Cardiemphraxia

/ˌkɑːrdiɛmˈfræksiə/ noun

Definition

A rare medical condition characterized by obstruction or blockage within the heart or its chambers.

Etymology

From Greek 'kardia' meaning 'heart' combined with 'emphraxis' from 'em-' (in) and 'phrassein' (to block or obstruct). This is an extremely archaic medical term from the 19th century or earlier.

Kelly Says

Cardiemphraxia is one of those magnificent medical fossils—so obscure that even most medical dictionaries don't include it, but it shows how doctors once tried to describe heart blockages when they could only observe symptoms, not see the actual obstruction.

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