Absence of systole

• Failure of the ventricles of the heart to contract (usually caused by ventricular fibrillation) with consequent absence of the heart beat leading to oxygen lack and eventually to death

WordNet Word definitions in WordNet
n. absence of systole; failure of the ventricles of the heart to contract (usually caused by ventricular fibrillation) with consequent absence of the heart beat leading to oxygen lack and eventually to death [syn: cardiac arrest , cardiopulmonary arrest ...

Wiktionary Word definitions in Wiktionary
n. (context pathology cardiology English) absence of systole; failure of the heart to contract.

Wikipedia Word definitions in Wikipedia
In medicine, asystole , colloquially known as flatline , is a state of no cardiac electrical activity, hence no contractions of the myocardium and no cardiac output or blood flow. Asystole is one of the conditions that may be used for a medical practitioner ...

The Collaborative International Dictionary Word definitions in The Collaborative International Dictionary
Asystole \A*sys"to*le\, n. [Pref. a- not + systole.] (Physiol.) A weakening or cessation of the contractile power of the heart.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary Word definitions in Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1860, from Modern Latin, from Greek a- , privative prefix (see a- (3)), + systole "contraction" (see systole ).