sphacelus
- noun
- /sfəˈsiːləs/
- Specialized
:
esfacelo
- The surgeon diagnosed the blackened skin as sphacelus resulting from a blocked artery.
Examples
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The patient's toes showed signs of sphacelus, likely caused by severe frostbite.
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He suffered from sphacelus due to poor circulation.
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If sphacelus is left untreated, the infection can spread rapidly to surrounding tissues.
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The doctor diagnosed her with sphacelus after the severe infection.
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The doctor explained that sphacelus occurs when tissue dies due to a lack of blood flow.
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After examining the wound, the physician determined that the darkened area was sphacelus caused by the infection.
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The patient required amputation due to the extensive sphacelus affecting his foot.
Synonyms
16
8.7
Dead tissue caused by infection or loss of blood
11
8.2
Death of body cells and tissue in one area caused by injury, infection, or loss of blood
1
9.9
Death of body tissue in one place often caused by infection
A mass of dead skin or tissue removed from a wound
How Dead
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word sphacelus comes from an old Greek word sphakelos that meant 'rotting' or 'dead flesh'. Think of it like the more common word gangrene: sphacelus is the dead body tissue itself or the disease that makes tissue die.