Endocardiac refers to anything related to the endocardium, which is the inner lining of the heart chambers. Specifically, it pertains to structures, processes, or conditions occurring within or pertaining to the endocardium.
The endocardium is a thin, smooth membrane that lines the inside of the heart and is located between the myocardium (the middle layer) and the epicardium (the outer layer). It consists of a layer of endothelial cells, connective tissue, and a subendocardial layer.
Endocardiac conditions may include diseases or disorders that affect the endocardium, such as endocarditis, which is an inflammation of the endocardium usually caused by an infection; endocardial fibroelastosis, a rare heart condition characterized by the development of fibrous tissue in the endocardium; or endocardial cushion defects, which are congenital heart defects involving abnormal development of the endocardial cushions.
In medical procedures, endocardiac refers to actions or interventions that are performed directly on or within the endocardium. For example, endocardiac biopsies involve the removal of small samples of tissue from the endocardium for diagnostic purposes. Additionally, endocardiac catheterizations involve the insertion of a thin tube called a catheter into the heart chambers through a blood vessel, typically to diagnose and treat various heart conditions.
Overall, endocardiac relates to the inner lining of the heart, encompassing its structures, functions, and associated conditions.
