insufficiency
[in″sŭ-fish´en-se] inability to perform properly an allotted function; called also
incompetence.
coronary insufficiency decreased supply of blood to the myocardium resulting from constriction or obstruction of the coronary arteries, but not accompanied by necrosis of the myocardial cells. Called also
myocardial ischemia.
ileocecal insufficiency inability of the
ileocecal valve to prevent backflow of contents from the cecum into the ileum.
placental insufficiency dysfunction of the
placenta, with reduction in the area of exchange of nutrients; it often leads to fetal growth retardation.
venous insufficiency inadequacy of the
venous valves and impairment of venous return from the lower limbs (
venous stasis), often with edema and sometimes with
stasis ulcers at the ankle.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.