Coronary steal
Coronary Steal
Coronary steal (pronunciation: /kəˈrɒnəri stiːl/) is a medical phenomenon that describes the redirection of blood flow in the coronary arteries due to a decrease in vascular resistance.
Etymology
The term "coronary steal" is derived from the Latin word coronarius meaning "crown" and the Old English word stelan meaning "to steal". It refers to the "stealing" of blood flow from one area of the heart to another.
Definition
Coronary steal occurs when the dilation of blood vessels (vasodilation) in an area of the heart supplied by a stenotic (narrowed) coronary artery leads to a decrease in blood flow to that area. This is due to the fact that blood will always follow the path of least resistance, and in this case, it is "stolen" from the area of the heart that needs it most.
Pathophysiology
The pathophysiology of coronary steal involves the dilation of blood vessels in response to certain stimuli, such as exercise or the administration of certain drugs. This dilation can lead to a decrease in vascular resistance, which in turn can lead to a decrease in blood flow to the area of the heart supplied by the stenotic artery.
Related Terms
- Coronary Artery Disease: A condition characterized by the narrowing of the coronary arteries due to the buildup of plaque.
- Vasodilation: The widening of blood vessels, which decreases blood pressure.
- Vasoconstriction: The narrowing of blood vessels, which increases blood pressure.
- Stenosis: The narrowing or constriction of a blood vessel or valve in the heart.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Coronary steal
- Wikipedia's article - Coronary steal
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski