What does myocarditis mean?
Myocarditis is inflammation of the myocardium, the muscular tissue that forms the heart's main pumping chambers. The condition may be associated with viral infections, autoimmune disorders, certain medicines, toxic substances, or other medical events. Mild cases can improve without specific treatment, while severe myocarditis may weaken the heart muscle, disrupt its rhythm, or lead to heart failure. The word is chiefly used by clinicians and appears in phrases such as acute myocarditis, viral myocarditis, and myocarditis diagnosis. It should not be confused with myocardial infarction: myocarditis is inflammation of heart muscle, while myocardial infarction is death of heart tissue caused by interrupted blood flow. Because the term describes a specific and potentially serious condition, its appearance in a medical record usually warrants careful interpretation by a qualified healthcare professional.
nounInflammation of the myocardium, the muscular tissue of the heart. It may result from viral infection, autoimmune disease, toxins, medicines, or other causes.
- Inflammation of the myocardium, the muscular wall of the heart.
"The patient was diagnosed with acute myocarditis after experiencing chest pain and an irregular heartbeat."
"Tests showed signs of myocarditis, although no underlying infection was identified."
"Severe myocarditis can cause the heart muscle to become weak and inefficient at pumping blood."
The plural is rarely used in ordinary clinical writing; the singular form is commonly used when referring to the condition generally.
"Cases of myocarditides were identified in several age groups."
Myocarditis can disturb the heart's rhythm without narrowing a major artery, so a heart attack and heart-muscle inflammation are not the same thing.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does myocarditis come from?
Myocarditis combines the combining form myo-, derived from Greek mys, meaning “muscle,” with the suffix -itis, meaning “inflammation.” In the formation of the word, myo- also came to signify the heart, as in myocardium, the heart muscle. The resulting term follows the established Greek and medical pattern of naming an inflammatory condition after the affected tissue.
Related word forms
How myocarditis is actually used
Primarily a medical term. It is usually used in a diagnosis or clinical report and should not be used as a general term for chest pain or any heart condition.
Easily confused with myocarditis
Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle, whereas a myocardial infarction is tissue death caused by a blocked blood supply to the heart.