What does cardiology mean?
Cardiology is the branch of medicine concerned with the heart and the wider cardiovascular system. It includes the study of how the heart and blood vessels function, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, and hypertension. The word is most often used in professional contexts, including hospitals, medical schools, research, and clinical specialties. A person trained in this field is a cardiologist. Cardiology overlaps with other areas of medicine, particularly vascular medicine and cardiovascular surgery, but it is specifically associated with the cardiovascular system and its disorders. The term is also commonly used in phrases such as cardiology clinic and pediatric cardiology. Its Greek-derived formation reflects the long history of describing the heart through the language of anatomy and science, while its modern use clearly identifies a major medical discipline concerned with preserving cardiovascular health.
nounCardiology is the branch of medicine concerned with the study, diagnosis, and treatment of the heart and cardiovascular system.
- The branch of medicine concerned with the heart and cardiovascular system, including their structure, function, diagnosis, and treatment.
"She specialized in cardiology after completing her medical training."
"The hospital's cardiology department specializes in treating heart failure."
"A lecture on cardiology introduced students to the anatomy and electrical activity of the heart."
The plural is rare; cardiology is normally used as an uncountable name for the medical field.
"The conference brought together specialists from several cardiolgies."
Cardiology literally means “the study of the heart,” combining the Greek words for heart and the science of studying something.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does cardiology come from?
Cardiology was formed from Greek kardia, meaning “heart,” and the Greek-derived suffix -logia, meaning “study of.” The compound entered English as a medical term for the study of the heart and later became associated with the clinical specialty concerned with cardiovascular disease. Related English words such as cardiac, cardiovascular, cardiogram, and cardiopathy reflect the same Greek root.
Related word forms
How cardiology is actually used
This is a formal medical term used chiefly in healthcare, research, and academic contexts. It denotes a medical specialty rather than the study of the heart in a general scientific sense.