coarctation

[ koh-ahrk-tey-shuhn ]

noun

1. Pathology.
   1. a narrowing of the lumen of a blood vessel.
   2. a congenital anomaly of the heart in which there is a narrowing of the aorta, resulting in abnormal blood flow.
2. Entomology. the condition of having the body enclosed in a hardened shell or puparium.

Word History and Origins

Origin of coarctation¹

1400–50; late Middle English coartacioun pressure, constriction < Latin coar ( c ) tātiōn-, stem of coar ( c ) tātiō; coarctate, -ion