Final answer:
The term for narrowing is stenosis, a condition that causes the heart valves to become less flexible and narrow, which can lead to severe health complications and may require surgical treatment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term for narrowing is stenosis. Stenosis refers to a condition where structures within the body, particularly heart valves, become narrowed and lose flexibility, potentially leading to calcification. This change can impact normal heart functions, forcing it to work harder to pump blood through the narrowed valve, and may contribute to significant health issues. Aortic stenosis, for instance, is a condition that affects approximately 2 percent of individuals over the age of 65, with an increased prevalence among those over 85. If stenosis affects the structural components of the heart like the chordae tendineae or papillary muscle, it can lead to severe consequences, especially if related to a myocardial infarction (heart attack), and may necessitate urgent surgical intervention.