Postdicrotic is an uncommon medical term that describes a certain type of arterial waveform. It is pronounced as /poʊst.daɪ.krɒt.ɪk/ with the stress on the second syllable. The word is derived from Greek roots: "post" meaning "after", "di" meaning "two", "krotos" meaning "noise" and "-ic" which denotes "related to". Therefore, postdicrotic refers to the second peak in the arterial pressure waveform that occurs after the dicrotic notch, a small dip in the waveform that occurs after the closure of the aortic valve during diastole.
Postdicrotic is an adjective that is commonly used in medical and physiological contexts to describe a specific characteristic or event related to the dicrotic notch. The dicrotic notch refers to a small dip or inflection found on the downward slope of the arterial pulse waveform. It occurs shortly after the aortic valve closes during the cardiac cycle. The adjective postdicrotic specifically refers to the period or phenomena that occur after the dicrotic notch.
In a medical context, the term postdicrotic is often associated with the analysis of arterial pulse waves, where researchers and clinicians observe and interpret various patterns and characteristics of the pulse. These patterns can carry important clinical information about the functioning and health of the cardiovascular system. The postdicrotic period typically represents the phase when the aortic valve is closed and the blood flow is regulated in the opposite direction, often known as the diastolic phase.
The concept of postdicrotic has applications in various fields such as cardiology, hemodynamics, and bioengineering. Researchers and medical professionals use this term to discuss and analyze different aspects of the circulation system based on the pulse waveform. By studying the postdicrotic features, individuals can gain insights into cardiac rhythm, arterial compliance, blood pressure, and other cardiovascular parameters.
Following the dicrotic notch in a sphygmogram, noting an additional interruption in the descending line of the pulse tracing.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "postdicrotic" is derived from two main components: "post-" and "dicrotic".
1. "Post-":
The prefix "post-" comes from the Latin word "post", meaning "after" or "behind". In English, the prefix "post-" is commonly used to indicate something that comes after, follows, or is subsequent to something else. In the case of "postdicrotic", it denotes a condition or feature that occurs after or follows the occurrence of "dicrotism".
2. "Dicrotic":
The term "dicrotic" has its roots in Greek. It stems from the Greek word "dicrotos", which combines "di-" meaning "twice", and "krotos" meaning "beat" or "strike".