endocardium

[ en-doh-kahr-dee-uh m ]

/ ˌɛn doʊˈkɑr di əm /

noun, plural en·do·car·di·a [en-doh-kahr-dee-uh] /ˌɛn doʊˈkɑr di ə/. Anatomy.

the serous membrane that lines the cavities of the heart.

Nearby words

endobronchial tube, endocardial, endocardial cushion, endocardial fibroelastosis, endocarditis, endocardium, endocarp, endocarpoid, endocast, endocentric, endocervical

Origin of endocardium

First recorded in 1870–75; endo- + -cardium

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for endocardium

The endocardium may be stained from the imbibition of blood.
A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I|Various
In the muscular substance of the heart, under the endocardium, there is almost constantly noticed ecchymosis.
Poisons: Their Effects and Detection|Alexander Wynter Blyth
When the membrane which lines the cavities of the heart—the endocardium— suffers inflammation, the disease is called endocarditis.
Special Report on Diseases of Cattle|U.S. Department of Agriculture
In acute inflammation we find a thickening and a roughened appearance of the endocardium throughout the cavities of the heart.
Special Report on Diseases of the Horse|United States Department of Agriculture

By extension of inflammation of the endocardium or pericardium the muscle of the heart may become involved.
Special Report on Diseases of the Horse|United States Department of Agriculture

British Dictionary definitions for endocardium

endocardium

/ (ˌɛndəʊˈkɑːdɪəm) /

noun plural -dia (-dɪə)

the membrane that lines the cavities of the heart and forms part of the valves

Word Origin for endocardium

C19: from New Latin, from endo- + Greek kardia heart

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for endocardium

endocardium

[ ĕn′dō-kär′dē-əm ]

n. pl. en•do•car•di•a (-dē-ə)

The thin serous membrane, composed of endothelial and subendothelial tissue, that lines the interior of the heart.

Related forms

en′do•car′di•al adj.