polyp

/'pɔlip/ Cách viết khác : (polype) /'pɔlip/
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polyp

A marine biologist observes a coral polyp under a magnifying glass.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A sedentary form of coelenterate: A polyp is one of the two principal body forms of coelenterates (like hydras or corals). It is typically attached to a surface and has a hollow, cylindrical body with a mouth surrounded by a ring of tentacles.
    • A life cycle phase: In some coelenterate species, the polyp is a stage in the life cycle that alternates with a free-swimming medusa stage.
    • A small abnormal growth: In medicine, a polyp is a small, usually benign, growth projecting from a mucous membrane, such as inside the nose or colon.
Usage Examples
  • Biology:
    • Coral reefs are built by colonies of tiny polyps.
    • The life cycle of many jellyfish includes both a polyp and a medusa phase.
  • Medicine:
    • The doctor discovered a nasal polyp during the examination.
    • Colonoscopies are performed to screen for potentially cancerous polyps.
Advanced Usage
  • "Sessile polyp": Refers to a polyp that is directly attached to the tissue by a broad base, without a stalk.
    • Sessile polyps in the colon can be more challenging to remove completely.
  • "Pedunculated polyp": Describes a polyp that is attached to the tissue by a narrow stalk.
    • The pedunculated polyp was easily removed during the procedure.
Variants and Related Words
  • Polypoid (adj): Resembling or characteristic of a polyp.
    • The lesion had a polypoid appearance.
  • Polyposis (n): A medical condition characterized by the presence of multiple polyps.
    • Familial adenomatous polyposis is a hereditary disorder.
Synonyms
  • Zooid (in a biological colonial context): An individual animal that is part of a connected colony, like a coral polyp.
  • Growth, nodule, tumor (in a medical context, though these terms have broader and sometimes more serious connotations).
Related Phrases
  • "Adenomatous polyp": A specific type of polyp with gland-like structure that has a potential to become cancerous.
    • An adenomatous polyp is considered a precursor to colon cancer.
  • "Hyperplastic polyp": A common, typically benign type of polyp.
    • Hyperplastic polyps are usually not a cause for concern.
Idioms

(This word is primarily scientific/medical and is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions.)

polyp

A marine biologist observes a coral polyp under a magnifying glass.

Noun
  1. one of two forms that coelenterates take (e.g. a hydra or coral): usually sedentary with a hollow cylindrical body usually with a ring of tentacles around the mouth
    • in some species of coelenterate, polyps are a phase in the life cycle that alternates with a medusoid phase
  2. a small vascular growth on the surface of a mucous membrane