How to Pronounce Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from Pulmonary Artery
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from Pulmonary Artery Pronunciation
ah-NOM-ah-lus LEFT kor-OH-nair-ee AR-ter-ee from PUL-moh-nair-ee AR-ter-ee
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
ah
NOM
stress here
ah
lus LEFT kor
OH
stress here
nair
ee AR
ter
ee from PUL
moh
nair
ee AR
ter
ee
14 syllables
What is Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from Pulmonary Artery?
A rare but life-threatening congenital heart defect (abbreviated ALCAPA or Bland-White-Garland syndrome) in which the left coronary artery arises from the pulmonary artery instead of the aorta, so the left side of the heart receives poorly oxygenated blood at low pressure, causing myocardial ischemia, cardiomyopathy, and heart failure in infancy. Urgent surgical correction is required to reimplant the coronary artery onto the aorta.
Questions About Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from Pulmonary Artery
How do you pronounce 'anomalous left coronary artery from pulmonary artery'?
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Say it like this: ah-NOM-ah-lus LEFT kor-OH-nair-ee AR-ter-ee from PUL-moh-nair-ee AR-ter-ee. The stress falls on the second syllable of 'anomalous' (NOM) and the first syllable of both 'coronary' (kor) and 'pulmonary' (PUL). Take it slowly at first, then speed up once you get the rhythm.
What does 'anomalous' mean in this medical term?
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Anomalous means 'unusual' or 'not normal'—something that doesn't develop or exist the way it should. It comes from Greek and is used in medicine whenever a body part or organ is shaped or positioned differently than typical.
What's the difference between 'coronary' and 'pulmonary'?
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Both words relate to blood vessels and come from Latin roots. 'Coronary' refers to arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle itself (from 'corona,' meaning crown). 'Pulmonary' refers to blood vessels connected to the lungs (from 'pulmo,' meaning lung). In this condition, an artery that should be coronary is wrongly connected to the pulmonary system.
What is the short form or abbreviation for this condition?
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It's often abbreviated as ALCAPA, which stands for 'Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery.' You may also hear it called Bland-White-Garland syndrome, named after the doctors who first described it. Both names refer to the exact same condition.
Where is the stress in the word 'anomalous'?
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The stress falls on the second syllable: ah-NOM-ah-lus. A common mistake is stressing the first syllable (AN-om-ah-lus), but that's incorrect. Listen for the emphasis on NOM to say it right.
What does 'artery' mean, and how does it relate to this term?
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An artery is a blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart to the rest of the body. In this condition, two arteries are involved: the left coronary artery (which normally feeds the heart) and the pulmonary artery (which normally carries blood to the lungs). The problem is that one artery is coming from the wrong place.
Can you break this term into smaller syllables?
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Sure! Here's how: a-NOM-ah-lus (4 syllables) + LEFT (1 syllable) + kor-OH-nair-ee (4 syllables) + AR-ter-ee (3 syllables) + from (1 syllable) + PUL-moh-nair-ee (4 syllables) + AR-ter-ee (3 syllables). Breaking it into chunks makes it much easier to pronounce and remember.
How would you use this term correctly in a sentence?
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You might hear it used like this: 'The patient was diagnosed with anomalous left coronary artery from pulmonary artery during imaging studies.' Or more simply: 'ALCAPA is a rare congenital heart condition.' The term is used to name and identify the specific condition.