anchylosis
/,æɳkai'lousis/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- Abnormal adhesion and rigidity of the bones of a joint: A medical condition where the bones of a joint become fused together, resulting in stiffness and loss of movement.
Usage
- Noun: Used primarily in medical contexts to describe a pathological state of a joint. It is a technical term.
- The patient's chronic inflammation led to anchylosis of the knee.
- Surgical intervention may be required to treat anchylosis.
Advanced Usage
- "Bony anchylosis": Specifies complete fusion by bone tissue.
- X-rays confirmed bony anchylosis of the spinal vertebrae.
- "Fibrous anchylosis": Specifies fusion by fibrous tissue, which may allow for minimal movement.
- The condition resulted in fibrous anchylosis, causing severe but not absolute immobility.
Variants and Related Words
- Ankylosis: This is the more common modern spelling of the same medical term. "Anchylosis" is an older variant.
- The textbook listed ankylosis as a potential complication of rheumatoid arthritis.
- Ankylotic (adj): Pertaining to or affected by ankylosis.
- The ankylotic joint was completely immobile.
Synonyms
- Joint fusion: A more general descriptive term.
- Arthrodesis: This specifically refers to the surgical fusion of a joint, which is a procedure, not a disease state. It is a related but distinct concept.
Notes on Meaning
- The term specifically refers to the pathological (the fused, rigid joint) of a disease process, such as chronic arthritis or severe infection. It is not the name of the disease itself but a complication or symptom.
- It denotes a loss of the normal joint space and function.
Noun
- abnormal adhesion and rigidity of the bones of a joint