Definition

1. Noun:
   • A medical condition of abnormal tightness of the foreskin: "Phimosis" is a condition where the foreskin of the penis is too tight to be pulled back (retracted) over the head (glans) of the penis.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The pediatrician diagnosed the infant with phimosis, but said it might resolve naturally.
  • Severe phimosis can sometimes require a minor surgical procedure called a circumcision.

Advanced Usage

• "Congenital phimosis": refers to the condition being present from birth, which is common in infants and often resolves with age.
  • Congenital phimosis is rarely a cause for concern in young boys.
• "Pathological phimosis": refers to phimosis caused by scarring, infection, or inflammation, often occurring later in life.
  • Recurrent infections can lead to pathological phimosis.

Variants and Related Words

• Paraphimosis (n): A related urological emergency where a retracted foreskin becomes trapped behind the glans and cannot be returned to its normal position, constricting blood flow.
  • Paraphimosis is a painful condition that requires immediate medical attention.

Synonyms

• Foreskin tightness: A descriptive, non-medical term for the condition.
• Preputial stenosis: A more clinical synonym using anatomical terms ('preputial' refers to the foreskin).

Notes on Meaning

• Medical vs. Developmental: It is important to distinguish between physiological (normal, developmental) tightness in young children and true pathological phimosis, which is a medical problem causing symptoms like pain, ballooning during urination, or infection.
• Treatment Context: The word is primarily used in medical, clinical, or anatomical discussions. It is not used in general conversation.

Noun

1. an abnormal tightness of the foreskin preventing retraction over the glans