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Glite Dictionary
ptyalith

ptyalith

9.9
A hard stone that forms inside a salivary gland and may block saliva flow
  • noun
  • /ˈtaɪəˌlɪθ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : ptialito
  • Radiographs revealed the presence of a ptyalith in the submandibular gland.

Examples

  • The surgeon removed a ptyalith that was blocking the patient's salivary duct.

  • A large ptyalith can cause swelling and pain in the mouth.

  • The dentist discovered a ptyalith in the patient's salivary gland.

  • Patients with ptyaliths often experience swelling in their jaws.

  • The surgeon removed a ptyalith that was blocking the patient's salivary duct.

  • A large ptyalith can cause swelling and pain in the mouth.

  • Patients with ptyaliths often experience swelling in their jaws.

Synonyms

sialolith
vsptyalith
  • Specialized
9.9

A hard stone that forms in a gland that makes saliva or its tube

refers specifically to stones formed inside the gland rather than ducts
salivary calculus
vsptyalith
  • Specialized
9.5

A small hard lump that forms inside the parts of the mouth that make saliva

means a stone formed inside the gland not including ducts

Surface Forms

ptyalith singular
ptyaliths plural

Morphology

ptyalith = ptyal + lith

Although analyzable by specialists into Greek combining forms meaning 'saliva' + 'stone', the morphemes are obscure to typical learners and the word is not transparently derivable from familiar English vocabulary.

Etymology

Ptyalith comes from Greek parts: ptyal- meaning 'saliva' or 'spit' and -lith meaning 'stone', the same -lith in monolith. So a ptyalith is a 'saliva stone', which explains why it forms in a salivary gland.