Definition for cor pulmonale

Cor pulmonale is a medical term used to describe a change in structure and function of the right ventricle of the heart as a result of a respiratory disorder. more

Cor pulmonale is a medical term used to describe a change in structure and function of the right ventricle of the heart as a result of a respiratory disorder. RVH (right ventricular hypertrophy) is the predominant change in chronic cor pulmonale, however in acute cases dilation dominates. Both hypertrophy and dilation are the result of increased right ventricular pressure. Dilation is essentially a stretching of the ventricle, the immediate result of increasing the pressure in an elastic container. Ventricular hypertrophy is an adaptive response to a long-term increase in pressure. Additional muscle grows to allow for the increased force in contraction required to move the blood against greater resistance. To be classified as cor pulmonale, the cause must originate in the pulmonary circulation. Vascular remodelling of the pulmonary circulation as a result of tissue damage (causes including disease, hypoxic injury, chemical agents, etc.) or chronic hypoxic vasoconstriction are two major causes . RVH due to a systemic defect is not classified as cor pulmonale. less