atrioventricular

IPA/ˌeɪ.tri.əʊ.venˈtrɪk.jə.lər/
IPA/ˌeɪ.tri.oʊ.venˈtrɪk.jə.lɚ/

atrioventricular — adjective

  • atrioventricularpositive
  • more atrioventricularcomparative
  • most atrioventricularsuperlative

1. describing the part of the heart where the upper chambers meet the lower chamber

1.adjectiveC2
Definition

describing the part of the heart where the upper chambers meet the lower chambers, including the valves and tissues that link them

Example

The cardiologist showed Hassan the atrioventricular valves on the plastic model of a human heart.

collocation: atrioventricular valves

The baby had an atrioventricular septal defect mixing blood between chambers; surgeons closed the hole at six months.

collocation: atrioventricular septal defect

Common collocations
  • atrioventricular valve
  • atrioventricular septum
  • atrioventricular canal
  • atrioventricular junction

Grammar Patterns

atrioventricular + noun (valve/septal defect/node)

Usage Note

Most commonly used before nouns describing specific heart structures, such as valves, septa, and other anatomical features.

2. relating to the small area of tissue in the heart that controls the timing of th

2.adjectiveC2
Definition

relating to the small area of tissue in the heart that controls the timing of the heartbeat by sending electrical signals from the upper chambers to the lower chambers

Example

An ECG shows whether the atrioventricular node is working correctly or causing an irregular heartbeat.

collocation: atrioventricular node

After the heart attack, Yuki's atrioventricular conduction was damaged and she needed a pacemaker.

collocation: atrioventricular conduction

Common collocations
  • atrioventricular node
  • atrioventricular block
  • atrioventricular conduction
  • atrioventricular rhythm

Grammar Patterns

atrioventricular + noun (node/conduction/block)

Usage Note

Frequently used in cardiology contexts to describe the electrical conduction system, especially the AV node, AV block, and AV conduction.

Word family

  • atrium
    nounC2
  • ventricle
    nounC2
  • atrial
    adjectiveC2
  • ventricular
    adjectiveC2
  • cardiac
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'Cardiac' is the broadest term, referring to anything related to the heart as a whole. 'Atrial' and 'ventricular' each name only one chamber type — the upper or lower — while 'atrioventricular' connects both. 'Myocardial' relates specifically to the heart muscle tissue, not the chambers or their connections. For example, a doctor might describe a 'cardiac arrest' (whole heart stops), an 'atrial flutter' (only upper chambers affected), or an 'atrioventricular block' (the signal path between the two chamber types is interrupted).

cardiac ↗ventricularatrialmyocardial

Etymology

LatinEnglish

From Latin 'atrium' (entrance hall) + 'ventriculus' (little belly), combined with the suffix '-ar' (relating to). The term entered English medical vocabulary in the 19th century as anatomists mapped the heart's chambers and their connections.

First known use

1854

1854, in the meaning defined above