Exocardia

/ˌɛksoʊˈkɑrdiə/ noun

Definition

A congenital condition where the heart is located outside the chest cavity, protruding through the chest wall.

Etymology

From Greek 'exo-' meaning 'outside' and 'kardia' meaning 'heart.' This medical term combines these elements to describe a heart in an abnormal external position, first documented in medical literature in the 19th century.

Kelly Says

Exocardia is so rare that there are only a handful of documented cases in medical history, and most babies born with this condition require immediate surgical intervention to have any chance of survival.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.