cardia

¹ American  

[kahr-dee-uh] / ˈkɑr di ə /

noun

Anatomy.

plural

cardiae, cardias

1. an opening that connects the esophagus and the upper part of the stomach.

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-cardia ² American  

1. a combining form occurring in compounds that denote an anomalous or undesirable action or position of the heart, as specified by the initial element.

   dextrocardia; tachycardia.

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Usage

What does -cardia mean? The combining form -cardia is used like a suffix to mean "abnormal heart condition." It is often used in medical terms, especially in pathology. The form -cardium ultimately comes from Greek kardíā, meaning "heart." The Latin cognate, cor, "heart," is the source of words such as cordial, courage, and discord. To learn more, check out our entries for each word. What are variants of -cardia?While -cardia doesn't have any variants, it is related to the form -cardium, as in myocardium. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article for -cardium. Also closely related to -cardia and -cardium are cardio- and cardi-, combined to beginning of words like a prefix and meaning “heart.” Read our Words That Use articles on these forms to learn more.

Etymology

Origin of cardia¹

1775–85; < New Latin < Greek kardía a medical term for this opening, literally, heart; perhaps so called because the opening is on the same side of the body as the heart

Origin of -cardia²

Perhaps originally representing Greek kardía heart, though coincidence with the abstract noun suffix -ia has influenced sense

Example Sentences

Figure 23.15 Stomach The stomach has four major regions: the cardia, fundus, body, and pylorus.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Located inferior to the diaphragm, above and to the left of the cardia, is the dome-shaped fundus.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

The glands of the cardia and pylorus are composed primarily of mucus-secreting cells.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

It is more truly a sphincter than the cardia itself.

From Bronchoscopy and Esophagoscopy A Manual of Peroral Endoscopy and Laryngeal Surgery by Jackson, Chevalier

The cardia will not be noticed as a constriction, but its appearance will be announced by the rolling in of reddish gastric mucosal folds, and by a gush of fluid from the stomach.

From Bronchoscopy and Esophagoscopy A Manual of Peroral Endoscopy and Laryngeal Surgery by Jackson, Chevalier