plexus cardiacus

9.3

A group of nerves near the heart that control how fast the heart beats

noun
/ˈplɛksəs kɑrˈdiːkəs/

Specialized

: plexo cardíaco

The plexus cardiacus transmits nerve signals that regulate heart rate and cardiac function.

Examples

Damage to the plexus cardiacus may result in abnormal heart rhythms or chest pain.
During surgery, care must be taken to avoid injuring the plexus cardiacus.
The plexus cardiacus is crucial for heart function.
In anatomy, the plexus cardiaci plays a vital role.
Damage to the plexus cardiacus may result in abnormal heart rhythms or chest pain.
During surgery, care must be taken to avoid injuring the plexus cardiacus.
The plexus cardiacus transmits nerve signals that regulate heart rate and cardiac function.

Synonyms

cardiac plexus

vsplexus cardiacus

Specialized

7.5

A group of nerves near the heart that send signals to control the heart's beat and nearby parts

uses identical meaning but follows the Latin noun order

Surface Forms

plexus cardiacus singular

plexus cardiacus plural

Morphology

plexus + cardiacus

The compound is fully compositional: 'plexus' denotes a network of vessels or nerves and 'cardiacus' is a heart-related modifier (cognate with English 'cardiac'/'cardio'), so a learner who knows both parts can infer 'network serving the heart'. The Latinized medical form is technical but morphologically transparent and cross-linguistically recognizable, so its meaning is predictable from the constituents.

Etymology

Plexus cardiacus comes from old Latin words, with plexus meaning a net or braid and cardiacus meaning 'heart'. So the name gives the picture of a net of nerves around the heart that send messages and help control the heartbeat, and that is why it means 'a network of nerves supplying the heart'.