gallstone
Definition
Noun: A hard, pebble-like mass, typically composed of cholesterol or bilirubin, that forms abnormally within the gallbladder or the bile ducts.
Usage
The word "gallstone" is a countable noun. It refers specifically to the pathological concretion itself. It is most commonly used in medical and general health contexts. - The presence of one or more gallstones is the defining feature of cholelithiasis. - Symptoms often occur when a gallstone blocks a duct.
Examples
- The ultrasound revealed a single large gallstone.
- Severe pain can be caused by a gallstone moving into the bile duct.
- Her surgery was necessary to remove several gallstones.
Advanced Usage
- "To pass a gallstone": This phrase describes the (often painful) process of a stone moving from the gallbladder through the biliary ducts. It is less common than with kidney stones, as gallstones often require medical intervention.
- The patient hoped to pass the gallstone naturally, but it required surgical removal.
Variants and Related Words
- Cholelithiasis (n): The medical condition of having gallstones.
- He was diagnosed with cholelithiasis.
- Biliary calculus (n): A formal, clinical synonym for gallstone.
- Stone (n): In medical contexts, "stone" can be used informally to mean gallstone (or kidney stone), but it is less precise.
Synonyms
- Biliary calculus: The formal medical term.
- Cholelith: A less common but technically accurate synonym used in medical literature.
Related Phrases
- Gallstone attack: A common term for an acute episode of pain (biliary colic) caused by a gallstone.
- She was hospitalized after a severe gallstone attack.
- Gallstone disease: A broader term encompassing the condition and its complications.
- Obesity is a risk factor for gallstone disease.
Noun
-
a calculus formed in the gall bladder or its ducts
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