Definition

A test that uses sound waves to create a picture of the heart's structure and function.

Example

The doctor ordered an echocardiogram to check how well my heart is working.

Conversation

Have you ever had an echocardiogram?

Yeah, I had one last year when I was feeling a bit off.

What was it like? I’ve heard they can be pretty interesting.

It was actually cool to see my heart on the screen during the echocardiogram!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Echocardiogram → It is formed from "echo" (from Greek "ēchō", meaning sound or reverberation), "cardio" (from Greek "kardia", meaning heart), and "gram" (from Greek "gramma", meaning something written or recorded). The word describes a written record of the sound waves reflected from the heart, used in medical imaging.

Memory Tip

Imagine sound waves ('echo') bouncing off the heart ('cardio') and creating a record ('gram') — that's what an echocardiogram is.

Visually Confused Words