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insufficiency

insufficiency

4 7.9
A part of the body not working well enough to do its job
  • noun
  • /ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃənsi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : insuficiencia
  • The doctor explained that her symptoms were due to renal insufficiency, limiting the kidney's ability to filter waste.
  • renal insufficiency
  • venous insufficiency
  • adrenal insufficiency

Examples

  • At this time, a new manifestation of HCMV disease, adrenal insufficiency, became apparent.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Both episodes were characterized by severe hemolytic anemia and acute renal insufficiency and resolved without plasma treatment, with no renal sequelae.

    Academic text (2003)
  • Of each patient, it was recorded whether arterial insufficiency was present.

    Academic text (2007)
  • An episode of acute coronary insufficiency.

  • He may suffer some limited chronic kidney insufficiency.

  • During this time, hospitalization for pulmonary insufficiency is not uncommon.

    Academic text (1990)
  • There was no history of trauma, varicose veins, or arterial insufficiency.

    Academic text (2007)
  • The main causes are venous valve insufficiency, lower extremity arterial disease, and diabetes.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Sherman states that arterial insufficiency is a relative contraindication for MDT.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Renovascular disease is an important and often unrecognized contributor to renal insufficiency, refractory hypertension, and overall cardiovascular mortality.

    Academic text (2007)

Synonyms

failure
vsinsufficiency
  • Specialized
396 3.3

Loss of the ability to work, especially of an organ or machine

refers to not working adequately rather than total collapse
dysfunction
vsinsufficiency
76 6.1

A problem in the way a body part, system, or group works

is the specific inability to work adequately rather than general abnormality
impairment
vsinsufficiency
62 6.1

A loss of ability caused by damage or other problems

focuses on organ inability rather than a general loss of ability
incompetence
vsinsufficiency
  • Specialized
2 6.4

A body part not doing its normal job properly

is the same medical sense without difference
renal insufficiency
vsinsufficiency
  • Specialized
1 6.3

A condition in which the kidneys cannot remove waste from the blood well

is the general organ inability rather than a specific kidney case
hypofunction
vsinsufficiency
  • Specialized
1 9.3

A condition in which an organ or body part has less than normal activity

refers to inability to work adequately rather than only reduced activity
cardiac insufficiency
vsinsufficiency
  • Specialized
5.7

The heart cannot pump enough blood to the body, causing tiredness and shortness of breath

is the general organ inability rather than a specific heart case

Antonyms

20 5.9

Enough of something for a particular purpose

Compounds

renal insufficiency
  • Specialized
1 6.3

A condition in which the kidneys cannot remove waste from the blood well

cardiac insufficiency
  • Specialized
5.7

The heart cannot pump enough blood to the body, causing tiredness and shortness of breath

5.8

Not enough blood flows to the heart muscle, causing chest pain

How Functional

hypofunction
  • Specialized
1 9.3
insufficiency
  • Specialized
4 7.9
failure
  • Specialized
396 3.3

Surface Forms

insufficiency singular

Morphology

insufficiency = sufficiency (semi-transparent) = in + suffice + ency

Morphologically it is formed by 'in-' + 'sufficiency', so the structure is clear even if the sense is used in a medical/technical context.

Etymology

Insufficiency comes from in- 'not' and sufficient 'enough', so it literally means 'not enough'. In medicine, an insufficiency is when an organ is not working well enough to do its job, for example a heart that cannot pump enough blood.