Atelocardia

/ˌætəloʊˈkɑːrdiə/ noun

Definition

A rare congenital condition where the heart is incompletely developed or has structural defects.

Etymology

From 'atelo-' (incomplete) + 'cardia' (from Greek 'kardia' meaning heart), creating a medical term that literally means 'incomplete heart' or heart dysfunction.

Kelly Says

Babies born with atelocardia face life-threatening challenges because their hearts can't properly pump blood—the 'atelo-' prefix signals the devastating reality that one of the body's most critical organs arrived incomplete.

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