舒张 (shū zhāng) — (noun, physiology) diastole; the relaxation phase of the heartbeat when the heart chambers fill with blood

Definition

Medical term for the relaxation phase of the heartbeat (diastole), when the chambers fill with blood. Its everyday sense — to relax, loosen, or expand — is not used at this level.

noun
(noun, physiology) diastolethe relaxation phase of the heartbeat when the heart chambers fill with blood

Examples

  • 舒张。
    Xīn diàn tú xiǎn shì huàn zhě de shū zhāng gōng néng zhèng cháng.
    The electrocardiogram shows the patient's diastolic function is normal.
  • 舒张。
    Gāo xuè yā huì yǐng xiǎng xīn zàng de shū zhāng yǔ shōu suō.
    High blood pressure can affect the heart's diastole and systole.
  • 舒张。
    Yī shēng jiàn yì tōng guò yùn dòng gǎi shàn shū zhāng qī xuè yā.
    The doctor recommended exercise to improve blood pressure during diastole.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

舒shūrelax
张zhāngexpand

'舒' (relax) and '张' (expand) are parallel actions that together describe the heart's filling phase.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
舍舍shè
Sound part声符shēngfú
予
予yǔ舒shū
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

舒 is made from 舍 and 予: 舍 supplies the meaning, while 予 supplies the sound.

Open 舒 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 張; 张 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
弓弓gōngbow
Sound part声符shēngfú
長
長cháng張zhāng
Same sound today

The traditional form 張 combines 弓, a bow, with 長, which points to the sound; the simplified 张 is a shorthand and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 张 →

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