hypochondrium
- noun
- /ˌhaɪpəˈkɒndriəm/
- Specialized
:
hipocondrio
- Several weeks later, Mrs. XYZ presented with an increasing dull ache in the right hypochondrium.
Examples
-
One month after the injection, a subcutaneous mass appeared in the left hypochondrium.
Academic text (2015) -
The right hypochondrium was cleaned with methylated spirit.
Academic text (2007) -
The doctor examined her hypochondrium for any signs of swelling or tenderness.
-
He felt a sharp pain in the left hypochondrium after eating a large meal.
-
During the ultrasound, the technician checked the organs in the right hypochondrium.
Surface Forms
Morphology
hypochondrium = hypo + chondr + ium
The word is historically built from the classical elements hypo- 'under' and chondr- 'cartilage', but the root is not a standalone English word and the anatomical meaning is not readily inferable for most learners.
Etymology
Hypochondrium comes from Greek parts hypo- ('under') and chondrion ('cartilage' or 'rib'); think of hypo- like in hypodermic where it means 'under'. So the word literally names the area 'under' the rib cartilage, which is why doctors use it for the upper sides of the belly just below the ribs.
