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sclerotic

sclerotic

9.6
Of the white, tough outer part of the eye
  • adjective
  • /skləˈrɒtɪk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : esclerótico
  • The sclerotic tissue around the eye helps maintain its shape and integrity.

Examples

  • Sclerotic changes in the eye can indicate underlying health issues.

  • That's known as sclerotic damage.

  • In a few patients, sclerotic patches were found consistent with the mature phase of otosclerosis.

    Academic text (1995)
  • In a review of 39 biopsy-proven cases, Fries found that 56% were pagetoid, 23% were sclerotic, and 21% were cystic.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Her eye doctor explained that the sclerotic layer of the eyeball protects its inner structures.

Synonyms

scleral
vssclerotic
  • Specialized
1 9.2

Relates to the white outer part of the eye

emphasizes its toughness rather than its color

Compounds

sclerotic coat
  • Specialized
8.1

A thick white outer layer of the eye that protects its inner parts

9.3

Slow to accept new ideas or change

Surface Forms

sclerotic positive

Morphology

sclerotic = sclera (semi-transparent) = scler + otic

Formally related to 'sclera' but the medical adjective-forming suffix '-otic' and overlap with the 'hardened' sense make the relation less obvious to non-specialist learners.

Etymology

Sclerotic comes from the Greek root skleros, meaning 'hard'. It is the same root in sclera, the tough white layer of the eye, so sclerotic in this sense means 'relating to that hard outer layer'.