ventricular septal defect
- noun
- /vɛnˈtrɪkjələr ˈsɛptəl dɪˈfɛkt/
- Specialized
- The right ventricle is injured in about half of the surviving patients, and the ventricular septal defect (VSD) caused by penetration to the heart is found in 20% of survivors.
Examples
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Arrow showing ventricular septal defect (VSD).
Academic text (2007) -
The transesophageal echocardiography showed a 12 mm ventricular septal defect.
Academic text (2007) -
In addition, the infant was suspected of having a ventricular septal defect of the heart.
Academic text (2016) -
Heart defects affect approximately half of all children with FAS, with ventricular septal defect being the most common.
Academic text (1996) -
After admission at a Cardiothoracic Centre, a transthoracic echocardiogram showed pericardial effusion and a small ventricular septal defect.
Academic text (2007) -
When the doctor examined the baby, he found a ventricular septal defect, which is a hole in the heart that affects blood flow.
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She underwent surgery to correct her ventricular septal defect, allowing her heart to function properly.
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The pediatric cardiologist explained that a ventricular septal defect can lead to heart failure if not treated early.
Synonyms
A hole in the wall between the left and right sides of the heart that you are born with
Surface Forms
Morphology
ventricular + septal + defect
The term is fully compositional: 'ventricular' (relating to the ventricles) + 'septal' (relating to a septum) + 'defect' (a flaw/opening) straightforwardly yields 'a defect in the septum of the ventricles', matching the definition. Although it is medical jargon, the meaning is directly derivable from the constituents and mirrors similar compound patterns in other languages, so a learner who knows the component words would infer the sense.
Etymology
Ventricular septal defect shows a clear picture: ventricular means the heart's lower chambers, septal means the wall between them, and defect means a 'hole' in that wall. So it refers to a heart problem present at birth where blood can pass between the left and right ventricles.