How Do You Spell ACARDIAC?

Pronunciation: [ɐkˈɑːdɪˌak] (IPA)

The word "acardiac" can be a bit tricky to spell because of its unique pronunciation. It is pronounced as /əˈkɑr.di.æk/ and is characterized by the absence of a heart in an organism or individual. The prefix "a-" means "without" or "not," while "cardiac" pertains to the heart. Therefore, "acardiac" literally means "without a heart." It is a medical term commonly used to describe a rare condition wherein a twin is born without a heart, and the other twin's heart must work much harder to support both.

ACARDIAC Meaning and Definition

1. Acardiac, also known as acephalus acardia or twin-reversed arterial perfusion (TRAP) sequence, is a medical term used to describe a rare and complex condition that affects pregnancies involving identical twins. In this condition, one of the twins, known as the "acardiac twin," does not develop a heart or has an extremely underdeveloped heart. This abnormality occurs due to the abnormal sharing of blood vessels between the twins in the placenta.

   The acardiac twin relies solely on the cardiovascular system of its healthy twin, known as the "pump twin," for its own blood supply. Consequently, the pump twin's heart is overworked as it must supply blood to both its own body and that of the acardiac twin. This can cause significant strain on the pump twin's cardiovascular system and can lead to a range of complications.

   Acardiac twin pregnancies are challenging to diagnose and manage. They often present with elevated risks of miscarriage, preterm birth, and complications for both the pump twin and the mother. Treatment options vary depending on the individual case, but they can include medication, laser ablation, or early delivery.

   In summary, acardiac refers to a condition where one twin in an identical twin pregnancy does not develop a heart or has an underdeveloped heart. It requires careful monitoring and specialized treatment due to the potential risks it poses to both the affected twin and the mother.

2. 1. Without heart. 2. An acardiacus.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for ACARDIAC

• zcardiac
• scardiac
• wcardiac
• qcardiac
• axardiac
• avardiac
• afardiac
• adardiac
• aczrdiac
• acsrdiac
• acwrdiac
• acqrdiac
• acaediac
• acaddiac
• acafdiac
• acatdiac
• aca5diac
• aca4diac
• acarsiac
• acarrdiac

Etymology of ACARDIAC

The term "acardiac" is derived from the ancient Greek roots "a-" meaning "without" or "absence", and "kardia" meaning "heart". Therefore, "acardiac" refers to the absence or lack of a heart.