rhythmic: having a repeated pattern of beats or sounds.
Related Idioms
- "To feel one's pulse": to check the heartbeat, often used metaphorically to gauge opinion.
- The politician tried to feel the pulse of the nation. (To understand public sentiment.)
Phrasal Verbs
- "Pulsate with": to be filled with energy or activity.
- The city pulsated with life at night. (It was vibrant and active.)