Stenosis medical term Meaning and Definition
Stenosis
Pronunciation
/ˈstɛnoʊsɪs/
Part of Speech
Noun
Definition
A narrowing or constriction of a passageway or channel, often in medical contexts, such as stenosis of the heart valves or stenosis of the spinal cord.
Examples
- The doctor diagnosed the patient with stenosis of the coronary arteries.
- The athlete suffered from stenosis of the spinal cord due to the injury.
Synonyms
- Narrowing
- Constriction
Antonyms
- Dilation
- Expansion
Etymology
The word “stenosis” comes from the Greek words “stemnein”, meaning “to narrow” and “-osis”, meaning “condition”. It was first used in medical contexts in the 16th century.
Usage Notes
Stenosis is typically used in medical or scientific contexts to describe a physical narrowing or constriction of a passageway or channel. It is often used to describe conditions such as stenosis of the heart valves or stenosis of the spinal cord.
Cultural References
Stenosis has been mentioned in several medical dramas and TV shows, including “ER” and “Grey’s Anatomy”.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
Stenosis is often used in idiomatic expressions such as “stenosis of the mind”, which refers to a narrowing or constriction of one’s mental or intellectual abilities.
Related Words or Phrases
- Narrows
- Constrict
- Obstruction
Collocations
- Stenosis of the heart valves
- Stenosis of the spinal cord
- Stenosis of the arteries
Frequency of Use
Stenosis is a relatively uncommon word in everyday language, but it is widely used in medical and scientific contexts.
Common Misspellings
- Stenosys
- Stenotis