-cardium

1. a combining form occurring in compounds that denote tissue or organs associated with the heart, as specified by the initial element:

   myocardium; pericardium.

Word History and Origins

Origin of -cardium¹

Probably generalized from pericardium

Example Sentences

Calgary-based Penn West has been spending on light-oil areas such as the Cardium, Viking and Slave Point, all in Alberta, as natural gas prices stay weak.

From Reuters

The properties are in Alberta geological zones such as Halkirk-Provost Viking, Randell Slave Point and Gilwood and the Pembina Cardium, where companies are using horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing techniques to unlock light oil reserves from tight rock formations.

From Reuters

Combined properties are in such Alberta geological zones as Halkirk-Provost Viking, Randell Slave Point and Gilwood and the Pembina Cardium.

From Reuters

The combined company, which will be managed by Pinecrest's existing executive team, will focus its capital expenditure on the cardium light oil resource play in the Pembina area of central Alberta and some areas of northern Alberta.

From Reuters

Spartan is present in cardium light oil play in central Alberta and the Bakken light oil resource play in southeast Saskatchewan.

From Reuters

Words That Use -cardium

What does -cardium mean?

The combining form -cardium is used like a suffix to mean “heart tissues or organs.” It is often used in medical terms, especially in anatomy.

The form -cardium ultimately comes from Greek kardíā, meaning “heart.” The Latin cognate, cor, “heart,” is the source of words such as cordial, courage, and discord. To learn more, check out our entries for each word.

What are variants of -cardium?

While -cardium doesn’t have any variants, it is related to the form -cardia, as in tachycardia. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article for -cardia.

Also closely related to -cardia and -cardium are cardio- and cardi-, combined to beginning of words like a prefix and meaning “heart.” Read our Words That Use articles on these forms to learn more.

Examples of -cardium

One example of a medical term that features the form -cardium is myocardium, “the muscular substance of the heart.”

The form myo- means “muscle,” from Greek mŷs, while, the -cardium part of the word means “heart tissue.” Myocardium literally translates to “heart muscle tissue.”

What are some words that use the combining form -cardium?

• endocardium
• epicardium (using the equivalent form of -cardium in Latin)
• hemopericardium
• mesocardium
• pericardium (using the equivalent form of -cardium in Greek)

What are some other forms that -cardium may be commonly confused with?

• -carpous
• -cracy
• -crat

Break it down!

The combining form endo- means “within” or “inside.” With this in mind, what part of the body is the endocardium?