Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
epicanthus

epicanthus

9.9
A fold of skin on the upper eyelid that partly covers the inner corner of the eye
  • noun
  • /ˌɛpɪˈkænθəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : epicanto
  • The doctor noted that the child had an epicanthus, which is often seen in certain genetic conditions.

Examples

  • Hypoplasia of the nasal ala (10 of 15 patients) was more commonly observed than hypertelorism (eight of 15 patients) and epicanthus (two of 15 patients).

    Academic text (2015)

  • Many individuals with Asian descent may have a natural epicanthus that shapes the appearance of their eyes.

  • She recognized the epicanthus on his eyelids as a distinctive feature that is common in her family.

Synonyms

epicanthic fold
vsepicanthus
  • Specialized
8.8

Skin fold at the inner corner of the eye common in many East Asian people and some health conditions

is broader, saying it appears in certain ethnic groups and medical conditions

Surface Forms

epicanthus singular
epicanthi plural

Etymology

Epicanthus comes from Greek parts epi- meaning 'over' and canthus meaning 'corner of the eye', and you can see epi- in words like epicenter. So an epicanthus is a fold of skin that sits 'over' the inner 'corner' of the eye, which is why the word names that eyelid fold.