AORTIC AREA Meaning and
Definition
-
The aortic area, also known as the aortic valve area, is a specific anatomical region of the heart where the aortic valve is located. It is a part of the cardiac examination process and is often used to assess the normal functioning of the heart.
Situated in the upper middle part of the chest, the aortic area lies just to the right of the sternum. It is the location where the second right intercostal space meets the left sternal border. This region corresponds to the position of the aortic valve, which is the valve responsible for allowing blood to flow out of the left ventricle and into the aorta, the largest blood vessel in the body.
When performing a cardiac examination, healthcare professionals listen to the sounds produced by the heart using a stethoscope. In the aortic area, they can hear the characteristic sounds of the opening and closing of the aortic valve. These sounds, known as heart murmurs, can provide useful information about the function and integrity of the aortic valve and the surrounding structures.
Abnormalities in the aortic area, such as abnormal heart sounds or murmurs, can indicate various conditions such as aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aortic valve), aortic regurgitation (leakage of blood back into the left ventricle), or an aortic aneurysm (enlargement or ballooning of the aorta). Timely detection and evaluation of abnormalities in the aortic area are crucial for diagnosing and managing these cardiac conditions effectively.
-
The region of the chest wall over the second right costal cartilage, where sounds produced at the aortic orifice are heard most distinctly.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for AORTIC AREA
- zortic area
- sortic area
- wortic area
- qortic area
- airtic area
- akrtic area
- alrtic area
- aprtic area
- a0rtic area
- a9rtic area
- aoetic area
- aodtic area
- aoftic area
- aottic area
- ao5tic area
- ao4tic area
- aorric area
- aorfic area
- aorgic area
- aoryic area
Etymology of AORTIC AREA
The word "aortic" comes from the Latin word "aortae", which means "aorta" or "main artery". The term "aorta" itself comes from the Greek word "aorte", which also means "aorta" or "great artery".
The term "area" has Latin roots, originating from the word "area", which means "open space" or "vacant piece of ground". In medical terminology, "area" is used to refer to a specific location or region within the body.
Therefore, the term "aortic area" refers to the specific region or location within the body that is associated with the aorta or the main artery, typically used to describe the area where the heart sounds related to the aorta are best heard during a physical examination.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
