A rupture or breaking open of the heart muscle, usually fatal.
Greek 'kardia' (heart) + 'rhexis' (rupture, breaking), a medical term combining to describe mechanical failure of the heart. This term became established in pathology to describe catastrophic cardiac injuries or ruptures.
In forensic pathology, identifying cardiorrhexis is crucial because it can distinguish between different causes of sudden death, and the pattern of rupture can tell investigators about the force and direction of injury.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.