▪ I. † preˈcordium1 Obs.
An error for pericardium (confused with præcordia).
| 1541 R. Copland Guydon's Quest. Chirurg. H j, Wherof is the substaunce of the coueryng of the herte?.. It is called precordium, & is of a skynny substaunce, wher to descendeth synewes as vnto other inwarde intraylles. |
▪ II. precordium2 Anat.
(prɪˈkɔːdɪəm)
Formerly also præ-.
[Sing. of præcordia.]
= præcordia.
| 1892 A. E. Sansom Diagn. Dis. Heart & Thoracic Aorta xvi. 128 On placing the hand over the præcordium, the observer may be sensible of a peculiar vibration occurring over a certain area and at a certain period of the heart's action. 1900 Dorland Med. Dict. 533/1 Precordium, same as precordia. 1934 Arch. Internal Med. LIV. 341 Pulsations of the heart were felt 3.5 cm. below the epigastric notch, and sometimes a systolic thrill was felt over the precordium. 1962 Lancet 13 Jan. 104/2 A pericardial friction-rub was audible over the precordium, but blood⁓pressure was 140/170 mm. Hg and there were no signs of cardiac failure. 1970 W. Dressler Clin. Aids in Cardiac Diagn. v. 66 Fig. 24 is from a 31 year old man who showed a heaving systolic impulse in the left half of the precordium between the 2nd intercostal space and the 5th rib. 1977 J. T. Willerson in Willerson & Sanders Clin. Cardiol. 101/2 Inspection and palpation of the precordium in the patient with cardiac disease are valuable and important parts of the physical examination. |